Sustainability for Global Citizenship Seminar
The seminar invites students in their sophomore or junior year with interests in any disciplinary field to
deepen their understanding of sustainability through real-world problem solving. The seminar uses a
sustainability framework for considering the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of these
problems and potential solutions. All seminar participants commit to a 6-month learning endeavor,
comprised of (1) a spring semester course and (2) a paid summer practicum.
In the spring semester course, students will: a) examine theories of sustainability; b) consider potential
synergies and trade-offs that can occur when addressing the multiple dimensions of sustainability; c) gain
skills in problem-solving using sustainability as the lens through which problems are considered; and d)
analyze, through case studies, determinants and consequences of organizational commitment to
sustainability. As part of the course, students will work in 3-person teams to prepare for the summer
practicum.
The 10-week, paid summer practicum will position students within locally-based organizations where
they will apply their classroom-based insights and continue their learning about sustainability. Four
organizations will have articulated problems or opportunities that they have not yet resolved or pursued.
Seminar participants will work in teams and in collaboration with the organizational partner to craft and
implement a solution that considers all dimensions of sustainability. Seminar participants will receive
mentorship from members of the organization partner and Macalester faculty. All seminar participants
will meet weekly during the summer to reflect on their work and share learning across different individual
and group experiences. Through the seminar, participants can expect to gain knowledge in how to use a
sustainability framework to effect real world change. Furthermore, seminar participants, regardless of
disciplinary interest, will build their capacity to work as part of a team and their ability to solve
challenging problems.
Structure of the experience
Selected applicants will enroll in a 4-credit seminar during the spring semester and then continue to live
in the Twin Cities during the summer working on a full-time basis, 40 hours/week, from May 23 - July
29, 2016, in conjunction with team members and organizational partner. Participants will be paid a $4,500
stipend for their work during the summer. On-campus housing will be available for all Seminar
participants at no cost (from May 22 through July 30).
Eligibility
The Seminar is open to sophomores and juniors in good academic standing. Preference will be given to
juniors. Students with any disciplinary interest are eligible and encouraged to apply. No prior coursework
or extracurricular involvement with sustainability is required. 12 participants will be selected in total.
Who should apply?
Sophomore and junior students who
·
Have an interest in sustainability, coming from a diversity of backgrounds and fields of study.
·
Are courageous, conscientious, creative, hard-working and have excellent oral and written
communication skills.
·
Demonstrate an ability to work well with others and independently with minimal supervision.
·
Show an ability to work collaboratively on a complex project to meet deadlines.
·
Will be full participants in the spring semester seminar and can work 40 hours per week from
May 23 – July 29, 2016. All paid, unpaid, or voluntary summer work must be clearly
indicated on the application.
Deadline
All application materials are due by 11:00 pm on Monday, October 26, 2015.
How do you apply?
Submit the following materials in PDF format to esa@macalester.edu by 11:00 pm Monday, October 26th,
2015: (Please note that you must download the forms to your own computer before you can fill them in.)
1. Completed application form re-titled ‘Lastname_Firstname_SustainabilitySeminar’ in PDF
format (example: Manning_Christie_SustainabilitySeminar.pdf)
2. A 1-page resume titled ‘Lastname_Firstname_Resume’ in PDF format
3. Recommendation completed by a faculty member or Macalester staff member
4. Unofficial transcript re-titled ‘Lastname_Firstname_transcript’ in PDF format
Any questions about the fellowship should be directed to Christie Manning at
cmanning@macalester.edu.
The Sustainability Seminar is part of Macalester’s Educating
Sustainability Ambassadors initiative
Educating Sustainability Ambassadors (ESA), housed in the Institute for Global Citizenship (IGC), seeks
to cultivate skills and perspectives related to the framework of sustainability. Combining curricular and
co-curricular opportunities, ESA will help students address pressing problems and conceive of
appropriate solutions, including consideration of economic, environmental, and social dimensions.