Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.84
Liaison Natalie Sobrinski
Submission Date June 6, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Muhlenberg College
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Richard Niesenbaum
Professor, Biology, Director, Sustainability Studies Program
Biology
"---" 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, including how each program addresses the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability:

Muhlenberg College offers 4 immersive, sustainability-focused educational study programs. The programs include one or both of the following criteria:
It concentrates on sustainability, including its social, economical and environmental dimensions and/or it examines an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Costa Rica:
“Students explore solutions to the delicate problem of environmental and cultural conservation in developing countries with a focus on Costa Rica. During the spring semester, students develop projects and prepare for the two-week study/research/travel experience to Costa Rica at the end of May. This preparation includes study of the area's ecological diversity; political, cultural, and social issues; research skills; and relevant Spanish vocabulary and conversation skills. In Costa Rica, students explore a variety of habitats, live in and interact with members of a small town, and conduct both community service and independent research projects. Research projects focus on the ecology, sociology, culture, sustainability, and public health of the region. One of the objectives of the program is to remove the blinders of specific discipline-based learning and of our own culture to show that if we are to develop sustainable solutions.”
*This description was copied from our Capstone course system
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/sustainability/courses/

Bangladesh:
“This team-taught course examines the impact of climate change on economic, social, and political development by focusing on the nation of Bangladesh. In addition to introducing students to the science and politics of climate change, the course also examines the specific environmental, economic, and social challenges confronting Bangladesh's political development since its independence; investigates the environmental and social consequences of state-sponsored development strategies, especially recent market-based 'neo-liberal' policies; and evaluates new 'sustainable development' strategies that are emerging as a response to the challenges posed by climate change.”
*This description was copied from our Capstone course system

China:
“..addresses sustainable development in China and includes a two week travel experience in the Pearl River Delta region of China.”

Allentown:
Local Sustainability
This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing sustainability at the local level either in the Muhlenberg community or communities in the Lehigh Valley, and will explore human-environment issues within the context of the relationship among individuals and institutions. Through readings, presentations, and the development of individual research projects, students will assess current sustainability efforts and develop recommendations for future efforts. Research projects may include surveying community members about perceptions and attitudes towards sustainability and environmental issues, assessing current sustainability efforts, and interviewing local experts, members of organizations and politicians. Priorities for research will be determined in collaboration with the community, and results and recommendations will be shared.


Costa Rica:
“Students explore solutions to the delicate problem of environmental and cultural conservation in developing countries with a focus on Costa Rica. During the spring semester, students develop projects and prepare for the two-week study/research/travel experience to Costa Rica at the end of May. This preparation includes study of the area's ecological diversity; political, cultural, and social issues; research skills; and relevant Spanish vocabulary and conversation skills. In Costa Rica, students explore a variety of habitats, live in and interact with members of a small town, and conduct both community service and independent research projects. Research projects focus on the ecology, sociology, culture, sustainability, and public health of the region. One of the objectives of the program is to remove the blinders of specific discipline-based learning and of our own culture to show that if we are to develop sustainable solutions.”
*This description was copied from our Capstone course system
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/sustainability/courses/

Bangladesh:
“This team-taught course examines the impact of climate change on economic, social, and political development by focusing on the nation of Bangladesh. In addition to introducing students to the science and politics of climate change, the course also examines the specific environmental, economic, and social challenges confronting Bangladesh's political development since its independence; investigates the environmental and social consequences of state-sponsored development strategies, especially recent market-based 'neo-liberal' policies; and evaluates new 'sustainable development' strategies that are emerging as a response to the challenges posed by climate change.”
*This description was copied from our Capstone course system

China:
“..addresses sustainable development in China and includes a two week travel experience in the Pearl River Delta region of China.”

Allentown:
Local Sustainability
This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing sustainability at the local level either in the Muhlenberg community or communities in the Lehigh Valley, and will explore human-environment issues within the context of the relationship among individuals and institutions. Through readings, presentations, and the development of individual research projects, students will assess current sustainability efforts and develop recommendations for future efforts. Research projects may include surveying community members about perceptions and attitudes towards sustainability and environmental issues, assessing current sustainability efforts, and interviewing local experts, members of organizations and politicians. Priorities for research will be determined in collaboration with the community, and results and recommendations will be shared.

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.