Newton Polytechnic

http://www.dmacc.edu

Syllabus

 

Academic Standards Commission

ENV 103 – Sustainable Living Fall - 2010

Instructor Information

Name

Matt Abbott, PhD

E-mail address

mabbott1@dmacc.edu

Phone number

(641) 791-1775

Fax number

 

Office location

134

Office hours

As posted or by appointment

Course Information

Semester

Fall

Year

2010

Course title

Sustainable Living

Course number

ENV 103

Credits

1

Section number

NA

CRN number

15308

Days & Time

M: 1-2 PM

Location

248A

Course description

This class provides an up-close-and-personal look at the sustainability movement.  Develop an understanding of the environment you live in.  Learn more about the role you can play in creating a sustainable lifestyle for yourself and your family at home, work and school.

Prerequisites

None

Course competencies

http://www.dmacc.edu/competencies/  

Important Dates

Midterm

http://www.dmacc.edu/academiccal.asp

Final

http://www.dmacc.edu/academiccal.asp

Textbooks & Materials

Required textbooks

Green Living Handbook by David Gershon.  Empowerment Institute 2008. ISBN: 978-0-9630327-4-4

Course Policies

Attendance

Attending class is essential for success in this course.  Therefore, the student is expected to attend all class sessions.  If you miss a session, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from a classmate.

Grading criteria

In-Class discussions                      8 at 10pts each    80pts   32%

Assessment reports                      6 at 15pts each    90pts   36%        

Film write-ups                               2 at 20pts each    40pts   16%

Final Project Presentation                                         40pts   16%

  

       Scale: A   =  92% or above                      C   =  72-77%

                  A- =  90-91%                               C- =  70-71%

                  B+ =  88-89%                               D+ =  68-69%

                   B   =  82-87%                               D   =  62-67%

                  B- =  80-81%                                D- =  60-61% 

                  C+ =  78-79%                                F   =  below 60%

I expect you to keep track of your own grade.

Calculation = (# points earned / # points possible) X 100%

Classroom conduct

Refer to the DMACC Student Handbook:

http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp

Late assignments

Any late assignments that are accepted will have a 5% deduction on its grade per day it is late.

Extra credit

None

Study expectations

It is expected that all reading assignments be completed before classroom discussion.

Weather policy

“Individual circumstances such as health, childcare, rural roads, distance from the College, etc. can vary greatly among students and staff.  It is always DMACC’s goal to provide safe learning conditions, as well as provide the opportunity for students to attend classes when the vast majority is able to safely attend.  The final decision to come to College can only be made by the individual student based on their specific extenuating circumstances that may make it unsafe for them to travel.  During adverse weather, DMACC faculty is considerate of students who are unable to attend classes due to unique extenuating circumstances.  It is the responsibility of each faculty member to notify their students (in addition to their dean or provost) through some predetermined means if they are must postpone or cancel a specific class due to weather or illness.”

 

Announcement of class cancellations will be made via email or phone.

Academic dishonesty

Refer to the DMACC Student Handbook:

http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp

DMACC Information Web Sites

DMACC home page

http://www.dmacc.edu/

Instructor home pages

http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/welcome.asp

Admissions & registration

http://www.dmacc.edu/potienti.asp

Cellular phone use statement

http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/cellphone.asp

WebCT

http://webct.dmacc.edu/webct/public/home.pl

Student handbook

http://www.dmacc.edu/handbook/welcome.asp

Add/drop dates

http://www.dmacc.edu/registration/add_drop.asp

Refund policy

http://www.dmacc.edu/refund.asp

Support Services

Accommodations

“It is the policy of DMACC to accommodate students with disabilities.  Any student with a documented disability who requires reasonable accommodation should contact the special needs coordinator at 515-964-6850 voice or 515-964-6810 TTY.”

Services for students with disabilities

http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/disabilities.asp

 

Contact the special needs coordinator at 515-964-6850 voice or 515-964-6810 TTY or contact the Academic Achievement Center on the Newton campus at 641-791-1730 for an Application for Accommodation.

