COLLEGE OF MENOMINEE NATION

Instructor Syllabus

Course Name: Introduction to Sustainable Development

Course # & Section: SDE100-01
Number of Credits: 3
Semester and year: Spring, 2017
Class Time: 9:00 am 11:50 am
Class Days: Wednesdays
Room Number: SD226
Course Co/Pre-req: ENG100 or ENG101

Instructor: Dr. Dennis Vickers Phone: (715) 799-6226 (3059)

Email: dvickers@menominee.edu
Office Location: SD026K (basement of Shirley Daly)
Office Hours: Wednesday 12:00 pm-1:00 pm or by appointment

Catalog Course Description: Students examine ways to develop effective solutions across the
spectrum of sustainable development concerns (environmental, economic, and social), leading to
lasting solutions responsive to the interests of all affected parties.

Required Texts:
1. The Age of Sustainable Development, by Jeffrey Sachs

Required Supplies:
1. Notebook for taking reading and class notes. Access to class discussion board at
classroom.google.com.

Topical Outline/Description: SDE100 Introduction to Sustainable Development develops

students abilities to apply critical thinking models designed to help analyze complex issues and
to identify long-lasting solutions that consider all interests and implications. The Sustainable
Development Institute model of sustainability is the paradigm such model, providing a
framework for understanding the forces and interrelationships affecting and affected by the
Menominee Forest, forces and interrelationships that, when wisely managed, sustain a healthy
forest perpetually. The systems thinking model (developed by Donella Meadows and extended
by other scientists) provides a complementary set of analysis techniques and vocabulary
designed to guide the investigator to reliable inferences about the behavior of systems by
revealing underlying structures. Whatever models are considered, the goal is learn and apply
methods that produce solutions to environmental, social, and economic issues that take the
interests of future generations into account, respect the values of past generations, and
acknowledge the interdependency of elements and our limited understanding of the complexity
of nature, societies, and economic arrangements. This course helps students understand these
models by applying them to real-world, contemporary, and (preferably) local situations.

Course Website: Copies of class handouts and reading assignments are available in a Google
drive folder for the class: CMN SDE100-01 SP17, which is shared with students. In addition, an

1
online classroom is set up in Google classroom for discussion posts and distribution of course
resources.
General Education Objectives (with levels):
1. Analytical Abilities, Critical Thinking, level 3;
2. Analytical Abilities, Problem-solving, level 3;
3. Communication, Written, level 3;
4. Communication, Spoken, level 3;
5. Communication, Multi-media, level 3;
6. Culture and History, Native American Traditions and Culture, level 3; and
7. Culture and History, Own Traditions and Culture, level 3.
Program Outcomes:
1. Describe the various disciplines for the humanities;
2. Synthesize interdisciplinary connections among the humanities, level 3;
3. Identify how the arts are connected within and across cultural and historical
contexts, level 3;
4. Compose informed reflections on a variety of artistic media, level 3;
5. Recognize the contributions of various art forms within a global society;
6. Create a variety of artistic works;
7. Communicate why the social sciences emerged within and across cultural and
historical contexts;
8. Compare and contrast interdisciplinary relationships among the social sciences,
level 3;
9. Analyze basic behavioral and social patterns, level 3;
10. Evaluate social science research as it applies to various contexts, level 3;
11. Compile credible information using selected social science data gathering
techniques, level 3; and
12. Apply knowledge of the social sciences disciplines to explain individual and group
behaviors, level 3.

Course Learning Outcomes: Successful students will:

1. Understand the Sustainable Development Institute model of sustainable development
and its application.
2. Identify prominent definitions of sustainable development and recognize similarities
and differences.
3. Analyze environmental, economic, and social issues objectively, identifying what
interests are at stake and the long-term effects of proposed solutions.
4. Utilize analysis techniques that lead to increasingly deep understanding of underlying
structures and produce reliable inferences about likely future behaviors.
5. Understand career options in sustainable development.
6. Understand their social and ethical responsibilities to their local community and as
global citizens.

2
Assignments:
1. Throughout the semester students maintain a journal of (1) notes taken while completing
reading assignments, (2) notes taken during class, and (3) personal reflections on reading
assignments and classroom activities.

