University of Connecticut
AC-5: Immersive Experience

From University's Environmental Policy Statement: Academics: The University will advance understanding of the environment through its curriculum, research and other academic programs, and will employ an ethic of environmental stewardship in all intellectual pursuits. General: the university offers a wide variety of sustainability-focused immersive programs through study abroad, including, but not limited to: UConn Environment and Natural Resources in Beijing, China UConn Politics of Energy and Sustainable Development in Istanbul, Turkey UConn Sustainable Food and Environmental Systems in Florence, Italy UConn EcoHouse Winter in SubAntarctic in Patagonia, Chile UConn Patagonian Biodiversity and Horse Culture UConn Winter in Costa Rica: Economic Development and Human Rights in Latin America This past year, a cohort of UConn students attended COP21 for an immersive week-long experience at the global climate summit. Student groups and experiences on campus include, but are not limited to: Student undergraduate housing which promotes sustainability is also offered. EcoHouse, the sustainable living and learning community at UConn, requires students to attend lectures, seminars and complete volunteer hours related to sustainability and environmental topics. These students live in East Campus dorms next to Whitney dining hall (which promotes and serves locally grown, organic food). Additionally, there is a subset of EcoHouse called Spring Valley Student Farm which offers a full immersive experience in sustainable farming. These students live on the farm and are required to do 10 hours of work per week to help sustain farm operations. Many of the students live at the farm year-round, because most harvesting begins in summer. All students living in EcoHouse receive one credit hour per semester to reflect their immersive learning experience. On campus, the undergraduate student interns in the Office of Environmental Policy work in support of environmental initiatives, ranging from making successful policy and events to general outreach and setting of sustainability goals. Students create outreach materials, plan events, conduct surveys, write grants and award applications, interview faculty, work on sustainability pledges and drives, and attend policy meetings as full committee members.

Kerrin Kinnear, another OEP intern, wrote a blog about her study abroad experience in Copenhagen, Denmark. https://uconnoep.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/a-green-nations-best-friend/