CASNR issues call for new course proposals

Screen shot 2011-09-07 at 2.54.55 PM.png

CASNR will provide seed funds to develop new courses and/or revise existing courses that address important issues and challenges for the future of agriculture within the context of natural resource use, management, and long-term global needs and sustainability.

The Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has defined goals for innovating agriculture and natural resources to 2025. One of these goals is related to the topic of agricultural literacy and more broadly, science literacy.

In response to this goal, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources seeks to integrate classroom instruction on food, energy, water and sustainability within the UNL undergraduate curriculum. The Transforming Food and Natural Resources Literacy Innovation Team supports the college's effort to develop educational opportunities for all UNL students that embrace the interrelatedness of agriculture and natural resources as major underpinning elements of a stable society.

The integration of food, energy, water and sustainability within the UNL undergraduate curriculum will be accomplished through a series of introductory-level, ACE-certified courses that focus on important issues and challenges for the future of agriculture (food, energy and water) within the context of natural resource use, management, and long-term global needs and sustainability (Focus of RFP).

Additional activities that will integrate food, energy, water and sustainability within the curriculum include:

— AGRI 101, Sustainable Frontiers (3 credits). A systems approach to examining the ecological footprint of our state, our nation and our world. The four spheres that will be used as lenses for this examination are: i) society, population and the quality of life; ii) economics; iii) ecology and natural resources; and iv) agriculture. A range of specific issues will be studied, but the primary focus will be on food, fuel and water.

— Upper division courses that engage students in investigating and evaluating important issues and challenges for the future of agriculture along with the interrelatedness of agriculture, natural resources and their discipline of study (RFP Spring Semester).

— Experiential learning opportunities related to food, energy, water and sustainability that utilize a participatory action research approach (RFP Spring Semester).

— A course for pre- and in-service teachers focused on food, energy and water systems as models for K-12 science instruction.

— Creation of a Food, Energy, and Water minor.

As a first step toward realizing this vision, CASNR will provide seed funds to develop new courses and/or revise existing courses that address important issues and challenges for the future of agriculture within the context of natural resource use, management, and long-term global needs and sustainability. We anticipate that the first offering of these courses will be during the 2012-2013 academic year and will be supported by $10,000 for planning/development and $5,000 to support the first offering of the course.

New courses must:

— be introductory level and available to all students;

— have learning outcomes that directly address and meet ACE guidelines

— include a systems-approach to teaching and learning

— be offered on campus and online.

A complete list of guidelines is available at http://go.unl.edu/ut7. Proposals, due by Oct. 14, must be submitted via email to Tiffany Heng-Moss at thengmoss2@unl.edu .

For more information, contact Heng-Moss via email or call (402) 472-8708.