Sustainable Environments

Science and Technology Gen Ed

GUS/ENST 842, Section 701, CRN 26781
Autumn 2025 
Instructor: Dr. Fletcher Chmara-Huff (Dr. Fletch)

Online, Asynchronous, no scheduled meetings
Syllabus PDF

The course syllabus will provide you with the course schedule, course objectives, explanations of assignments and assessments, grading policies, and instructor contact information. Please read it carefully. You should have a deep familiarity with the schedule and process of the course.

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• Instructor Information

• Purpose of the Course

• The Learning Environment

• Course Schedule

• Grading & Assessment Guidelines

• Technology Guidelines

• Academic Guidelines

  

Basic Course Information

General Education

This course fulfills a GenEd Science & Technology (GS) requirement for students. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed EES/Geology 0842 or GUS 0842. GenEd Science & Technology courses present scientific process in context, helping students understand how scientific phenomena and/or technological change affects human life and the planet. Science & Technology courses are intended to teach students how to:

• Understand and describe the scientific process;
• Understand the sequential nature of science and technology;
• Recognize, use and appreciate scientific or technological thinking for solving problems that are part of everyday life;
• Understand and communicate how technology encourages the process of discovery in science and related disciplines; and
• Retrieve, organize, and analyze data associated with a scientific or technological model.

  

Welcome Message

 Welcome to Sustainable Environments! We’ll be spending the semester together discussing environmental issues, and how we got here. Along the way, you’ll also get an opportunity to think about how we solve these issues, and why it is an urgent problem. It is not enough to think about problems, hopefully this class inspires you to action, whether it is personal change, activism, art, or simply good conversations. Because as you will see, the solutions needed are "all of the above!" 

 

Meeting Time and Location

This course is an online and asynchronous course. This means you will be expected to schedule for yourself approximately 10 hours a weeks to work on some aspect of the class. I will send announcements at the start and end of the week letting you know what you should be working on to stay on track. Lectures will be available for you to absorb at your own pace, and assignments will be available five days before they are due. The class will have weekly modules for you to keep yourself on track as well.

 

Emergency Meetings

Students are to register for the TUAlert System to be made aware of University closures due to weather or other emergency situations and follow all additional university-wide emergency instructions. Students can register for this system on the Campus Safety Services website.

Please note that online classes are generally not affected by campus closures.

 

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Instructor Information

My Name: Dr. Fletcher Chmara-Huff  (Learn how to pronounce it.)

 

Please refer to me as Dr Fletch. My pronouns are He/Him/His.

 

Instructor Biography

Howdy,

If you look at my profile description, you will see that I have a variety of identities. I graduated from Ohio State University in 2011 with a PhD in Geography, and I have been at Temple's Department of Geography, Environmental, and Urban Studies (GENUS) for 11 years now. In addition to teaching Sustainable Environments online, I also teach Intro to Physical Geography, which is a required course for Environmental Studies majors (and a required elective for Engineers!), and courses on Political Ecology, Hazards, the Senior Capstone for Environmental Studies, and Environment and Society. In terms of research, I have done cultural resource work with tribes in the American West, fisheries management studies in the Caribbean, and lately, have been turning towards the theories associated with intersectional politics as resistance. I am also a record producer and a DJ, but that is hardly relevant to the course. I also produce dance performances with Boyer College, and help run an EDM record label, but nobody ever wants to hear about that...

 

My Contact Information

Please reach out to me at any time for assistance with the course or just to chat about the field or navigating university life. The best way to reach me is to  email me at fletcherc@temple.edu. I will generally respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. Please do not send a follow-up email before 24 hours have passed. My Office phone number is a way to leave me a voice message 215.204.8396.

 

My Office

Gladfelter Hall 339 or Zoom Room 7404053405

Student Drop-In Hours

Seeking out individual assistance from the instructor is a normal part of the learning process. I set aside 1:00 to 2:50 on Mondays and Wednesdays for you to come to my office with no appointment necessary. I will also be in my Zoom Room most Fridays from noon to 1. We can discuss the course content, your progress on the assessments, your future in the field, or anything else you need to talk about. If my regular Drop-In Hours don’t fit your schedule, please email me to make an appointment. I want to help you succeed!

 

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Purpose of the Course

Overall Purpose

Humans are at a critical juncture in their relationship with the environment. Many of the global changes occurring in the atmosphere, climate, and oceans can be attributed to human activity. While the standard of living has increased for many people across the globe, the technological advancements that have made this possible endanger future generations because of their environmental impacts. Environmental toxins and air pollution are increasing, and fossil fuels and forests are being depleted at unsustainable rates. Now more than ever, the viability of human life depends on the scientific understanding of global environmental change, and on developing science-based policies to both protect the environment and promote human well-being in a just and sustainable manner. Course mission: enhance your capability to be environmentally informed consumers and citizens based on a sound understanding of the ecological, technological, economic, political, and ethical dimensions of environmental sustainability. 

