Facilitating Sustainability Conversations on Campus:

Challenges and Successes of a Sustainability and

Civic Engagement Book Group

Brian BluhmM.Ed. Candidate - Environmental Education

University of Minnesota Duluth

Background and PlanningFacilitating the Conversation

CommunicationUpdate

Best Practices in Leading Sustainability Conversations

University of Minnesota Duluth. (2008).

Overview

Know your campus environment

• Partnership with the Office of Civic Engagement

• New UMD Strategic Plan

• Liberal Education Requirement

Recruitment• Recruit through existing contacts

• Utilize E-mail Lists

• Peer invitations are very importanto Peer-pressure works!

Logistics

University of New Hampshire Press.

• 30 people

• Food – UMD Catering

• Civic Engagement paid for books

• Sustainability paid for meals

Why this book?

• Case studies of the University of New Hampshire

• Easy to use

Prioritize the DiscussionFacilitation

• 4 Sessions – 1 Chapter per Session

• Discussion Based upon the Four Themes:a. Biodiversity and Ecosystemsb. Climate and Energyc. Food and Securityd. Culture and Sustainability

• Discussion Questions Developed from the Theme of Each Chapter

• Followed Overview with Discussions of Campus Applications

Use the Resources You Have:Share the Facilitation

• Invited members to guest facilitate discussion based on professional interests

• Co-facilitated discussion with the Office of Sustainability facilitator

Document the Conversation• Appointed Note Taker• Use Google Docs• E-mail with Links

Outcomes: Keeping It Going• Grants

• Improve sustainability education at UMD

• Continued Conversation• Learning It Forward

Bluhm, B. (2012).

Lessons Learned

• Peer to Peer Invitations

• Build upon Existing Programs and Knowledge

• Make it Relevant

• Tie into University Mission

• Provide Resources

• Quick Follow-up• Include additional information

• Food

Bluhm, B. (2012).

What's Next?• Expand connections in new campus departments and

offices

• Connections with other groups doing similar work

Idea Exchange: Best Practices for Campus Sustainability

Conversations

More Ideas? Please e-mail Brian Bluhm at bluh0020@d.umn.edu

Facebook: umdsustainability Twitter: @umdsustain