Assessments and Grading Policy:

1. Each week (except the first and the last) you will take a quiz on the reading assignment
and on the previous weeks in-class activities. Each quiz will include 10 questions asking
about important points and facts in the previous weeks in-class activities and the current
weeks reading assignment. Pay close attention in class and take careful notes both when
reading assignments. Write down what you determine are the most important points and
facts in your notes. You may use your notes when taking quizzes but no reading
assignments, handouts, or copies of lectures. Your top 10 quiz scores count toward your
course grade.
2. Each week (except the first and the last) you will write a discussion board posting
responding to a prompt posted by the instructor and a response to a posting by one of
your classmates. See Guidelines for SDE100 Discussion Board Postings for specific
instructions.
3. You will write an essay comparing the Sustainable Development Institute model of
sustainable development with the model developed in the textbook. See Guidelines for
SDE100 Comparative Essay for specific instructions (class handout, also available in the
class folder on Google Drive).
4. You will write a critical review of the major text for the course. See Guidelines for
SDE100 Critical Review of Course Textbook for specific instructions (class handout, also
available in the class folder on Google Drive).
5. You will write two reviews for documentary films pertaining to sustainability, See
Guidelines for SDE100 Film Reviews for specific instructions (class handout, also
available in the class folder on Google Drive).
6. You will write a final essay describing your understanding of some aspect of sustainable
development. See Guidelines for SDE100 Final Essay for specific instructions (class
handout, also available in the class folder on Google Drive).

Ten quizzes on reading assignments and in-class activities 10 pts

Ten discussion board posts responding to instructor prompts and ten responses
10 pts
to posts by your classmates.
Comparative Essay 20 pts
Critical reviews of course textbook. 20 pts
Two reviews of documentary films. 20 pts
Final essay. 20 pts
Total 100 pts

3
To determine your grade at any time during the semester, divide the total points you have received on
assessments to that point by the total possible points for those assessments.
A= 95-100% B= 85-89% C= 75-79% D= 65-69% F= 0-64%
AB= 90-94% BC= 80-84% CD= 70-74%

Electronic Portfolio Artifact: The Final Paper for this class must be uploaded to your CMN
electronic portfolio. Also, while the subject is fresh in your mind is a good time to write the reflection on
this artifact youll need when you take EDU295.

Attendance Policy: There are three hours of class time each week, which you are expected to attend.
Attendance will be taken at every class. You are responsible for all material covered in class. If you miss
a class, even for a legitimate reason, you are still responsible for the material covered. You are expected
to do the assigned readings before coming to class. If you fail to attend two consecutive classes, your
name will be forwarded to Students Services for further intervention.

Class Participation: Students are expected to participate in classroom activities by contributing

to discussions and group exercises and by sharing their written work with the class. Several class
assignments include an opportunity to earn extra credit by sharing of their work.

Late work: All assignments should be complete and turned in at the times listed on the course schedule
(below). One point will be deducted from each assignment each day it is late. Discussion board postings
and comments must be posted before the weekly deadlines.

Student Time Expectation: In addition to participating in every meeting of this course, each student is
expected to spend a minimum of 6 verifiable hours per week outside of class meeting times on the course
subject matter, including required readings, homework assignments, and on-campus activities.

Class Cancellation by Instructor: Notification of class cancellations will be posted on campus. If no

announcement/posting is made, students should remain for 10 minutes after class is scheduled to begin.

Classroom Conduct: Please avoid any activities during class that disrupt student learning, for
example, talking on the phone, engaging in side conversations with other students, and using
electronics for other than course purposes.

Assessment of Student Learning: All Associate and Bachelor degree-seeking students are required to
participate in various assessment activities. These assessments provide valuable information regarding
progress in achieving CMNs mission, general education objectives, and program outcomes. In addition,
aggregate results from these assessments are used by administration, faculty, and staff to improve
curriculum, instruction, and services for students. Further, these aggregate results may be reported to
accrediting agencies. For more information regarding these assessments, contact the Assessment of
Student Learning Coordinator.

ADA Statement: Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might
affect their ability to perform in this class, are encouraged to inform the Disability Counselor in the Office
of Disability Services, Room 101. Adaptation of curriculum, instruction, or assessments may be made as
required to provide for equitable participation.

Course Evaluations: All students are encouraged to provide the instructor with suggestions or other
forms of constructive feedback regarding the class. Students can do this informally by speaking with the

4
instructor, either in class or by appointment, and if the instructor is unavailable, can arrange an
appointment with the Dean of Instruction. This can also be done formally by completing the evaluation
form distributed at mid-semester and again at the end of the course. If a student has a concern, issue, or
question, the student must take responsibility to approach the instructor in a timely manner.

Class Cancellation Due to Inclement Weather or Building Closure: Closures resulting from
severe weather conditions, natural disasters, or mechanical failure will be announced by the President or
her designee. Campus closing will be announced on WTCH-AM 960, WTCH, WIXX as well as Fox11
and Channel 2 TV stations. When in doubt, call 715-799-5600 for a recorded message. Notifications of
class cancellations will be posted on campus. If no announcement/posting is made, student should remain
for 10 minutes after class is scheduled to begin.

