» Intermountain Regionals

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In a previous post, we explored how students in higher education who have issues with the status quo have been pushing their institutions to develop Climate Action Plans (CAP) and related programs. During the recent Climate Change Education Roundtable, it was suggested that we as a community should be looking for ways to link to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).  We’ve been thinking along the same lines, and conducted a regional survey of colleges and universities in the Intermountain West who are signatories of the ACUPCC, and here’s a summary of our very informal survey:

A short survey was sent via email to contacts at colleges and universities in the region who were signatories of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC,) which requires that the institutions develop Carbon Neutrality or Climate Action Plans (CAP) and offer “courses and other educational experiences to all students” relating to climate and sustainability topics.

The survey inquired whether they currently offered climate education related courses or educational experiences to all students, whether or not they have developed curricula or other outreach materials relating to their carbon neutrality plans, whether they are currently involved with climate and sustainability education with K12 partners, and whether they would be interested in participating in a regional effort to help with any other these efforts.

Twenty seven surveys were sent out and fourteen responded. All fourteen said they would be interested in regional collaboration, twelve currently offer courses on climate related topics that are available to all students, eleven are publizing their sustainability efforts and two have incorporated the CAP into courses, half had done some, usually small scale work with local K12 partners.

Comments about interest in collaborating at a regional level include nine “yes”, four “sure.” two “absolutely,” and several that expressed keen interest along the lines of this comment: “[We]would be interested in collaborative efforts, especially geared toward more student buy-in and involvement.”