The undersigned support the proposal to ensure that all UCSB undergraduate students graduate having taken at least one course related to the environment by way of a new general education (GE) requirement. Establishing this GE will underscore UCSB’s commitment to providing instruction that is pertinent to addressing pressing societal needs and ensuring that UC students can approach whatever career they pursue with an understanding of the relationship between humans and the environment. If approved, the requirement will be a “special subjects” general education requirement, which would mean that a student could have one class count as the environmental general education requirement, as well as one or more other GE requirements, such as their history or writing requirements. In 2013-2014, 92% of graduating students, who starting as freshman already took at least one course that would fit this description and these courses currently exist in 56% of departments At UCSB.
In response to student demand and several university-wide commitments, we propose to establish a new GE Special Subject Area requirement focusing on the relationship between human societies and the environment. This generation of students will be living in a world where global environmental changes, both natural and anthropocentric (i.e. human-caused), will challenge the ability of the Earth to sustain human populations. According to the more than 1,300 scientists that contributed to the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment:
“…Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of the Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.”
Campuses that address the climate challenge by reducing global warming emissions and by integrating sustainability into their curriculum will better serve their students and meet their social mandate to help create a thriving, ethical and civil society. These colleges and universities will be providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the critical, systemic challenges faced by the world in this new century and enable them to benefit from the economic opportunities that will arise as a result of solutions they develop.
Therefore, we must provide as part of our students’ general education an introduction to environmental and sustainability issues as these will indisputably shape their futures. This will be especially important for those students who are least likely to take a course in the environment or sustainability without such a requirement.
Updates
November 12, 2015
I have been meeting with department heads this week to discuss why this requirement is essential for the next generation of graduates. The conversations are challenging but they reveal a clear path forward for integrating these courses into our standard curriculum.
November 12, 2015
Seeing this conversation take off across campus reminds me why I started this effort in my first year. It is incredible to see so many students recognizing that our education must evolve to meet the reality of the environmental challenges we are inheriting.
6 Comments
There's the obvious truth - we have one planet, let's take care of it and be responsible citizens. There's another less obvious, but equally powerful truth - "environmental careers" offer well-paid professions in growing industries. In a global and competitive world, you are better served as a graduate to focus on growing industries that have significant impact and value in the world. You are also more likely to find interesting, fulfilling opportunities if you can see a new or different perspective, which an environmental focus often provides. Completing an environmental education component is the right thing to do as a human, and the right thing to do as a scholar.
Environmental literacy is critical to more and more professions as we struggle to address climate change and other global environmental challenges as a society.
This is such a great idea! Some people are just uneducated about their actions effects of the environment and the earth we live in! I never thought of this idea to help educate, but it's a truly great one.
Like the idea
yes as #3 sustainable university it's imperative we ensure our students are sustainably literate and graduate equipped with the knowledge to live sustainably and make sustainable choices
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
The undersigned support the proposal to ensure that all UCSB undergraduate students graduate having taken at least one course related to the environment by way of a new general education (GE) requirement. Establishing this GE will underscore UCSB’s commitment to providing instruction that is pertinent to addressing pressing societal needs and ensuring that UC students can approach whatever career they pursue with an understanding of the relationship between humans and the environment. If approved, the requirement will be a “special subjects” general education requirement, which would mean that a student could have one class count as the environmental general education requirement, as well as one or more other GE requirements, such as their history or writing requirements. In 2013-2014, 92% of graduating students, who starting as freshman already took at least one course that would fit this description and these courses currently exist in 56% of departments At UCSB.
In response to student demand and several university-wide commitments, we propose to establish a new GE Special Subject Area requirement focusing on the relationship between human societies and the environment. This generation of students will be living in a world where global environmental changes, both natural and anthropocentric (i.e. human-caused), will challenge the ability of the Earth to sustain human populations. According to the more than 1,300 scientists that contributed to the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment:
“…Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of the Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.”
Campuses that address the climate challenge by reducing global warming emissions and by integrating sustainability into their curriculum will better serve their students and meet their social mandate to help create a thriving, ethical and civil society. These colleges and universities will be providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the critical, systemic challenges faced by the world in this new century and enable them to benefit from the economic opportunities that will arise as a result of solutions they develop.
Therefore, we must provide as part of our students’ general education an introduction to environmental and sustainability issues as these will indisputably shape their futures. This will be especially important for those students who are least likely to take a course in the environment or sustainability without such a requirement.
Updates
November 12, 2015
I have been meeting with department heads this week to discuss why this requirement is essential for the next generation of graduates. The conversations are challenging but they reveal a clear path forward for integrating these courses into our standard curriculum.
November 12, 2015
Seeing this conversation take off across campus reminds me why I started this effort in my first year. It is incredible to see so many students recognizing that our education must evolve to meet the reality of the environmental challenges we are inheriting.
6 Comments
This is absolutely the right way UCs should be moving... incorporating a GE that will get students environmentally literate and prepared to understand why sustainability is important and how they might apply that to their major.
There's the obvious truth - we have one planet, let's take care of it and be responsible citizens. There's another less obvious, but equally powerful truth - "environmental careers" offer well-paid professions in growing industries. In a global and competitive world, you are better served as a graduate to focus on growing industries that have significant impact and value in the world. You are also more likely to find interesting, fulfilling opportunities if you can see a new or different perspective, which an environmental focus often provides. Completing an environmental education component is the right thing to do as a human, and the right thing to do as a scholar.
Environmental literacy is critical to more and more professions as we struggle to address climate change and other global environmental challenges as a society.
This is such a great idea! Some people are just uneducated about their actions effects of the environment and the earth we live in! I never thought of this idea to help educate, but it's a truly great one.
Like the idea
yes as #3 sustainable university it's imperative we ensure our students are sustainably literate and graduate equipped with the knowledge to live sustainably and make sustainable choices
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 50 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
This is absolutely the right way UCs should be moving... incorporating a GE that will get students environmentally literate and prepared to understand why sustainability is important and how they might apply that to their major.