Implementing Sustainability Curricula at SUNY Sullivan. A Small College with a Big Commitment to Sustainability Education

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2 Implementing Sustainability Curricula at SUNY Sullivan A Small College with a Big Commitment to Sustainability Education

3 Presenters Michael Fisher, Professor, Chair-Division of Professional Studies MA, Media Studies, The New School for Social Research BS, Speech-Radio and Television, Syracuse University Larry Reeger, Assistant Professor-Wind Turbine Technology Wind Turbine Technician II Helena Linky le Roux Ohm, Director of Sustainability, Assistant Professor-Green Building Maintenance and Management PhD, in progress, Sustainability Education, Prescott University MS, Environmental Studies, University of Montana BS, Natural Resources: Ecology, University of Vermont

4 SUNY Sullivan-Where We Are

5 SUNY Sullivan-Who We Are Opened in 1963-Coming up on 50 years The smallest unit in SUNY More than 1400 full and part-time students Over 40 degree and certificate programs

6 SUNY Sullivan-Who We Are Very Rural-The size of Rhode Island with 7% of the population-less than half of Providence (2009) 76K fulltime (triples in the summer)-71% rural 25% of employed are in education or social services and 22% are employed by gov t Median family income is $42,781 The hotels are gone and there is no baseline industry At least 40% of our students are from out of county and it has been as high as 60%-we have dorms

7 SUNY Sullivan-Who We Are Our mission is to provide programs and resources that educate, inspire and empower our students and the broader community. To prepare students for an increasingly diverse, dynamic and interconnected world, SUNY Sullivan will model sustainable actions and promote socially and environmentally responsible citizenship.

8 SUNY s First Geothermal Campus

9 A Local Law 100 Miles Away Drives a Curriculum New York City Local Law 86 of 2005 Projects of $200 Million or more for new, additions, or substantial reconstruction (2 major systems, 50% of floor space) must comply with a wide range of green standards Someone has to run those buildings We got some help! A curriculum with a consultant We got approval-august 2008

10 Green Building Maintenance and 1 st Semester: Intro to Green Buildings Intro to Renewable Energy Systems Composition 1 Basic Algebra (or higher) Computer Elective Freshman Seminar Management 2nd Semester: Energy Management Green Building Materials Ethics Fundamentals of Speech Environmental Science + Environmental Science Lab

11 Green Building Maintenance and Management 3 rd Semester: Building Automation and Controls Solar and Wind Systems Commercial Electrical Microeconomics Liberal Arts Elective 4 th Semester: Care of Green Spaces Troubleshooting Green Building Systems Green HVAC Environmental Economics Human Resources Management

12 Challenges We had a curriculum-we didn t have an instructor We didn t have a space We didn t have much available for marketing We launched and the economy tanked

13 Meeting the Challenges We conducted a search-and got lucky Another program s loss was our gain The college committed to a substantial marketing budget With jobs scarce, college was a better option

14 Marketing We were in every paper and on the radio all summer

15 Facilities We and SUNYGreensNY

16 Trainers and Simulators

17 2.8 KW PV Array

18 2.5 KW Small Wind Turbine

19 2.5 KW Small Wind Turbine

20 Sustainability Cluster

21 Some Thoughts on the Curriculum Emphasizes the principles of ecology, ecological design, and biomimicry Provides hands-on training related to wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, and geothermal HVAC systems Encourages transformative education, in which students are actively engaged in reenvisioning the future of building maintenance and management

22 How Are We Doing? We projected we d start with 6 students We started with 22 And, grew to over 40 Settled back to around 30

23 Casting Our Fates to the Wind An experimental vertical shaft turbine was being constructed adjacent to the campus A large wind turbine was contracted as part of an energy efficiency program PSC study found 5000 MW wind potential and every MW creates 4 job-years of employment 2008 NYS Renewable Energy Portfolio projected 24% of energy from renewables, requiring up to 43,000 jobs.

24 Wind Turbine Technology 1 st Semester: Wind Turbines I Meteorology and Lab Standard First Aid Composition I Basic Algebra (or higher) Sustainability Seminar 2nd Semester: Wind Turbines II DC Electrical Energy Management (GRB 1300) Intermediate Algebra and Trigonometry Microeconomics

25 Wind Turbine Technology 3 rd Semester: Building Automation and Controls (GRB 2100) Hydraulics Electrical Motors and Generators Technical Physics and Lab AC Electrical 4 th Semester: Environmental Economics Mechanical Systems Wind Turbine Siting and Cost Control Wind Turbine Field Experience Fundamentals of Speech

26 Challenges Finding an instructor The experimental turbine project was halted and the turbine demolished The large wind turbine is in litigation We did not have the same funding for marketing We got an instructor so late that we missed the recruiting season

27 Meeting the Challenges Go to cocktail parties-you never know who is in your backyard Use small wind and simulators to get started Use free resources to market and keep plugging We started with 3 students

28 On Deck We have approval to offer WTT online Through SUNYGreensNY, we have offered 3 courses online via SUNY Learning Network Intro to Renewable Energy Solar and Wind Systems Building Automation and Controls Through HVEC we are offering GRB via ITV and SLN

29 On Deck A Sustainability Studies curriculum is in our process and is awaiting curriculum committee approval

30 On Deck We have Director of Sustainability to oversee the entire college effort There is a $50K grant application for a service learning project to compost all of the college food waste and promote the concept to the community Our fall new student orientation is being structured around sustainability

31 Our Contact Info Like us at: Sustainable SUNY Sullivan