Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.54
Liaison Tom Hartzell
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2020

STARS v2.2

Calvin University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Becky Haney
Associate Professor
Economics
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution offer at least one immersive, sustainability-focused educational study program that is one week or more in length?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s) offered by the institution:
First Year Research Seminar: FYRES students have the opportunity to take a physical science course in which they learn by doing science. From the beginning to the end of the semester (and beyond), students are immersed in research activities that focus on Lake Michigan coastal dunes. Naturally, these activities include spending considerable time at the dunes!

The program works to help restore the dunes to their natural, sustainable state by planting new grasses and building sand fences. This helps stop erosion and the gradual moving of the dunes toward roads and houses.

See FYRES research by year here (Evaluation of Stability and Restoration
of a Michigan Coastal Dune): https://calvin.edu/academics/departments-programs/fyres/research/

Website URL where information about the institution’s immersive education programs is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Other options for immersion experiences that could be reported include:
1. Wilderness Passport
2. Creation Care Study Program https://calvin.edu/offices-services/off-campus-programs/creation-care-study-program
3. Several Off-campus Interim courses around sustainability, including :
"Faith and Nature in the Range of Light," https://calvin.edu/offices-services/off-campus-programs/faith-and-nature-in-the-range-of-light-dcm-students-only
and:
"Dutch Landscapes" https://calvin.edu/offices-services/off-campus-programs/idis-w45-dutch-landscapes
(JW 1.22.19)
4. Several interim courses in January utilize the Ecosystem Preserve and Bunker Interpretive Center, including: Senior English Seminar, Artist Collaborative DCM, Nick Cunningan's History DCM.
(JW 6.24.19)

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