upper coosa environmental practicum spring 2009

JURI 5290, ECOL 8710
The class meets Fridays, 12:45 pm - 3:45 pm in the Seminar Room at the School of Ecology. View a map (large Adobe PDF file, 1.14 MB.)

The Northwest Georgia Environmental Practicum is a service learning course that provides a structured and supportive format for students to apply policy, design and ecological principles learned in the classroom to the real world of people and policy.

Contents

• Rubric, Readings, Forms, and Potential Projects
• Schedule
• About the Class
• Faculty and Staff Contact Information
• Student Contact Information

Rubric, Readings, Forms, and Potential Projects

• Class Schedule Spring 2009 (PDF)
• Rubric Spring 2009 (PDF)
• Class Readings Spring 2009
• Sample work plan (PDF)
• Work plan form (MS Word)
• River Basin Center powerpoint template (PPT)
• UGA River Basin Center logo, vertical orientation (large TIF file)
• UGA River Basin Center logo, horizontal orientation (large TIF file)
• Practicum Style Guidelines (PDF)

Schedule
Note: assignments due indicated in red italics.

Please note: The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructors may be necessary.

About the Class

Format

• Two or three class meetings in first two weeks of semester to select projects and develop work-plans;
• From four to eight lectures on ecological, design and policy issues affecting the watershed;
• One paddling trip on the Oconee River;
• Periodic group meetings to develop particular projects;
• Project presentation (either to stakeholders or to the class and other interested parties at the University) with dress rehearsal;
• A reflection statement.

Attend class lectures and field trip, read assignments prior to each lecture, work together to define class projects, attend group meetings and work cooperatively to develop a work plan and to complete the project, attend individual meetings with professors, and docment reflections. Students will be graded on class participation and project substance and presentation.

Coordinate informative lectures and field trip; facilitate interaction between students and stakeholders in the Upper Altamaha Basin; provide support to students in identifying and completing particular projects; facilitate dress rehearsals and project presentations; facilitate publication of projects and provide a forum for students to reflect on their experiences in the course.

Mission Statement

To help protect the ecological integrity of the river basins of Northwest Georgia by working with stakeholders to reduce the impact of human activities on water quality and biodiversity.

Philosophy and History

The Environmental Practicum matches graduate students from the University of Georgia with community stakeholders facing specific environmental challenges. Students from law, ecology, environmental design, wildlife ecology, scientific illustration and agricultural engineering may participate in the course. Water quality and the protection and restoration of aquatic species through the best available science, design and policy concepts are key goals for this hands-on program. The course presents a holistic approach to land use planning from the perspectives of our interdisciplinary faculty and guest lecturers. In 2003, the Georgia Water Coalition recognized the Environmental Practicum for Leadership in Protecting Georgia's Water Resources.

Goals

1. Provide an educational environment where students can apply skills learned in the traditional classroom to pressing community concerns and problems;
2. Provide an opportunity for students and faculty to work with other disciplines in integrated environmental decision-making and problem-solving, thus improving their ability to understand, communicate with, and influence other disciplines;
3. Increase awareness of the importance of addressing environmental issues proactively within the university community and the broader community;
4. Respond to community concerns and problems in the river basins of Northwest Georgia;
5. Build capacity for service learning at the University of Georgia.

Faculty and Staff Contact Information

Student Contact Information

Class listserv: upperacoosa-L@listserv.uga.edu

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University of Georgia -  Eugene P. Odum School of Ecology