The PLU Experience

Continuing sustainability efforts

Christine Cooley is excited to be at PLU, especially with the many sustainability efforts.

So there's help!

Academics at PLU

Anthropology

ANTH 210: Global Perspectives: The World in Change

A survey of global issues: modernization and development; economic change and international trade; diminishing resources; war and revolution; peace and justice; and cultural diversity.

Biology

o BIOL 116: Introductory Ecology

A study of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment examining concepts in ecology that lead to understanding the nature and structure of ecosystems and how humans impact ecosystems.

o BIOL 323: Ecology, Evolution, and Diversity

Evolution, ecology, behavior, and a systematic survey of life on earth.

o BIOL 424: Ecology

Organisms in relation to their environment, including organismal adaptations, population growth and interactions, and ecosystem structure and function.

o BIOL 427: Conservation Biology and Management

Based upon the principles of population ecology and ecological genetics, an integrated study of the impacts of people on nature - specifically the diversity of plants and animals. Includes practical applications, techniques, and case studies in forest, fish, wildlife and land management.

Chemistry

o CHEM 104: Environmental Chemistry

Basic principles of chemistry and reactions, with applications to human activities and the natural environment.

Economics

o ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics: Global and Environmental

Analysis of public policy and private behavior; appropriate pricing, resource valuation, taxes and subsidies, trade policies, sustainable development, and income growth and distribution.

o ECON 311: Energy and Natural Resource Economics

An intensive economic analysis of natural resource scarcity and a comparison of actual, optimal and sustainable use of energy and natural resources. Comparative international analysis of the relative roles of markets and government in the development and allocation of natural resources over time.

o ECON 313: Environmental Economics

Examines the theory of externalities, pollution regulation, open-access conditions as a basis for environmental degradation, methods of non-market valuation of environmental amenities, and valuation of a statistical life. Attention will be given to both domestic and global examples.

English

o ENGL 234: Environmental Literature

Examines representations of nature in literature, and the ways in which humans define themselves and their relationship with nature through those representations.

Environmental Studies

o ENVT 104: Conservation of Natural Resources

Principles and problems of public and private stewardship of our resources with specific reference to the Pacific Northwest.

o ENVT 239: Environment and Culture

Study of the ways in which environmental issues are shaped by human culture and values. Major conceptions of nature, including non-western perspectives and issues in eco-justice. Critical evaluations of literature, arts, ethics, conceptual frameworks, history, and spirituality.

o ENVT 350: Environmental Methods of Investigation

Study of a watershed using and integrating techniques and principles of environmental sciences, political science, economics, and ethics.

o ENVT 491: Independent Studies

Opportunity to focus on specific topics or issues in environmental studies under the supervision of a faculty member.

o ENVT 495: Internship in Environmental Studies

An internship with a private or public sector agency, organization, or company involved in environmental issues.

Geosciences

o GEOS 101: Our Changing Planet

Exploration of earth systems, including cycles in and connections among the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Discussion of changes in and human impacts to these systems that have taken place through time.

o GEOS 107: Global Climate Change

A survey of current climate change research. Students will develop and apply a fundamental understanding of earth systems through evaluation of geologic and other scientific evidence for long- and short-term climate change.

History

o HIST 370: Environmental History of the U.S.

Uses historical methods to investigate the interrelationship between people and their environment in the United States. Explores the ways in which humans have interacted with, shaped, and been shaped by their physical environments in the past.

International Honors Program

o IHON 281: Energy, Resources and Pollution

Considers worldwide usage of energy and natural resources, and the degradation caused by pollution using scientific, social scientific, political, and ethical approaches.

o IHON 283: Conservation and Sustainable Development

An examination of the relationships among people, natural resources, conservation and sustainable development in a global society. Comparative studies about how historical, political, societal, economic, biological, and political factors affect contemporary resource management and policy.

Philosophy

o PHIL 230: Philosophy, Animals, and the Environment

Examines issues such as resource distribution and consumption, obligations to future generations and the nonhuman life. Various moral theories are examined and applied to ethical issues such as preservation of endangered species, animal experimentation, factory farming, resource consumption, pollution, and population growth.

Political Science

o POLS 210: Global Perspectives: The World in Change

A survey of global issues: modernization and development; economic change and international trade; diminishing resources; war and resolution; peace and justice; and cultural diversity. Cross-listed with ANTH 210

o POLS 346: Environmental Politics and Policy

An examination of environmental problems from political perspectives, including international and domestic political contexts and methods of evaluating policies.

Religion

o RELI 239: Environment and Culture

o RELI 365: Christian Moral Issues

In-depth exploration from the perspective of Christian ethics of selected moral issues such as peace and violence, the environment, sexuality, political and economic systems, hunger, and poverty.

