The Environmental Sciences and Studies Area of Distinction constitutes an exceptional area of activity for Slippery Rock University.  Slippery Rock University has played a preeminent role in the study of the environment during the last three decades and will continue to exercise leadership in ways that are multidimensional and broad in perspective. Established undergraduate programs in environmental science and environment studies have been joined by baccalaureate programs in environmental education and safety and environmental management; by two masters programs in education and sustainable systems; and, by a minor program in environmental engineering.  These programs constitute a focal area in the university’s mission and are integral parts of its vision of the future.  Collectively the programmatic area of Environmental Sciences and Studies qualify as an Area of Distinction. 

One of the earliest environmental education programs in Pennsylvania originated at Slippery Rock University.  The program continues to be the only undergraduate program in environmental education in the state, one of a few that prepares teachers for certification, and one of two programs that leads to a master’s degree in environmental education.  The faculty members are well qualified and often are called to provide expert testimony to state, national, and international panels that are addressing environmental education issues.  As an outgrowth of this reputation, the university was selected to be the host site for the Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education, established in 1996 by executive order of Governor Tom Ridge.  A Slippery Rock University faculty member was named Executive Director.  Currently, the center is in the fourth year of a ten-year commitment.  In addition to the State System of Higher Education, there are 11 state-level partners in this enterprise whose primary mission is to promote the environmental education process through partnership, services, and research.

Slippery Rock University is responsible also for the operation of the McKeever Environmental Center, a public service institute of the State System of Higher Education, that is dedicated to the specific mission of providing environmental education to the citizens of the Commonwealth.  The center offers residential environmental education programs for schools K-12 and works closely with over 70 schools from 14 Pennsylvania counties annually.  It also offers student teaching and internship positions for universities in the State System of Higher Education and for other colleges throughout the United States.  The center has an effective relationship with many state agencies and organizations and annually sponsors and hosts many outdoor-related events for specific groups and for the general public.  As an Act 48 Approved Provider by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the McKeever Center and Slippery Rock University will play an even more important role in preparing teachers for environmental education responsibilities in the future.

In l991, the university initiated a unique graduate program, the Master of Science in Sustainable Systems.  The program has received state and national recognition for its holistic approaches to broad environmental issues.  The program has attracted students from across the country who bring diverse undergraduate preparation yet who share a common commitment to discover sustainable solutions to protect the environment for future generations.  An integral feature of the program is a l910 homestead located on 84 acres of land that serves as a “living laboratory” for students enrolled in environmental-related programs on campus.  In 1990, the house was retrofitted with the help of volunteers and a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Energy.  The house incorporates energy efficient design and construction techniques that include photovoltaic arrays, a Finnish-style masonry stove, a solar greenhouse, as well as other non-traditional approaches such as a composting toilet and a greywater treatment system.  During the 1990s, students completed significant research projects on air quality, the greywater treatment system, and energy analysis.  A timberframe barn that incorporated straw bale and straw clay building techniques also was the result of a student thesis project and volunteer effort.  The university partnered with the borough of Slippery Rock a $125,000 composting grant from the DEP that utilizes leaf collection from the borough and food wastes from the university cafeterias to regenerate an abandoned area on campus.  The area, now planted with native species of trees, grasses, and wildflowers, is part of a developing interpretive trail that attracts increasing numbers of visitors, especially children in environmental awareness programs.

As part of the university’s commitment to environmental issues, students have conducted a green campus audit, and a campus “zoning” committee has been established to examine the environmental impact of campus projects and to recommend overall environmental policy.  Most recently, a small internal grant was awarded to support the testing of using biodegradable paper materials in the student grille to reduce the amount of waste that needs to be placed in the landfill, while adding to the material at the composting site on campus.

In 1994, the Institute for the Environment was created to coordinate the university’s efforts in research, instruction, and community outreach.  The Institute’s mission is to provide interdisciplinary, inter-university and international opportunities for university and community members for the improvement of the total environment.  As an inter-university example, the Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium is a unique agreement among 17 academic institutions.  The consortium enables its members to offer a comprehensive marine science program by pooling resources, facilities, instructors and equipment.  The most recent project involving Slippery Rock University students centered on a summer internship research activity.

The environmental sciences program is a tripartite arrangement of geology, biology, and chemistry.  One of the program’s major goals is to prepare students for occupations with industrial laboratories concerned with air and water pollution control.  A prime interdisciplinary research project involving faculty, students and community members focuses on the restoration of Slippery Rock Creek, which has been severely impacted by acid mine drainage.  Since 1995, the project has secured $67,000 in grant money and the researchers won the Three Rivers Environmental Award for their work.  Research findings are presented at an annual watershed conference at the Jennings Environmental Center.  The success of the program is reflected in a selection of graduates currently employed in industrial firms such as Alcoa and Dupont; in consulting agencies such as Moody & Associates, Inc. and Rockwell Engineering; in government agencies such as U.S. Geologic Survey and the Department of Environmental Protection; and enrolled in graduate schools such as Michigan State University and SUNY at Stony Brook.

 The environmental studies program, directed by geography, gives students a balanced understanding of the relationships that exist between the social and behavioral sciences and environmental systems.  What distinguishes this program from other environmental programs is its substantial content in the social sciences, giving students a perspective beyond the natural sciences.  Students also take summer internships that evidence placements at the National Park Service, U.S. Soil Conservation Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Mercer County Conservation District, and the Allegheny National Forest.  Since its approval in 1975, graduates holding the bachelor of science degree in environmental studies now work in places such as the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, U.S. Soil Conservation Service, INMETCO, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The potential for continuing grants to support student and faculty research, hands-on sustainable demonstration projects, and other environmental efforts is strong.  The university has received close to $250,000 from grant sources and has an agreement for an endowed scholarship program from a private donor.  As the concern for finding more sustainable approaches to living increases, the need for strong environmental programs that address complex and multifaceted potential solutions will become even more important.  The historic and contemporary roles Slippery Rock University has played in matters concerning the environment make Environmental Sciences and Studies a fitting Area of Distinction.