âSustainability and the Environmentâ takes over as 2019-20 campus learning theme
WCUâs Electron Garden on the Green, also known as the âEGG,â was the first physical structure funded through a student sustainability fee and carried out by WCUâs Sustainability Energy Initiative. The EGG is a combination solar power generating facility and hammock hanging lounge, fitting in nicely with the 2019-20 campus theme, "Sustainability and the Environment."
Sustainability is something that affects everyone in some way. During Western Carolina Universityâs 2019-20 academic year, it will affect WCU students as the new campus learning theme.
âSustainability and the Environmentâ was chosen after a survey by the Office of Undergraduate Studies was conducted among faculty, staff and students during the fall 2018 semester. The survey drew more than 430 responses.
Since 2009, WCU has selected an interdisciplinary theme for campus conversations, curricular and co-curricular connections, and enrichment
âI am excited that âSustainability and the Environmentâ has been selected as next yearâs campus theme,â Acting Provost Carol Burton said. â(Chair) Jerry Miller and the steering committee will do a fabulous job of overseeing our intellectual discourse and educational opportunities around this topic. It is timely, provocative and engaging; it is one of our areas of distinction, and connects well with our mission and strategic plan.â
Miller, WCUâs Blanton J. Whitmire Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science, said itâs an exciting topic, while also pointing out that 2020 will be the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
âItâs an important topic,â Miller said. âItâs in the news all the time, whether itâs climate change, or corporate sustainability, or issues dealing with domestic water supply, both quantity and quality. Itâs just a pretty broad topic that affects all of us.â
Miller said he is looking forward to seeing the many ways sustainability issues will be implemented across campus disciplines.
âWe have an Office of Sustainability and Energy Management and theyâre doing a lot for Western as a whole,â Miller said. âBut then thereâs a lot of activity in terms of course work. In the sciences â chemistry, biology, natural resources management, geology â we all have courses related to that. But in addition to that, you have environmental courses related to history and religion, music, art. Itâs just one of those topics thatâs going to be pretty easy to implement.â
The current theme, âDefining America,â has been successful in bringing the campus community together for conversations and activities related to events throughout the country, Burton said.
âOur current theme, âDefining America,â is a great example of an interdisciplinary theme and our steering committee, led by Angela Dills, Dana Patterson and Lane Perry, is doing a marvelous job of shepherding a variety of activities that accomplish these goals,â Burton said.
Previous campus themes were:
2009-10: Josefina Niggli â A Celebration of Culture, Life, and Art
2010-11: Sweet ân Low â An Interdisciplinary Journey to Living Well
2011-12: The WCU Poverty Project
2012-13: Citizenship and Civility
2013-14: The Decade of the 1960s â Take It All In
2014-15: North Carolina: Our State, Our Time
2015-17: Africa: More Than A Continent
2017-18: Cherokee: Community. Culture. Connections.
2018-19: Defining America
