Category: Education

Earth Month 2024 @RooseveltU: Get Involved, Have Fun, & Go Green!

This April is #RUEarthMonth2024, and there are lots of ways to go green here at Roosevelt. Whether you’re on or off campus — from attending talks and webinars by invited speakers to hearing presentations by current students to joining in the student org RU Green’s activities and community service work — you can participate in and contribute to the sustainability of our campus community.

SUST 395 Internship Presentations: As part of the annual Roosevelt Student Research & Inquiry Symposium, three Sustainability Internship students completing SUST 395 internships this spring 2024 semester at the Field Museum’s botany department (Daniel Dodinval and Kenny Koster) and the Southeast Environmental Task Force (Kristina Gillespie) gave oral presentations last Th 4/11 to the RU community on their research projects and community engagement activities. Check out the Zoom recording of their talks here!

All Week 4/15-19 — Student Mental Health Referendum Vote: All students have the chance to vote on a Mental Health Referendum for the RU student body. Below is an infographic about the issue and referendum. SGA is holding a Referendum Info Session on Zoom on Tu 4/16 at 2pm.

Mon 4/15 5-6pm — Earth Month Clean-Up with RU Green & the Black Student Union: Come join RU Green & BSU for a service project in recognition of Earth Month. We will be beautifying the area surrounding our campus by picking up trash. All supplies will be provided. Meet in WB Lobby by 5pm. RSVP and event details here on Laker Connect.

https://se-images.campuslabs.com/clink/images/97011f99-018c-46c3-833e-db5f58428f5812c5ca45-83ff-4efb-8607-c0fdb57c9f28.png?preset=med-w

Tues 4/16 12:30-1:45pm — SUST 210/250 Sustainability Teach-In Presentations: Join the students of SUST 210 Sustainable Future and SUST 250 The Sustainable University as three student teams present their projects on vital sustainability issues of the day (food, consumption, and waste). Attend live in WB 616 or virtually by Zoom. Email Prof. Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for more info.

Tues 4/16 2pm — Virtual Tour of the MWRD’s Famous “Deep Tunnel”: one and all are invited to attend a free live virtual tour of the Chicago region’s water infrastructure and history on Tuesday, April 16 at 2 p.m. Travel back in time to early Chicago to see how we reversed the Chicago River and developed wastewater treatment technology. Go behind the scenes and under water to see how we transform the water you use every day; descend 300 feet into the deep tunnel system, and watch our electrofishing crew at work sampling fish on the Chicago River. See goats and sheep at work maintaining native prairie landscaping! (Yes, you read that right.) To register, click here.

Thur 4/18 12:30-1:45pm — SUST 210/250 Sustainability Teach-In Presentations: Join the students of SUST 210 Sustainable Future and SUST 250 The Sustainable University as four student teams present their projects on vital sustainability issues of the day (athletics, energy, transportation, and water). Attend live in WB 616 or virtually by Zoom. Email Prof. Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for more info.

Thur 4/18 & Sun 4/21 — WeDigBio Citizen Science at the Field Museum: Be a part of a global effort to digitize centuries of data about life on Earth! Organisms may include ferns, fungi, mosses, lichens, insects, and mammals. Participants will have an opportunity to meet scientists and join in behind-the-scenes tours or talks about the significance of the scientific collections. WeDigBio will be held in-person at the Field Museum on 4/18 and 4/21, from 9:30am to 1pm. For more info and to register for this event, please click here.

Fri 4/19 after Senate 12-4pm – Green-up / Clean-up Event: Immediately following University Senate, RU faculty and staff are invited to connect, collaborate and clean out office spaces. Details are forthcoming about special services and activities, but wear your Roosevelt green, grab some coffee and a snack and get ready for some spring cleaning! Details here on Inside RU.

Sat 4/20 thru Mon 4/22 — Earth Day Service Opportunities & Events throughout Chicago, sponsored by the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) and other organizations. Check out the many events listed here by C3 as well as these by the Cook County Forest Preserves. Help clean up parklands, restore natural areas, and meet conservation-minded and nature loving sustainability nerds from across the city. Fun and rewarding in a deeply spiritual and dirt-under-your-nails kind of way!

Wed 4/24 6-7pm CST — RU Students Explore the “Democracy of Place”: Join RU students as they engage other students from across the US in an online discussion about the present and future state of democracy. Led by students of the Resilience Studies Consortium, this interactive conversation will explore the importance of place, public spaces, sustainability, community resilience, and more. Zoom link: https://western.zoom.us/j/92506664532

Not enough stuff to choose from? Keep checking this page and the SUST @ RU blog for more updates about great Earth Month 2024 events and activities. And don’t forget to get outside!

