Miami University
EN-2: Student Orientation

-- For first-years, the Miami University guidebook contains "Suggested First-Year Courses" for Arts and Science. Included and highlighted (among others) are:

(1) ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (A.B.)
Potential Career Paths: environmental consulting and planning firms, energy and mineral resource companies, or government agencies, such as the National Park Service, environmental protection agencies, health department as well as in schools and universities, a wide array of both small and large corporations, legal practices, non-profit organizations, and even the news media.

(2) ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CO-MAJOR
To complete the environmental science co-major, you must also complete the requirements for a primary major. Students may select any major as the primary major, although majors in the biological or physical sciences will find the most overlap among the requirements. First select courses recommended for the primary major, and then select courses to satisfy the introductory requirements for the co-major.

(3) FOOD SYSTEMS AND FOOD STUDIES CO-MAJOR
To complete this co-major, you must also complete the requirements for a primary major.

(4) GEOGRAPHY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (A.B.)
Potential Career Paths: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analyst, environmental consultant, conservationist, retail/marketing analyst, foreign service representative, transportation planner, careers in international and domestic businesses or in government agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Census Bureau, and State Department.

(5) SUSTAINABILITY CO-MAJOR
To complete the Sustainability Co-major, you must also complete a primary major. Students may select any major as the primary major, although majors in business, creative arts, humanities and social sciences will find the most overlap among the requirements. First select courses recommended for the primary major, and then select courses to satisfy the introductory requirements for the co-major.

https://www.miamioh.edu/student-life/orientation-and-transition/_files/documents/guidebook/2021-2022student-guidebook_508.pdf

--Welcome Weekend is a series of events and programs designed to welcome students to Miami University before the start of fall semester classes. Programs are open to all new first-year students transfer students, as well as returning second-year students. Included are Block Party and Mega Fair where many sustainability-focused organizations host sustainability tabling events and educational activities (when not in a global pandemic). Specifically, Mega Fair is a primary event for the EcoReps to distribute free reusable water bottles to incoming students.

--For Graduate Students, the following information is included in the online Canvas course

LEARN MORE! Miami University - Sustainability

Miami University achieved a Gold STARS rating (Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment Rating System) in recognition of sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education! Find out more here - https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/miami-university-oh/report/

Miami University is committed to sustainability in our academic programs, physical campus and operations, and university mission by promoting environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability for current and future generations. This commitment is a collaborative effort that involves students, faculty, staff and external partners.

In 2020, President Crawford made a formal commitment to carbon neutrality by signing Second Nature’s Climate Presidents’ Climate Leadership Commitment (PCLC).

President Crawford created the Climate Action Task Force and appointed Dr. Jonathan Levy, Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), and Dr. Adam Sizemore, Director of Sustainability, as co-chairs.

The Climate Action Task Force’s Executive Steering Committee includes staff, faculty and a student representative who represent topics of climate action across campus. The Climate Action Task Force will:
Conduct a campus-community Climate Resilience Assessment by May 2023, focused on adapting to forthcoming impacts of climate change.

Produce a Climate Action Plan by May 2024, focused on developing a plan and target date by which Miami University will achieve carbon neutrality on the Oxford campus.

The Climate Action Task Force’s work builds on decades worth of achievements in our Physical Facilities, which has reduced/eliminated energy consumption and increased the use of geothermal energy on campus. This work reduced energy-based carbon emissions by 52% per gsf between 2008-2019!

The Climate Action Task Force will further this work by aiming to reduce the emissions caused by commuting (student, faculty, and staff) , university-financed air travel, and fuel for campus owned vehicles!

At Miam, you play a key role in helping us achieve carbon neutrality and sustainability broadly! If interested in getting involved or wanting to learn more: Go to the Sustainability website - https://miamioh.edu/about-miami/sustainability/index.html

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter - at (@) miamiohsustainability
Contact the Director of Sustainability - Dr. Adam Sizemore - sizemod3@miamioh.edu

Recycling Tips!
If you are new on campus and in Oxford, please learn and follow the local recycling rules set by our contracted waste management organization, Rumpke, as they may differ from your previous locality’s rules. Practicing a zero-waste lifestyle or eliminating the use of single-use products is a priority and highly encouraged. For items you can’t practice zero-waste, check out what you can, and cannot, recycle on campus and in the city of Oxford: They are included here https://miamioh.edu/about-miami/sustainability/pfd-initiatives/waste-management/index.html

Contact Susan Meikle - meiklesb@miamioh.edu