Action on the Kanawha Environmental Literacy Project began in the fall of 2006. A survey was conducted to assess the environmental literacy of Ohio University students. Initially over 700 undergraduate students were evaluated as part of this survey, which was sponsored by part of a National Science Foundation grant (Environmental Studies). The survey results indicated that many OU undergraduates have a weak understanding of environmental topics. It became clear that the University needed to take responsibility to increase awareness among its students (Environmental Studies).
Although the results of this survey indicated need for an environmental literacy program, there are many other reasons a program such as the Kanawha project is necessary at Ohio University. First, it is important that people are aware of their environment and understand it, which is dependent on students being environmentally literate. Being "environmentally-literate" means developing an understanding of the environment and how we impact it, being able to address concerns about sustainability, and being prepared to help solve the critical environmental problems that currently face our society (Environmental Studies). It is especially important that students are environmentally literate because they are the ones who will be moving into leadership positions and influencing the sustainability of our country in the future. Students who participate in the Kanawha Project will have an advantage in the workplace as well as be able to make smart environmental choices in their own lives. The proposal for this project was inspired by literacy curriculum developed by the AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education) (Environmental Studies).
The Kanawha Project has many aspirations for both participating professors and students. The program aims to reach out to professors from a variety of departments and help them focus on environmental literacy in their programs. This includes integrating environmental topics into their department’s curriculum. The environmental literacy of their students is tested at the end of the course to determine the effectiveness of the project. In order to participate, professors applied to be considered for the project. Once the participants are selected they sit through a workshop that helps train them on how to integrate sustainability issues into their syllabi (Environmental Studies). Monthly focus groups are held in which “people talked about how to integrate the information into their syllabus” (McCosker).
There are many people who have helped initiate the Kanawha Project at Ohio University, and especially found funding for the program. Michele Morrone, director of the Environmental Studies program at OU, has been critical in implementing this project. After attending a conference at Emory University in 2007, she suggested implementing a similar project at Ohio University. She worked with Nancy Manring, a professor in the Political Science department, to compile a grant to start the project at Ohio University (Monroe). Another key individual has been Loraine McCosker, who serves as the project coordinator for the Kanawha Environmental Literacy Project. Through the hard work of individuals such as these, the project has been able to flourish on campus. Despite the involvement level of dedicated individuals, it would be impossible to initiate a program such as the Kanawha Environmental Literacy Project without funding. The initial financing for this project was an 1804 Grant from the University for the amount of $15,000. This covered the expenses of workshop costs, professor stipends, and supplies including literature for participating professors. After the first year of the project, Loraine McCosker applied a grant from the EPA, which was granted in the amount of $50,000. This grant extended the program for two more years, as well as provided the budget to expand to Ohio University’s regional campuses (Lowe).
So far the Kanawha Project has enjoyed a high level of success. First, there has been great response from participating professors. Loraine McCosker stated that “the faculty overall really appreciated it and liked [the program]…first of all they liked being together in a social setting with faculty from different disciplines.” Furthermore, these professors “liked looking at their courses in another way…obviously the people who applied are interested in learning about sustainability so it spoke to them in some capacity” (McCosker). The program has had such great success that project coordinators were able to expand it to Ohio University’s regional campuses. In order to achieve this McCosker “made contacts with each of the deans [of the regional campuses] and they either appointed someone to help with the recruitment [of professors] or did it themselves.” This has not been an easy task since “several of the campuses are quite large” (McCosker). However, with a lot of dedicated professors and staff the program has successfully been implemented into all five Ohio University regional campuses (Environmental Studies).
Leaders of the project hope to continue the success of the Kanawha project by expanding it even further and reaching different parts of the University. Loraine McCosker stated that “our goal is obviously for it to expand to the regional campuses and also for individuals to take it to their departments” so that there will soon be “environmental communities in departments where folks could meet and talk about integrating and educating the program.” This would allow different departments from across the University to implement sustainability concepts into their coursework in a way that would enhance the courses. It would also generate more ideas and options as more faculty members adjust their syllabi to be more environmentally literate. Another future goal of the project is to continue operation without funding. While the current grant will last two years, McCosker hopes that one day professors and departments will integrate environmental and sustainability issues into their coursework regularly. This seems achievable since the Kanawha Project “seems to be a really good model” (McCosker) for including environmental topics into the classroom.
The Kanawha Environmental Literacy Project is taking the lead on integrating sustainability efforts and environmental concerns into the daily life of students. Considering their environmental impact is not something that most people are currently used to. However, if students can learn how to integrate sustainability into their daily lives the next generation will be able to take the lead and move our country towards a more environmentally friendly future.
Appendix of Interview Questions
Loraine McCosker, Outreach Coordinator for the Environmental Studies department
1. Training for this program began during Winter Intercession of 2007. What was the first quarter that the new environmentally literate syllabi were used?
2. How was Ohio University originally selected to be part of the survey conducted by the National Science Foundation? It is in partnership with Ohio State University, are they doing this at many Ohio institutions?
3. Promotion for the project happened in September/October 2007. How did you promote the project to professors?
4. Did you attend the monthly discussion groups among participating faculty members? Have there been issues or difficulties that the faculty ran into during this process?
5. What were the results of this project? Was the environmental literacy of the students improved?
6. What was the feedback from the faculty? Did they find the program beneficial?
7. A speakeasy article from May stated that you had received funding from the EPA to continue the project for two years, as well as spreading it to regional campuses. Has this been accomplished or is it in the works?
8. The EPA grant provided $50,000 instead of the $15,000 for the first year of the project. How are these funds being used to expand the program?
9. Do you think this project can be run without a budget some day? Is there a chance that it will be integrated without compensation?
10. What are some goals you have for this project that haven’t been realized yet?
Work Cited
Environmental Studies. The Kanawha Project 21 November 2007. Ohio University. 19 Feb. 2009
Lowe, Joe. "Professors aim to improve OU's environmental literacy." Speakeasy. 20 May 2008. 20 Feb. 2009
McCosker, Loraine. Personal Interview. 20 Feb. 2009.
Monroe, Ashlee. "OU profs brainstorm ways to turn their syllabi green." The Athens News 6 Dec. 2007. The Athens News Database, Athens, OH. 20 Feb. 2009
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