Updated 4/13/24

RU’s Environmental Sustainability Committee Meets on 2/21; All Are Welcome!

RU’s Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) will meet via Zoom on Wed 2/21/24 from 9-10am CST to review the strategic planning process to date and prioritize the summary initiatives recommended by the RU community in 2023. This open committee est. in 2010 meets ~4x per year to discuss environmental sustainability initiatives, share information, and make policy recommendations.

All interested RU students, faculty, staff, admin, and alumni are welcome and encouraged to attend! RSVP to mbryson@roosevelt.edu.

Zoom link for meeting: https://roosevelt.zoom.us/j/93318500123

Our main task will be to share feedback on and discuss this Worksheet for Prioritizing Sustainability Initiatives (Word and pdf), which summarizes recommendations made through several surveys and workshops in 2022-23. Please take a few minutes to review and fill out the worksheet prior to meeting, if possible. Regardless of whether or not you can attend on 2/21, written feedback can be emailed to the ESC chair, Prof. Mike Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu).

Additional Resources for the 2/21/24 ESC meeting:

Friends of Volo Bog Offer 2024 Environmental Scholarship Opportunities

The Friends of Volo Bog is offering an Entering College scholarship and a Continuing College scholarship for $1,500 each to outstanding students interested in pursuing an environmental career.

To be eligible for the Entering College scholarship the applicant must have a permanent Illinois residency and attend high school in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will Counties,, have a minimum B average for the first three years, and plan to attend an accredited college or university. The applicant should be planning to enter a career directly related to preserving the natural environment.

To be eligible for the Continuing College scholarship the applicant must be currently enrolled in college or university pursing a degree directly related to preserving the natural environment, have a permanent residence in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will County, have graduated from a high school from one of these counties with a minimum B average, and currently hold a minimum B average in their college studies.

Application MUST be received by March 31st (or post marked by March 28) of this year (2024). Please check Visitor Center hours if dropping off in person as the Visitor Center may be closed on and/or prior to the day of the deadline.

Preparing the Application Package
Please assemble your package in one envelope in the following order:

  1. This Application Form filled out completely (form below).

  2. At least one signed letter of recommendation from a non-relative who is familiar your goals and aptitude.

  3. A one-page essay addressing your motivation for choosing an environmental or natural science career, your related experiences and attributes, such as leadership skills, and your educational goals. 

  4. Sealed official transcripts reflecting your GPA of B or higher.

​If you have any questions, please email FriendsofVoloBog@gmail.com. Application must be received at the VBSNA Visitor Center my March 31st.

Scholarship Committee
Friends of Volo Bog
28478 W. Brandenburg Road
Ingleside, IL 60041

American Dream Reconsidered Conference @RU (Oct 16-19)

Theme: Mind, Body and the American Dream

Mind and body are such fundamental concepts that we often take them for granted, but recent events have served as a reminder of how central they are to the American Dream. For example, the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade served as a stark example about the body itself as a site of political contestation. Roosevelt University is uniquely suited to explore this theme. As an educational institution, one of the University’s central missions is promoting and celebrating the life of the mind.
The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt is centrally focused on education that brings together mind and body in music, theater, and dance. In addition, as a participant in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and potentially Division II of the National Association of Collegiate Athletics (NCAA), the University is home to more than two dozen sports teams that encourage students to hone their physical development.
Visit the 2023 Conference website for the schedule and info on speakers!

Green Up & Clean UP @RU on 9/15

Hey, RU faculty and staff — Start fresh this fall and join your Roosevelt colleagues for Green Up Clean Up Day! This first-ever event @RooseveltU is an opportunity for you and your co-workers to connect, collaborate and clean out your office spaces to make our campuses the best place to work and best possible learning environment for our students. Wear your Roosevelt green, grab some coffee and a snack and get ready to spruce things up for the academic year!

Save the Date!
Green Up Clean Up
Friday, September 15 | Noon – 3 p.m.

