Ecological Policy & Planning at College of the Atlantic

Ecological Policy and Planning at COA emphasizes an applied, interdisciplinary approach to  local and regional studies. Since its inception, the program has pioneered numerous curricular innovations based on collaborative problem solving that combines ecological, economic and social expertise.

A major component of the ecological policy and planning curriculum is built on project-based courses in which students work together with faculty and community leaders. Through these activities, students get involved with real-world environmental and community issues. Topics range from shaping legislation and collaborative decision making to regional and town planning, economic development, human health and green business. Students who focus in ecological policy and planning learn a broad range of interdisciplinary skills and ecological approaches. They also gain the additional benefits of hands-on learning which combines theory and practice in ways that really make a difference.
 
College-Community Collaboration

Since its founding, COA has fashioned many collaborative initiatives. These activities range from basic research on social and environmental policy issues to formation of new organizations involving multiple partners. Through these efforts, the college has become a recognized leader in the creation of collaborative, problem-solving forums.

MDI Tomorrow For nearly twenty years, COA has worked closely with local towns on Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park on social, environmental, and planning issues. Out of this collaboration was borne a citizen-based planning initiative known as MDI Tomorrow. The group's mission - "to bring about vibrant, healthy and year-round communities for Mount Desert Island and surrounding towns” - has achieved nationally recognized results. The MDI Tomorrow process has led to projects addressing critical community issues: the Island Explorer bus system has relieved traffic congestion and reduced greenhouse gas emissions; MDI Housing Authority and Island Housing Trust are making progress on affordable housing for families who work and shop locally, and serve as volunteers in the community; Healthy Acadia Coalition is linking local agriculture to school lunch programs and has focused attention on the needs of youth; Friends of Acadia and local towns are working to create foot paths and bike lanes for local residents and visitors (for more information, see www.mditomorrow.org).

Watershed Initiatives COA has also developed a curriculum in applied human ecology with a specific focus on watersheds and watershed-based regional planning. This initiative takes advantage of a diverse network of partnerships dealing with economic and environmental sustainability with the Union River Watershed Coalition (URWC) as the centerpiece. Composed of nearly 300 community leaders, nonprofits, businesses, landowners, citizens, and agencies, the URWC addresses increasing development pressure and related threats to water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreational access.

Organizational Stewardship One of COA's newest initiatives, organizational stewardship, focuses on how people, businesses, and non-profit organizations can contribute to community sustainability. This developing program provides students with knowledge of the concepts and skills that will make them effective as leaders and contributors in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Through courses, visiting lectures and workshops, the initiative brings together information on organizational development management, green technology, and grass roots sustainability.