Proposal for Creating Living-Learning Community For ‘Building a SMC Sustainability Culture’ Date: November 1st, 2015

Program Title: Green Living-Learning Community *Green Living integrates environmental considerations into all relevant activities, provides opportunities for students to study campus and local environmental problems, conducts environmental audits of its practices, institutes environmentally responsible purchasing policies, reduces campus waste, uses resources efficiently and makes sustainability a priority in its land- use, transportation and building planning. Anticipated Start Date: Fall 2016

I. Learning Outcomes. - Students will be able to describe global environmental trends while delineating the local actions needed to address those trends. - Students will be able to create and scale ‘green living’ projects (ex. Bring Your Own Cup campaign; residential composting)for Claeys South, the larger campus, or Moraga community. -Students will be able to implement personal steps to reduce their environmental footprint. - Students will be able to communicate the benefits of ‘green living’ to others. -Students will be able to demonstrate problem-solving skills that consider multiple disciplines and perspectives.

II. Advantages. This program would benefit the participants in the following ways: - Increased environmental literacy through deeper appreciation of the natural world and its biotic communities - A sense of community with students who share similar interests in promoting sustainability - Improved cognitive skills in the area of holistic, integrative, systems-level thinking - Improved problem-solving skills, leadership skills, and ability to work in groups - Learning about environmental sustainability promotes cross-fertilization among different disciplinary perspectives This program bridges the curricular with the co-curricular goals of Saint Mary’s in the following ways: This program fits in line with our campus’ strategic plan in the following ways:

Goal 2A: A green LLC would help establish “a more community-focused residential experience that goes beyond housing to nurture the mind, body, and spirit.” Living green can challenge one physically, mentally and for some, spiritually as they internalize the role our species plays on Earth.

Goal 3C: In concert with raising “the visibility of how the campus community can support sustainability efforts” a green LLC amplifies the sustainability culture outside the classroom and into students’ daily lives.

- The action plan of the Engagement subcommittee of the Sustainability Committee calls for a sustainability themed residence area, which is a small component of AASHE’s STARS sustainability scorecard.

- Green Living-Learning Community members will enroll in EES [#]: Green Living, where students will earn a 0.25 credit for their work. The syllabus is attached.

This program exemplifies the College’s three traditions in the following ways:

1) The Catholic tradition. In 1990, Pope John Paul II declared that “the ecological crisis has assumed such proportions as to be the responsibility of everyone… A new ecological awareness is beginning to emerge which, rather than being downplayed, out to be encouraged to develop into concrete programs and initiatives.” In 2002, he stated that “Christians and all other believers have a specific role to play in educating people in ecological awareness” (Italics in original. From Stockholm to Johannesburg: An Historical Overview of the Concern of the Holy See for the Environment Vatican City, 2002, p. 150).

The social teaching of the Catholic Church holds that we have a moral obligation to care for the environment, to respect all of God’s creation and to assure that its goods are equitably shared with all.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states: We invite teachers and educators to emphasize, in their classrooms and curricula, a love for God’s creation, a respect for nature, and a commitment to practices and behavior that bring these attitudes into the daily lives of their students and themselves. (“Renewing the Earth”, 1992, p.13)

2) The Lasallian Tradition. The United States Conference of Bishops observes that “the ecological problem is intimately connected to justice for the poor… The poor suffer most directly from environmental decline and have the least access to relief from their suffering” (“Renewing the Earth”, 1992, p.8). 3) The Liberal Arts Tradition. Liberal education prepares students to become principled leaders and responsible members of the communities in which they live, learn, and work. The College is committed to teaching and learning that is “transformative not only for the individual, but also for that person as a member of society at large.”

Today’s students face complex and novel environmental problems. Practicing good environmental citizenship therefore helps students understand their place in an increasingly interdependent world. By helping students to see the environmental problems of the disadvantaged as at least partly their own, practicing sustainability is one expression of the liberal arts commitment to democratic responsibility and civic engagement. It prepares students to contribute responsibly and capably to the common good.

III. Housing location and additional needs: Considering the objectives of this program, the characteristics of the participants, and the different rent structure, we would like a total of 12 residence spaces to be reserved, on the 1 st floor of Claeys South Residence Hall(s). We understand that if these spaces are not filled by March 1st each year, they will be subject to reallocation.

We wish to select the following hall(s) and floor(s) as the living component of our program.