During Green Up Clean Up offices are encouraged to:

  • Grab some snacks in AUD320 (Chicago Campus) and SCH616 (Schaumburg Campus)
  • Donate and reallocate unused office supplies (Notepads, pens, Post-Its, markers, folders, etc.). The Dean of Students Office will gather office supplies for students to use.
  • Purge old documents. Speed packs will be available in Ida B. Wells Lounge to deliver documents to a Pro Shred shredder truck on Wabash Ave. Please review our document retention policies.
  • Donate books (Book donation bins will be provided in the libraries on both campuses)
  • Spruce up their personal spaces
  • Recycle electronics

Accepted items: 

  • Computers & Laptops (wiped clean in the process)
  • iPods and MP3 Players
  • Cameras and DVD’s
  • CD, DVD/VCR Players
  • Keyboards and Mice
  • LCD/LED Monitors
  • Printers and Fax Machines
  • Power Cords/Cables
  • Scanners/Copiers
  • Cable Boxes
  • Cell Phones

Items NOT accepted:

  • CRT or Old Tube TV’s
  • Light Bulbs
  • Hazardous Items (Paint)
  • Dehumidifiers
  • White Goods (Washers/Dryers)

Green Up Clean Up will immediately follow the University Senate meeting and start with snacks and refreshments on each campus. Speed packs will be available to move any larger supplies or equipment. If you need some green apparel, Roosevelt t-shirts will be available at the receptions. These hours can be classified as an in-service day for non-exempt workers. Please work with your supervisors to plan accordingly.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Week 2: Working Remotely / Prof B’s Classes Meet on Zoom

To my SUST 101 and 220 students — This week of 9/5/23 I will again work remotely from my home office in Joliet, in the Lower Des Plaines River watershed. Please check your course Bb site and your RU email for communications and instructions regarding your class(es) this week. We will meet via Zoom during our regularly scheduled times, so plan accordingly in order to have a relatively quiet and appropriate space for logging in.

Questions? Please get in touch via email or phone, as noted on my Contact page.

Yours in environmental stewardship,
Prof B

Wanted: Sustainability Student Associates for Fall 2023 @RooseveltU

The Department of Law, Society & Sustainability (LSS) @RooseveltU is hiring up to two undergraduate students to work as Sustainability Student Associates for the Fall 2023 semester. Information and application instructions for this position can be found on the RU Student Employment website. To apply, just login to the Handshake job posting system and upload your letter of interest, résumé, and writing sample. These positions are funded by the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program as well as Testa Produce; FWS and non-FWS eligible students are therefore welcome to apply.

These 15 hour/week student positions support the mission, pedagogy, and service work of the Sustainability Studies (SUST) as well as other related programs in the LSS Dept at Roosevelt by

(1) developing & supporting campus sustainability projects in consultation with the SUST program director; Dept of Law, Society & Sustainability faculty; Operations and Planning admin/staff; and the RU Green student organization;

(2) managing the Roosevelt Urban Sustainability Lab (RUSLab) & WB Rooftop Garden;

(3) providing logistical and communication support for sustainability-related activities, events, and projects, especially our ongoing efforts at strategic sustainability planning;

(4) coordinating & promoting departmental events & campus outreach (e.g., Campus Sustainability Month in October, SUST Symposia, & Earth Month in April);

(5) supporting student experiential learning, recruitment, retention, & career development efforts;

(6) performing alumni and community outreach.

In 2023-24, up to two Student Associates will work under the direction of the LSS Dept Chair and SUST Program Director, Prof. Mike Bryson. Associates will utilize the RUSLab in AUD 526 as their home base at the Chicago Campus as well as perform some work remotely. Both FWS eligible and non-eligible students from any major are welcome to apply, but priority in hiring will be given to FWS students who are based in the programs of the new Department of Law, Society & Sustainability within the new College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences (formerly the College of Arts & Sciences).

The application deadline is Friday 9/15/23. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be conducted starting the week of 8/29/23. Consequently, interested students should get their applications submitted ASAP and may contact Prof. Bryson in advance to indicate their intention to apply and ask questions about the position. A cover letter, updated résumé, and writing sample are required for the application.

The writing sample should be at least 1000 words and should demonstrates your writing & research skills (this may be a paper submitted for a college class). Topic related to sustainability and/or the environment is recommended, but not required. This should be something that demonstrates your *best* writing, and not overly technical.

Please note your FWS eligibility status in your cover letter. Applicants should explain their interest in advancing campus sustainability as well as highlight their prior knowledge about and/or skills in relevant sustainability issues and practices (e.g., recycling, gardening, event planning, data analysis, student outreach, etc.)

  • Priority Majors: Criminal Justice, Economics, English, International Studies, Paralegal Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Social Justice Studies, Sociology, and Sustainability Studies. Students from other majors will also be considered.
  • Required Skills/Knowledge: Knowledge of and interest in sustainability; strong writing/editing skills; effective communication skills; dependability, strong work ethic, and ability to work independently.

Please email Prof. Bryson (mbryson@roosevelt.edu) for questions about the position or application process.