Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 28.57
Liaison Troy Hattermann
Submission Date Nov. 24, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Illinois Central College
AC-1: Academic Courses

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.44 / 14.00 Michelle Nielsen-Ott
Librarian
Learning Resources
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Figures required to calculate the percentage of courses with sustainability content::
Undergraduate Graduate
Total number of courses offered by the institution 2,300 0
Number of sustainability courses offered 24 0
Number of courses offered that include sustainability 4 0

Number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer at least one sustainability course and/or course that includes sustainability (at any level):
1

Total number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer courses (at any level):
7
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016

Number of years covered by the data:
One

A copy of the institution’s inventory of its course offerings with sustainability content (and course descriptions):
An inventory of the institution's course offerings with sustainability content (and course descriptions):

Bio 110 (Life Science) – Students learn about topics in biodiversity and conservation biology in a unit called Ecology and Environment. Economic and social considerations are included in lecture and in discussions.
Bio 114 (Environmental Biology) – Students encounter a wide range of sustainability focused topics including environmental science (science, biogeochemical cycles, ecology, biodiversity), environmental ethics, social justice, and sustainability in economics.
Native Plants and Animals (BIOL 115) - This class teaches students to identify plants and animals local to Central Illinois. It also focuses on the habitats that support these organisms. This class is a field course that immerses students in their native environment. Concepts like introduced species, erosion, climate change are all discussed.
Field Course to the Rocky Mountains (BIOL 250) This is a field course where students travel from Illinois to the Tetons and back, camping the whole way. The concept of sustainability is central to the themes of this course. We examine how the plants and animals suit the different sites along the way. The only way these habitats are sustained is by a close connection between resources available and the organisms using them. We do have a strong social, economic and environmental component through the diverse opportunities at each of the state and national parks.
Environmental Biology (114) - This is a sustainability focused course. All aspects of the course center around some aspect of sustainability. We cover ecology, economics, ethics, as well as individual chapters on specific resources. Students are also required to complete a sustainability related service learning project in this course.
ENGL 116: Agriculture Communications. Students complete reading and response exercises on various aspects of sustainability, including agricultural practices, pollution, and emissions technology. Students also propose specific local action directly related to either ICC's Sustainability policy or the International Earth Charter in a group project that requires a formal written proposal and a group presentation.
Engl 110 - writing assignments always include a topic reflecting sustainability (people helping people - Arthur Ashe, Rachel Carson, Eleanor Roosevelt, John Denver, Al Gore, and on and on.
INTST 133 - research paper related to West Africa - medical issues - guinea worm- water quality, Sahara Desert, population, ethnic conflict, farming, government policies regarding nomads, and so on Lit 122 - poetry - "A tree, a rock, a cloud" - immigration in America/ literature of Ceasar Chavez, land use themes, Native Americans, Japanese Internment Camps, migration North - African Americans, cities with diverse populations - Harlem Renaissance; Jewish Americans, women and poetry - life in the West; The South and educational changes, weather patterns for storms Katrina - Brad Pitt and housing - sustainability; recycling, transportation systems in America, systems thinking, global citizenship.
Principles of Marketing (MKTG 112) Instructor: Pam Dewey: Students give a short presentation on Green Marketing, focusing on the efforts of a single company, and discussing whether social responsibility is good or bad for business, offering support for that opinion..
CMNET 150 - Hardware Infrastructure. Students learn about computer components requiring special disposal due to metals and other toxic substances (e.g., lead, cadmium, mercury, PCBs).
Calculus for Business and Social Sciences (MATH 135) We have examples and problems in the homework and on tests that incorporate sustainability topics. We look at problems that involve minimizing packaging material. Initially we only talked about these problems as a business owner who would be interested in minimizing packaging costs by minimizing packaging material. Now we also talk about how we are minimizing waste by minimizing packaging material. We look at a problem that compares total emissions over the life of a car comparing a conventional engine and an efficient engine. We look at environmental impact of hazardous spills when we talk about half life problems while studying exponential functions.
Solar Domestic Hot Water (EERE 120) Students determine CO2 reductions by using SDHW systems. Solar Space Heating (EERE 121) Students determine CO2 reductions by using Solar for space heating. Residential SDHW Site Assessor (EERE 122) Has Not Been Offered.
Solar Water Heating Lab (EERE 123) Has Not Been Offered
Solar Thermal Design (EERE 124 ) Has Not Been Offered
Refrigeration I (REACT 110) Students demonstrate how to safely handle refrigerants such as CFC/HCFC/HFC and describe the negative impacts they have on the atmosphere.
Principles of Heat Loss/Gain (REACT 111)Is now - Residential Equipment Design I (REACT 211)
Residential Air Conditioning (REACT 112) Students demonstrate how to perform maintenance/troubleshoot air conditioning systems to improve system efficiency, decrease energy consumption, improve IAQ, and extend the life of the equipment.
Duct Design (REACT 113) Is now - Residential Equipment Design II (REACT 213)
Electricity As It Applies To HVAC/R (REACT 118) Students demonstrate how to test electrical components and perform preventive maintenance to extend the life of the components.
Sheetmetal For HVAC/R (REACT 119) Students demonstrate proper joining/sealing techniques of duct work so conditioned air is not wasted.
Residential Furnaces (REACT 120) Students demonstrate how to perform maintenance/troubleshoot gas furnace heating systems to improve system efficiency, decrease energy consumption, improve IAQ, and extend the life of the equipment.
Heat Pumps and Geothermal (REACT 121) Students demonstrate how to perform maintenance/troubleshoot electric furnace, ASHP, and GSHP heating systems to improve system efficiency, decrease energy consumption, improve IAQ, and extend the life of the equipment.
Commercial Refrigeration and Ice Machines I (REACT 130) Students demonstrate how to perform maintenance/troubleshoot medium and low temperature systems to improve system efficiency, decrease energy consumption, and extend the life of the equipment.
Commercial Refrigeration and Ice Machines II (REACT 131) Students demonstrate how to perform maintenance/troubleshoot ice machines and supermarket refrigeration systems to improve system efficiency, decrease energy consumption, and extend the life of the equipment.
Topics In HVAC/R Industry (REACT 141) No Longer Offered
Building Envelope Evaluation (GRBCR 150) Students demonstrate how to test the buildings envelope and determine where air leakage is occurring and to determine insulation values.
Introduction to Green Building Needs (GRBE 110) Students are introduced to green building and sustainable construction techniques and identify the difference of the two.
Building Energy Analysis (GRBE 120) Students demonstrate how to perform a residential energy audit. Central Heating and Colling Plant (GRBE 130) No longer offered.
Indoor Air Quality and Green Building Needs (GRBE 140) Students demonstrate how to test for indoor air pollution and how to perform the necessary corrections.
Green Building Environmental Projects (GRBE 150) Students perform an IAQ audit, developed a preventive maintenance plan, and energy audit on two different churches in the Sunnyland area.


The website URL where the inventory of course offerings with sustainability content is publicly available:
A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the course inventory:

The inventory was taken from the course catalog.


How did the institution count courses with multiple offerings or sections in the inventory?:
Each course was counted as a single course regardless of the number of offerings or sections

A brief description of how courses with multiple offerings or sections were counted (if different from the options outlined above):
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Which of the following course types were included in the inventory?:
Yes or No
Internships No
Practicums No
Independent study No
Special topics No
Thesis/dissertation No
Clinical No
Physical education No
Performance arts No

Does the institution designate sustainability courses in its catalog of course offerings?:
Yes

Does the institution designate sustainability courses on student transcripts?:
No

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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