Academic & educational advising

http://www.dmacc.edu/newton/newtonadvisors.htm

Career counseling

http://www.dmacc.edu/newton/newtonadvisors.htm

Interactive Learning Center

http://www.library.dmacc.edu/

 

Room 120

·         Monday – Thursday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

·         Friday – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Academic Achievement Center

http://www.dmacc.edu/student_services/academic_achievement_center.asp

 

Services include academic help, tutoring, testing (Compass), pre-admission and high school diploma courses, GED, and credit classes

 

641-791-3622 or 1-800-362-2127

 

Room 107

Monday – Thursday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Computer labs

http://www.dmacc.edu/helpdesk/pc_labs.htm  

 

Room 110 A

·         Monday – Thursday 8:00 am to 9:00 pm

·         Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Disclaimer

“This syllabus is representative of materials that will be covered in this class; it is not a contract between the student and the institution.  It is subject to change without notice.  Any potential exceptions to stated policies and requirements will be addressed on an individual basis, and only for reasons that meet specific requirements.  If you have any problems related to this class, please feel free to discuss them with me.”

Nondiscrimination Policy

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in or allow discrimination covered by law.  This includes harassment based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability.  Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.  Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedures.  Complaint forms may be obtained from the DMACC Web site, the Ombudsperson, Judicial Officer, Human Resources Department, the campus Provost's Offices, and Academic Deans’ Offices.

 

Students who wish additional information or assistance may contact the Executive Dean, Student Services, Laurie Wolf, Building 1, 515-964-6437 or the EEO/AA Officer, Dr. Sandy Tryon, Human Resources, Bldg. 1, 515-964-6301 or they may refer to Student Services procedure 4645 located on the DMACC Intranet at http://my.dmacc.edu/procs.aspx.  Go to Policies & Procedures and choose Student Services Procedures. Employees and applicants who wish additional information or assistance may contact the EEO/AA Officer, Dr. Sandy Tryon, Human Resources, Bldg. 1, 515-964-6301 or refer to HR Procedures 3000, 3005, 3010, 3015, and 3020 at http://www.dmacc.edu/hr/hrpp.asp .

 

For requests for accommodations, the Accommodation/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Sharon Bittner, can be contacted at 515-964-6857.  Students with requests for accommodations should refer to the Student Services procedure 4610 located on the DMACC Intranet at http://my.dmacc.edu/default.aspx .  Go to Policies & Procedures and choose Student Services Procedures.

 

 

Course Schedule

Week or Date

Topic

GLH Pages

Week 1    8/30

Introduction: What is sustainable living?

Assign Personal Assessments:

(1) Ecofootprint assessment

(2) Carbon Footprint assessment

 

Week 2    9/13

 DUE: Personal Assessments (and discuss)

Discuss how to use Green Living Handbook: Assign Step 1 (Waste)

 

1-2

3-20, 109-112

Week 3    9/20

 DUE: Waste Assessment (and discuss)

Assign Step 2 (Water)

 

21-42, 113-119

Week 4    9/27

DUE: Water Assessment (and discuss)

Assign Step 3 (Energy)

 

44-64, 120-128

Week 5    10/4

 DUE: Energy Assessment (and discuss)

Assign Step 4 (Transportation)

 

66-80, 129-134

Week 6   10/11

 DUE: Transportation Assessment (and discuss)

Assign Step 5 (Consumption)

 

81-98, 135-139

Week 7   10/18

 DUE: Consumption Assessment (and discuss)

Assign Step 6 (Empowerment)

 

99-108

Week 8   10/25

 FILM: Affluenza

 

 

Week 9   11/1

DUE: Film write-up (and discuss)

Assign final project presentation

 

Week 10 11/8

Food, inc. (Part 1)

 

Week 11 11/15

Food, inc. (Part 2)

 

Week 12 11/22

 DUE: Film write-up (and discuss)

 

Week 13 11/29

Final Project Presentations (first half)

 

Week 14  12/6

Final Project Presentations (second half)