Academic Conduct: Academic honesty is an absolute for the fulfillment of College of Menominee
Nation mission and guiding principles. Our students are proud of the work they do here and are
committed to doing the best for their communities. Their grades, certificates, and degrees are their record
of that work. These are used by prospective employers to make hiring decisions, by transfer colleges and
universities to make admissions decisions, by funding organizations to determine eligibility for
scholarships and other financial aid, and, most importantly, by family and other community members to
express their pride in our students accomplishments. Therefore, College of Menominee Nation will not
tolerate any form of academic dishonesty. See the Student Handbook for more information on
Academic Misconduct.

Academic Alerts: The academic alert form is used as a student retention tool at the College of
Menominee Nation. Instructors fill out forms to identify students at risk of not completing a course or
identify problems. This type of early intervention increases the opportunity for student success.
Academic alerts can be submitted at any time during the semester to Student Services. The forms are
given to the students advisor for follow-up. Follow-up comments are returned to the instructor.

Computer Labs: Students using the computer lab must adhere to the College of Menominee Nation
policy. Orientation for the computer lab is given during the first few weeks of each semester to help
students get familiar with the lab equipment. These sessions are held regularly at posted times. All
students are strongly recommended to attend. See the Student Handbook for more information on
Computer Lab Policy.

Incomplete Policy: Requests for a grade of incomplete must be initiated by the student to the
instructor. Students may only request if at least 75% of course requirements have been met.

The above information and the calendar below are subject to change. Any changes will be
in writing and will be posted in the Google Drive folder for the class.

5
 Date Reading Assignments: (complete before class) Other Assignments: (complete before class)

1 1/25
1
Sustainable Development Institute Model of Submit Discussion Board postings.
Sustainability (pdf in class folder on Google Drive)
American Indian Metaphysics (pdf in class folder on
2 2/1 Google Drive)
Power and Place Equal Personality (pdf in class
folder on Google Drive)

Chapter 1, Introduction to Sustainable Development, in Submit Discussion Board postings.

3 2/8 TASD2.

Chapter 2, An Unequal World, in TASD. Submit Discussion Board postings.

4 2/15

Chapter 3, A Brief History of Economic Watch one of the documentaries from Vimeo.com and write a film
Development, in TASD. review. See Guidelines for SDE100 Film Reviews for specific
5 2/22 instructions (class handout, also available in the class folder on
Google Drive).
Submit Discussion Board postings.
Chapter 4, Why Some Countries Developed While Submit Discussion Board postings.
6 3/1 Others Stayed Poor, in TASD.

7 3/8 Chapter 5, Ending Extreme Poverty, in TASD. Submit Discussion Board postings.

1
Respond to the Weeks Discussion Board prompt and post a comment on a classmates response.
2
The Age of Sustainable Development by Jeffrey Sachs.

6
 Chapter 6, Planetary Boundaries, in TASD. Write an essay comparing the Sustainable Development Institute
model of sustainable development with the model developed in the
first six chapters of the textbook. See Guidelines for SDE100
8 3/15
Comparative Essay for specific instructions (class handout, also
available in the class folder on Google Drive).
Submit Discussion Board postings.

9 3/22 Spring Break No Reading Assignment

10 3/29 Chapter 7, Social Inclusion, in TASD. Submit Discussion Board postings.

11 4/5 Chapter 8, Education for All, in TASD. Submit Discussion Board postings.

Chapter 9, Health for All, in TASD. Watch one of the documentaries from Vimeo.com and write a film
review. See Guidelines for SDE100 Film Reviews for specific
12 4/12 instructions (class handout, also available in the class folder on
Google Drive).
Submit Discussion Board postings.

13 4/19 Chapter 10, Food Security, in TASD. Submit Discussion Board postings.

14 4/26 Chapter 12, Climate Change, TASD. Submit Discussion Board postings.

Chapter 13, Saving Biodiversity and Protecting Write a critical review of The Age of Sustainable Development. See
Guidelines for SDE100 Critical Review of Course Textbook for
Ecosystem Services, in TASD.
15 5/3 specific instructions (class handout, also available in the class folder
on Google Drive).
Submit Discussion Board postings.
Write SDE100 Final Essay. See Guidelines for SDE100 Final Essays
for specific instructions (class handout, also available in the class
16 5/10
folder on Google Drive).
Submit Discussion Board postings.