Hall Style Hall Name Hall Selection Floor(s) (Please check Selection the box/boxes to (Please specify make selection) the floor number) Mitty 1st Augustine 1st All Male Halls Justin 1st De La Salle 2nd Mitty 2nd Augustine 2nd Augustine 3rd Augustine 4th All Female Halls Justin 2nd De La Salle 3rd De La Salle 4th Siena Offline Assumption 2nd First Year Honors Living - Co- Assumption 1st Learning Central Ed Aquinas Halls Canyon Michael Ageno Marjorie David Ageno Ferdinand Camille Ageno Townhouse: Ageno East Townhouse: Ageno Santiago Community West Becket Lasallian Community More Claeys North 1st Global Claeys North 2nd Claeys South 1st Green Claeys South 2nd Lower Sabatte Townhouses Syufy Thille Freitas Guerrieri East Guerrieri West

The reason we are requesting this residence hall is: Claeys South is proximal to the Legacy Garden, a distinct element of our sustainability story here at Saint Mary’s College. The Legacy Garden offers students a ready and accessible service and co-curricular opportunities. Additionally, Jane Camarillo, the Chair of the Sustainability Committee, is the Resident Director on this floor.

IV. Selection of students: 1. The participants of this program will be chosen from (include class year, defining characteristics, etc.): Participants will express an interest in ‘green living’ through their involvement in their academics (ex. Environmental & Earth Science Majors) and/or student clubs (ex. Green Gaels, Legacy Garden). This Green LLC will focus on attracting primarily sophomore students, particularly those who come from the aforementioned backgrounds.

2. The participants must fulfill the following criteria:

Participants of this LLC must be a member of the Green Gaels student club and students must fill out a short application form describing their a) interest in green living and b) topics/specific actions they’d like to explore in the coming academic year. 3. Our method of promotion will be: Marketing of the Green LLC will occur through a multi-channel approach that includes: -Tabling -Digital media (emails, social media) -Faculty support (ex. Environmental & Earth Science professors) -Recruitment from active participants within existing student clubs (ex. Green Gaels).

4. Please include a sample of marketing material. Marketing material will be developed at a later time and in concert with existing mediums (ex. Green Gaels newsletter, SMC Environmental Earth Sciences Facebook page).

V. Staffing: 1. Riley Smith will be the program advisor; the contact information is: 925-631-4673; [email protected] 2. This Living-Learning community will also include the following faculty and staff as support: Alice Baldridge; Julia Welch; Jane Camarillo

3. Our goals for the Resident Advisors and Resident Directors of this program are: -Attend and promote programming and initiatives created and implemented by the Green LLC -Coordinate and co-sponsor floor activities with the Green LLC. -Events/programs: Host green events, utilizing the ‘green event’ checklist on SPOT -Ensure all residents on floor receive a basic introduction to green living practices.

4. This Living-Learning community will include student community leaders:

5. If yes, what is the role of the Community Leader(s)?

The community leader(s) will help coordinate (and often lead) programming, marketing and educational efforts within the LLC as well as externally in the SMC community. Ideally, the community leader(s) should live as a part of the community and can be upperclassmen. This is dependent on the student leader. . VI. Programming and Budget: 1. Please include a programmatic calendar for the year.

The following calendar is a tentative layout for the year. The LLC will meet once a month and the 0.25 credit will span the whole year. Please see the syllabus for the 0.25 credit course that accompanies this proposal as well. Month Theme September Individual & the Collective October Waste November Responsible Consumerism December Energy January Communities February Health & Wellbeing March Water April Food May Project Presentations & Assessment

2. Please include a sample budget.

The proposed budget includes the following line items. The only line item that is dependent on number of students in the LLC is ‘Apparel’:

- Programming (food, transportation, events, etc.) - $900 - Green Living Student Projects (CFL light bulbs, shower timers, etc.) - $900 - Apparel - $100-250 - Contingency – $150

VII. Assessment: Our assessment for the Living-Learning community is based on a full year cycle. The assessment will cover the following areas: Assessment will cover the following: - students’ knowledge and skills centered on green living - student satisfaction regarding their experiences in/with the LLC - quantitative impact on collective student behavior and facilities improvements

Assessment of completion of learning outcomes will be provided at the beginning of Fall 2016 as well as at Spring 2017 through surveys and reflections of their experience and personal growth on campus. Additionally, as covered in the syllabus, students will be expected to complete necessary projects for the 0.25 credit that accompanies the Green Living-Learning community.

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