Experimental Course Proposal
Department: Environmental and Earth Sciences
Course Title: EES 94 Green Living Learning Community
Number and Type of Contact Hours: 15 hours of lecture, speakers, and activities
Duration of Course in weeks: 15 in Fall, and 15 in Spring
Amount of Course Credit: 0.25 each semester (0.5 total)
Course Description: This course accommodates the Green Living-Learning
Community and addresses specific ecological, social and economic topics from a
sustainability framework. These issues will be looked through both temporal (shortterm, long-term) and spatial (local, global) lenses and serve as a background for
developing skills in stakeholder engagement, systems thinking, indicator
development, decision making under uncertainty and change management.
Course Rationale:
EES 94 works towards achieving Goal 3A of The Strategic Plan, which aims to “raise
the visibility of how the campus community can support sustainability efforts"
(Goal 3A). This course provides students the opportunity to describe global
environmental trends while delineating the local actions needed to address those
trends. Additionally, students will apply this knowledge to ‘green living’ activities/
projects that benefit our campus and/or Moraga community. These projects will
build on learning outcomes from ‘environmental and earth sciences’ as well as Core
Curriculum skills, such as ‘critical thinking’ and ‘scientific understanding’, as
identified here:
 Comprehend environmental problems from multiple perspectives;
 Display cognizance of ethical considerations and be mindful of them when
constructing solutions to environmental problems;
 Recognize the interconnectedness of earth’s ecosystems and human
dependence on them
 Demonstrate an understanding of scientific concepts, principles, and theories
that explain the natural and physical world
 Recognize and formulate effective written and oral communication, giving
appropriate consideration to audience, context and format;
 Use the process of writing to enhance intellectual discovery and unravel
complexities of thought
Prerequisites: Students in this course must live in the Green Living-Learning
Community, which is located in Claeys South (1st floor) and be a member of the
Green Gaels student club.
Number and Type of Student: 12 sophomores with general interest in sustainability
Course Schedule
EES 94 will meet in the afternoon/early evening every other week (TBD). Each
month will address a new sustainability issue, with the first week contextualizing
the issue for the individual and the second week framing sustainability at the
community level.
For each topic (October-May), the class will frame the problem by identifying:
-parts and linkages within the system
-key stakeholders and possible perspectives
-effective ways to measure the system (indicators)
-possible solutions and the present uncertainties
Month
Theme
Sept:
Week 1
Sustainability,
an introduction Objective: Students will be able to explain principles of
sustainability (systems thinking, interconnectedness,
tradeoffs, decision-making under multiple perspectives and
uncertainty, stakeholder engagement).
Readings:
- Sustainability 2.0, Ehrenfeld & Hoffman
-“Definitions of Sustainability
-“Why Bother?” by Michael Pollan
-“Advice from an Accidental Activist” by Colin Beavan
-Video for Discussion: “Where Good Ideas Come From” by
Steven Johnson
-“Systems Thinking and the Iceberg Model”
-Bridge at the Edge of the World by James Gustave Speth
-“Seeing the Whole Picture” by Peter M. Senge, Joe Laur, Bryan Smith, Nina Kruschwitz, and Sara Schley
-“Hug Shareholders, Not Just Trees” by Thomas L. Friedman
-“Why is Sustainability a Strategic Issue?” by Darcy Hitchcock
and Marsha Willard
-Video: “Ray Anderson on Sustainability” by Mark Achbar,
Jennifer Abbott, and Joel Bakan
Assignment: Reflections on week’s reading
Week 2
Objective: Students will explore the role of sustainability in an
organization and discuss triple bottom line (people, planet,
profit) decision-making. Students will also identify actionable
interests for campus projects.
Readings:
“The Roots of Sustainability”
“Five Guiding Principles” by William McDonough and Michael
Braungart
The Natural Step Framework and Case Studies
“The Power of One” by Ray Anderson
“Creating a Culture of Sustainability” by Andrew W. Savitz
October:
Waste
Assignment: Project brainstorming activity, reflections on
readings
Week 1:
Objective: Students will be able to describe the components
of our consumption economy and identify sustainable actions
beyond recycling materials.
