Citation
(2003), "Council of Environmental Deans and Directors Convenes First Conference", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 4 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe.2003.24904aab.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Council of Environmental Deans and Directors Convenes First Conference
Academic leaders from more than 30 universities participated in the inaugural conference of the US National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) Council of Environmental Deans and Directors (CEDD) on 17-19 July 2002 in Grafton, Illinois. The meeting of leaders of multidisciplinary, degree-granting environmental schools, colleges and institutes marked the maturation of the environment as an academic field of study and allowed many deans and directors to meet their peers for the first time. Although each programme is unique in its history and scope – including emphases on natural resources, environmental management, policy, environmental science and environmental studies – they share a problem-solving approach that integrates disciplinary perspectives to understand and resolve environmental issues.
The deans and directors discussed common challenges, including: funding, relationships with existing departments and other disciplinary units, faculty development and retention, maintaining support throughout the university administration, and communications.
CEDD, organized and managed by the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE), initiated the following projects:
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Directory. Create an online directory of environmental colleges and institutes based on NCSE’s existing Directory of Higher Education Environmental Programs.
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Core Competencies. Identify necessary core competencies regarding the environment, and determine whether or not they are being taught in environmental programmes as well as in the broader university setting.
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Job Market.Initiate a pilot study of present and future job opportunities for graduates of CEDD institutions and programmes. Build upon existing efforts to survey potential employers, setting the stage for a larger effort supported by external funding.
Extended versions of these articles are available online at http://NCSEonline.org/Updates.
The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is a non-profit organization working to improve the scientific basis for environmental decision-making. NCSE is endorsed by nearly 500 academic, scientific, environmental and business organizations.