Clement LooUniversity of Minnesota, Morris

cloo@morris.umn.edu

What’s Sustainability Leadership and How Do

You Teach it?Developing a sustainability leadership program at the University of

Minnesota, Morris

Introduction● Objectives:

o (1) Introduce Sustainability Leadership for the Futureo (2) Discuss UMM’s strategies to inform others interested in

developing sustainability leadership programso (3) Get feedback to improve our process

● Layout:o (1) Background: Sustainability Leadership for the Future at UMMo (2) Creating the teamo (3) Identifying objectives and learning outcomeso (4) Defining sustainability leadershipo (5) Creating componentso (6) Concluding remarks: lessons learned

Background:Sustainability Leadership at UMMAntecedents:- Green infrastructure- Emphasis on sustainability in institutional mission- Desires: (1) more comprehensive sustainability education,

(2) better integration between infrastructure and curriculaprogramming

Background:Sustainability Leadership at UMMStrategy:- Select 15 Sustainability Leaders for the Future fellows:

- 5 students, 5 staff, and 5 faculty- Fellows tasked with:

- UMM specific definition of sustainability leadership- learning outcomes- faculty/staff mentorship program- blueprint for academic program with experiential component

Creating the teamObjectives/Obstacles:- Team that understands institutional needs and can best promote

program- Adequate representation when some stakeholders have not been

as involved in sustainability

Strategies:- Intentional call for applications:

- Balance between stakeholder groups (student, staff, and faculty)- Range of expertise

- Intentional selection process:- Selection aimed at coverage of all disciplines and offices- Weighing of candidates on uniqueness of potential contribution

Identifying objectives and learning outcomesObjectives/Obstacles:- Identifying appropriate learning outcomes for students

- Which elements to emphasize?- Diversity in mission between various disciplines and offices- Knowledge and literacy versus practical skills

Strategies:- Existing programs at other institutions- Institutional needs and values:

- Alumni employment- Institutional mission as understood by divisions and offices- Assess sustainability literacy

- Consider how above relates to sustainability leadership

Defining sustainability leadership?Objectives/Obstacles:- Guiding framework that’s broad enough to be inclusive but

concrete enough to be useful- Breadth and concreteness seem mutually exclusive- Sustainability & leadership complicated

Strategies:- Flexibility: definitions can evolve and are provisional- Context of community and place- Involve diverse perspectives:

- Institutional goals as understood by different stakeholders- Range of experts: academics, activists, program chairs,

government, etc.

Creating componentsObjectives/Obstacles:- Program that meets identified goals and could actually be

implemented- Broad range of educational goals- Program must be approved- Limited resources

Strategies:- Expertise and experience of fellows- Existing curricula and programming- Campus organizations- Local community and business leaders

Concluding RemarksKey lessons learned:(1) Diversity of perspectives

(a) range of expertise(b) representation from stakeholders other than the usual suspects(c) outside experts from a range of different fields

(2) History and community context informative(a) sustainability and leadership relative locale(b) community partners(c) institutional values, needs, resources, and obstacles

(3) Clear objectives contribute to intentional program development(a) institutional mission and values(b) learning outcomes(c) student interest and needs