Readings:
-When It’s All Too Much by Barry Schwartz
-Stepping Lightly by Mark Burch
-Attached to Technology and Paying a Price by Matt Richtel
-When Enough is Enough by F. Marina Shauffler
Assignment: Waste Audit (activity), reflections on readings
Week 2:
Guest Speaker – Kimberly Lam, Jency James (Republic
Waste Services)
Objective: Students will take a tour of
landfill/recycling/compost facilities and perform a campus
project that educates our SMC campus on waste.
Readings
-Zero Waste: The zero waste index: a performance
measurement tool for waste management systems in a ‘zero
waste city’
-Teachings of World Religions on Consumption.
-Video: Story of Stuff
Assignment: Project Problem Statement Defined,
“Documenting the Story of Waste” for SMC (activity),
Reflections Due
November:
Responsible
Consumerism
Week 1:
Objective: Students will be able to identify the multiple
elements of ‘responsible consumerism’ and practice
alternative approaches to ‘buying more’.
Readings:
-“Detroit Speech” by Robert F. Kennedy
-“What Isn’t for Sale?” by Michael J. Sandel
-“Fight Consumerism: Love Your Stuff” by James Shelley
-Homemade Prosperity by Shannon Hayes
-Do It Yourself! The DIY Movement by Carolyn White
Assignment: Project action plan (outline), Purchasing audit
activity (activity)
Week 2:
Guest Speaker – Asbjorn Moseidjord and Economics Club
Objective: Students will be able to identify and discuss the
economic argument for sustainability by considering
externalities and tradeoffs.
Readings:
-“The iPhone and Consumer Guilt” by Annie Leonard
-“Off the Pedestal” by James Gustave Speth
-“The Problem with No Growth” by Francis Moore Lappé
-“Saving the Earth on the Cheap” by Paul Rauber
December:
Health &
Wellbeing
Assignment: Finish Project Plan, Reflection on readings,
Week 1:
Objective: Students will be able to identify habits of a
sustainable self as well as describe the nexus between
social justice and environmental justice.
Readings
-The Diagnosis of the Unknown Physician by Carolyn
Raffensperger
-Beyond the Patient by Lee Thirer
-The Coming Age of Ecological Medicine by Kenny Ausubel
-Environmental Amnesia by Sandra Steingraber
-Our Chemical Legacy by Stacy Malkan
-Why Bikes are a Sustainable Wonder by John C. Ryan
-Leave No Child Inside by Richard Louv
Assignment: Project Plan due, Reflections due
January:
Communities
Week 1:
Objective: Students will describe the role(s) and impact of
individuals towards the development of community.
Readings:
-“Creating a Culture of Sustainability” by Andrew W. Savitz
-“Leading from the Middle: The Power of the Green Champion”
by Judith Nemes
-“Five Guiding Principles” by William McDonough and Michael
Braungart
-”Earth’s Innovators” by Dashka Slater
-“The Power of One” by Ray Anderson
Assignment: Phase 1 Execution of Project Plan, reflection on
readings
Week 2:
Guest Speaker – Marshall Welch
Objective: Students will practice key skills – facilitation and
stakeholder engagement – within community engagement
Readings: (need updated)
-“12 Features of Sustainable Community Development” by
Steven Peck and Guy Dauncey
-“The Shareable Future of Cities” by Alex Steffen
-“Inside Ithaca’s EcoVillage” by Katerina Athanasiou
-“Stapleton: Repurposing a Site”
-“To Build Community, an Economy of Gifts” by Charles
Eisenstein
-“Forging Friendlier Neighborhoods”
-“How to Build Community”
Assignment: Phase 2 Execution of Project Plan, reflection on
readings
Week 1:
February:
Transportation
& Energy
Objective: Students will discuss and analyze trends and
problems within mobility and identify the opportunities for
improvement from a sustainability lens.
Readings
Visualize Gasoline” by Richard Heinberg
-“Chain of Fuels: The Story of a 20,000 Mile Spinach Salad” by
Amanda Little
-“We Love Our Cars, but Can They Be Bad for Us?” by Dan
Burden
-“Little Town Makes Big Leap toward Smart Travel” by
Washington State Department of Transportation
-“How to Make Biking Mainstream: Lessons from the Dutch” by
Jay Walljasper
- “Complete Streets Fundamentals”
Assignment: Phase 3 Execution of Project Plan, reflection
readings
Week 2:
Objective: Students will describe the changing landscape of
energy demand and supply and its effect on our efforts
around climate change mitigation/adaptation.
