The Summer Sustainability Series will continue to evolve, deepening our program for both professionals and students, and broadening our program to include other areas of sustainability. The discussion below provides further background on our approach for 2008, and our plans for 2009 and beyond.
- 2008: 4-day Program on Sustainability in the Urban Built Environment
- 2009: Three Simultaneous 2-week Programs
The four-day 2008 program features professionals and students learning side-by-side, through a revealing selection of site visits, meetings with experts, and intense facilitated discussions. Professionals bring experience and real-world knowledge, while students add challenging questions and a fresh ‘why not?’ approach.
- Cross-Sector Experts: Unlike a traditional academic experience or a conference, this program will be presented by a combination of leaders – including university professors, business people, government officials, and non-profit leaders.
- Pre-Work: Participants will receive reading materials and other background information to review prior to their arrival, ensuring everyone has a basic introduction and making the program as time-efficient as possible.
- Lasting Value: After the program, additional information will be available online (information on the sites visited, specific tools provided by the presenters, and so on). This website will be extended to serve as a networking vehicle to foster and maintain connections between program alumni.
In 2009, the Summer Sustainability Series will be expanded in two dimensions – adding new subject areas (tracks), and providing intensive preparation for students before the professionals arrive.
- Multiple Tracks: The 2009 Series will include these three tracks, offered simultaneously:
- Sustainability in the Urban Built Environment
- Sustainable Food & Agriculture Systems
- Green Products and Management
- Intensive Student Preparation: The 2009 program also adds a 10-day preparation program for students, giving them an intensive overview of the topic before the professionals arrive. See illustration below.
The students in all 3 tracks (listed above) arriving on Day 1 will participate in a shared experience – the sustainability framework and team building exercises. From then on, the three different tracks will have their own separate content and day trips/site visits. Some evening content or events may include participants from multiple tracks. See illustration below outlining the Series.
- Guiding Principles: These goals will guide future program development as we expand our offerings in 2009 and beyond:
- Use a multi-disciplined approach and offer cross-listed academic programs
- Ensure the first 10 days brings students from a baseline to solid working foundation
- Plan the last 4 days to challenge both professionals and students, and push beyond the current thinking
- Maintain a three-way dialogue: presenters, professionals, students
- Deliver practical, valuable tools to professionals
- Expose students to real-world issues and mentors
- Include a multi-sector mix of contributors: industry, university, government, not for profit
- Provide university credit for students
- Provide certificates and continuing education units (CEUs) for professionals