Writing 101 Courses

o Sustainability: Balancing Self, Community, and Environment

Environmental advocates of "sustainability" argue that our ecological crises are at heart not technological problems, but cultural ones. In this course, we'll consider the interrelated challenges of creating healthy selves, communities, and environments.

Sustainability Committee

The Sustainability Committee was formed as a campus collaboration to inspire, promote, and celebrate sustainability at PLU. They are an the springboard for sustainability initiatives on campus and are the best start to getting involved in your own way.

Meetings times are listed at plu.edu/sustainability under important dates. If you would like to address the committee, please email sustain@plu.edu.

Committee Members

Brian Naasz

Clinical Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Chair, Campus Sustainability Committee

Sheri Tonn

Vice President of Finance and Operations

Christine Cooley

Sustainability Resource Coordinator

Susan Harmon

Associate Professor of Business

Kevin O'Brien

Assistant Professor of Religion

Jeff Olsen Krengel

Director of Residential Programs

Gretchen Howell

Human Resources/Commute Smart

Bob Stivers

Professor of Religion, Emeritus

Barbara Conner

clemenba@plu.edu

Emily McCann

Senior Admission Counselor

Jill Whitman

Chair and Professor of Geosciences

Dave Kohler

Director, Facilities Management

Joe Bell

Environmental Health and Safety

Barbara McConathy

Environmental Services Coordinator, Facilities Management

Wendy Robins

Sustainability Operations Manager, Dining Services

Marion Sharp

Development

Tracy Williamson

Humanities Division

Becca Krzmarzick

Student, GREAN

Liisa Nelson

Student, Art Club

Andrew Ratzke

ASPLU Sustainability Director

Emily Tollefson

RHA Sustainability Director

Research

From the Professors of Pacific Lutheran University

What I Learned from the Campus Plumber by Dr. Charles Bergman, Professor of English, October, 2004

The Environmental Studies Program at Pacific Lutheran University: Modeling Cooperation Between Disciplines, 2001, Greening of the Campus IV--Moving to the Mainstream by Dr. Jill Whitman, Professor of Geosciences

Historic Flows, Flow Problems and Fish Presence in Clover Creek---1924-1942: Interviews with Early Residents by Dr. Fred Tobiason, Chemistry Professor

From the Faculty, Staff and Students of Pacific Lutheran University

Greening of the Campus at Pacific Lutheran University: 18 years of Recycling, 2001, Greening of the Campus IV--Moving to the Mainstream , by Barbara McConathy, Environmental Services Coordinator

From the Staff of Pacific Lutheran University

Successfully Integrating Sustainability into the Campus Culture – Connecting Academics, Operations and Student Life, Greening of the Campus VI—Extending Connections, 2005 by Rose McKenney, JillWhitman, Joel Zylstra, Charles Bergman, Dave Kohler, Amanda Miller, and Sheri Tonn

Building a Model of Water Sustainability by Integrating Operations, Research, and Curriculum: Greening of the Campus V—Connecting to Place, 2003 by Rose McKenney, Dave Kohler, Michael Henson, Charles Bergman, and Sheri Tonn

From the Students of Pacific Lutheran University

STARS: Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment, & Rating System by Becca Krzmarzick, Sustainability Fellowship 2009

A Green Welcome to PLU, by Karly Siroky and Carissa Davidson, Sustainability Fellows, April 2010

The Softer Side of Sustainability: Community Based Education, Leadership, and Action at Pacific Lutheran University, by Tamara Power-Drutis, Sustainability Fellowship, March 2008

Focus on Food: PLU's Sustainable Foods Movement, by Rachel Esbjornson, Sustainability Fellowship, August 2006

COMMON GROUND: Proposal for an Organic Community Garden at Pacific Lutheran University, by Kate Fontana, Sustainability Fellowship, August 2006

. . . For the Earth: Sustaining the Mission of Higher Education, by Joel Zylstra, Capstone, May 2005

Sustainable Street Renovation Project at Pacific Lutheran University by Michael Henson, Capstone, May 13, 2004

Integrated Waste Management at Pacific Lutheran University: A Look at the Scientific, Social and Educational Aspects of Composting by Elizabeth N. Stone, Capstone, May 2004

The Biological and Economic Effects of Water Loss in Clover Creek by Kate Dunlap, Capstone, May 13, 2004

A Drip in Time: Water Audit and Survey of Environmental Attitudes of Students in Pacific Lutheran University Residence Halls by Eric Fiesth, Capstone, May 25, 2003

A Literary Approach to Sustainability by Natalie Gulsrud, Capstone, May 2003

Resource Use at PLU: An Environmental Audit by Jeanette Dorner, Capstone, May, 1994

Pacific Lutheran University

Sustainability

Resources