Readings:
-Powering Sustainable Energy for All” by Ban Ki-Moon
-A Chance to “A Clean Energy Future” by Alex Steffen
-“In the Energy Wars, It’s Solar Power: 1, Fossil Fuels: 0. For
Now.” by Katie Wudel
-“Evolution of Renewable Energy”
-“Using Energy Efficiently” by Alex Steffen and Jamais Casclo
-“Low-Cost and No-Cost Tips for Saving Money and Using Less
Energy”
-“The Texas Town That Just Quit Fossil Fuels” by Daniel Gross
-“Question the Norm” by Maggie Koerth-Baker
March: Water
Assignment: Phase 4 Execution of Project Plan, Energy/
Transportation educational programming (activity)
Week 1:
Objective: Students will describe sustainability issues
surrounding water systems (inflow/outflow,
groundwater/surface water) and apply this information to a
local watershed.
Readings
Assignment: Phase 5 Execution of Project Plan, reflection on
readings
Week 2:
Guest Speaker – East Bay Municipality Utilities District
Objective: Students will take a tour of a water treatment plant
and perform a campus project that educates our SMC
campus on water.
Readings
April: Food
Assignment: Phase 6 Execution of Project Plan,
“Documenting the Story of Water” for SMC (activity)
Week 1:
Objective: Students will be able to compare and contrast the
various food systems employed while describing the benefits
and tradeoffs of said systems.
Readings
“What’s Eating America” by Michael Pollan
-“Beyond ‘Free’ or ‘Fair’ Trade” by Mike Wold
-“A Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change” by the
Environmental Working Group
-“Stalking the Vegetannual” by Barbara Kingsolver
-“The Pringles Problem” by Anna Lappé
-“A Look at the $175 in your Compost” by Dana Gunders
- “The Need for Radical Homemakers” by Shannon Hayes
-“A Seat at the Table” by Carolyn Steel
Assignment: Phase 7 Execution of Project Plan, Food
mapping (activity)
Week 2:
Guest Speaker - Julie Welch, Manager of Legacy Garden
Objective: Students will employ best practices in gardening
at Legacy Garden while discussing the future visions of
sustainability.
Readings:
“Free Your (Eco)Mind” by Frances Moore Lappé
-“On Gratitude” by Alex Stark
-”To Live or Not to Live” by Derrick Jensen“Boulder Votes to Free Its Electric Company” by Valerie
Schloredt
-“The Great Disruption” by Paul Gilding
Video for Discussion: “Growing Our Way into a New Economy”
by Stephen Ritz
-“Living Green Isn’t a Sacrifice” by Donella Meadows.
May
Assignment: Phase 8 Execution of Project Plan, reflection on
readings
Project Presentations & Assessment
Objective: Students will share the results of their project
while exhibiting best practices in peer feedback.
Class Assessment
15% - Active and informed class participation
The Green Living-Learning Community is a small community. Participation is hence
key to the community growing and thriving. Consistent and informed communication
inside and outside of the classroom will be judged on a sliding scale. Check-ins will
occur throughout the semester. A rubric will be provided.
30% - Bi-weekly reflections
Students will provide reflections to readings, guest speakers, and/or activities
throughout the semester. Evaluations will consider the understanding of the topic as
well as the ability to connect it. A rubric will be provided.
15% - Activities
Students will be asked to perform three activities on assigned topics throughout the
semesters. Planning, execution and measurement of these activities will be the basis of
assessment. Each activity will be worth 5% and will have its own rubric.
Activities will feature one or more of the following action items:
 Public Service Announcement
 Audit
 Educational Outreach
 Advocacy
 Organized Event
40% - Semester Project
Students will plan a sustainability project that addresses a void on campus or in the
local community. Plans, stakeholder engagement, completion and measurement will
be included in the assessment.
Examples include: hosting a DIY workshop for interested students across campus;
committing a waste management plan for athletics; implementing a rain barrel pilot
project.