 

This General Education Science and Technology course expands the breadth of your knowledge and skills, adding to the depth acquired in your major. This course emphasizes the critical competencies of critical thinking, oral/written communication, and information literacy while delving into the historical context that led to pressing issues, including making sure humanity as food, water, and a liveable climate.

 

Overview of the Course

GenEd Science & Technology courses present scientific process in context, helping students understand how scientific phenomena and/or technological change affects human life and the planet.

3 Credit Hours

Learning Goals

Upon successful completion of this General Education course, you will be able to…

• Understand and describe the scientific process;
• Understand the sequential nature of science and technology;
• Recognize, use and appreciate scientific or technological thinking for solving problems that are part of everyday life;
• Understand and communicate how technology encourages the process of discovery in science and related disciplines; and
• Retrieve, organize, and analyze data associated with a scientific or technological model.

 

Section Learning Goals

Science is described as a method, or a body of knowledge, but really it is a way of thinking. This course will help you sharpen your skills of thinking scientifically.

 All materials, activities, and assessments of this course are designed to help you achieve this goal. If at any time you feel that you are not making progress towards one of these goals, please reach out to me. It is my job to help you get there!

 

General Education Competencies and Area Learning Goals

1. Understand the scientific basis of the environmental challenges facing humankind (GenEd competencies III, V, VII, A, B, C).
2. Demonstrate an understanding of environmental sustainability (GenEd competencies I, II, V, C, E).
3. Describe and communicate how individual, corporate, and government actions impact the environment (GenEd competencies I, II, III, IV, VIII, D, E).
4. Evaluate scientific evidence for environmental problems and solutions (GenEd competencies I, III, V, VII, VIII, C, D, E).

 

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The Learning Environment

How Class Will Be Conducted

This is an online asynchronous course with no set meeting times. You can choose when to complete your work throughout the week, but most successful students block off specific times in their schedule to dedicate to the class and log in several times a week. A 3 Credit Hour Course should take about 10 hours a week, including lecture, reading, and assignments.

The course is organized into weekly modules, each containing a combination of readings, multimedia content, and assignments. You can expect a mix of VoiceThread presentations, and activities designed to reinforce the material. I will post weekly announcements to keep you on track and informed, and I will check discussion boards regularly to engage with student posts and answer questions. Written feedback on assignments is typically provided within one week of the submission deadline. I aim to be present and responsive throughout the course, and you are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns at any time.

 

Classroom Civility

It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.

Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor, and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Profanity should be avoided as should the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others' privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.

For more information, please visit the IDEAL website.

 

Materials

Links to required readings, videos, etc., will be supplied electronically in Canvas in the appropriate module. These items will be provided to you at no additional cost.

Software or Other Supplies

If you need access to basic software for creating documents, slideshows, or spreadsheets, you have free access to Microsoft 365.

Recommended Technology:

• Headphones or speakers
  
• Microphone
• Webcam
• Recommended Internet Speed: 8mbps download & 5mbps upload. You can test your connection at https://www.speedtest.net
• Please note: Hard-wired connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi for Zoom sessions and testing.

 

Accessibility

 It is important to me that every student has the opportunity to succeed in this course. Please reach out to me if any obstacle is in the way of your success. Often adaptations can help everyone. For instance, Closed Captioning is available on my VoiceThreads, and reading along with a speaker can help everyone be clear on what is being said.

 

Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) located in the Howard Gittis Student Center South, 4th Floor at drs@temple.edu or 215-204-1280 to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential. Students can learn more about the accommodation process and pre-register on the DRS website. Students may register at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not active until you register, so I recommend doing so as early in the semester as possible.

 

Information regarding accessibility for additional technologies is provided below:

• Canvas
• Zoom
• VoiceThread
• Outlook

 

Resources and Support

Sometimes the biggest factors impacting student success are things happening beyond the scope of the individual classroom. Temple provides a wide array of resources both to help you overcome academic challenges and those not directly related to the educational challenges of the course. Please reach out to me if you need help deciding which resources might be right for you.

Student Success Center

University Libraries

Undergraduate Research Support

Career Center

Tuttleman Counseling Services

Disability Resources and Services

Wellness Resource Center

Student Health Services

If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry is in operation, as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.

Counseling Services & Advising:

College can be stressful, and your mental well-being is important. If you are a student of Temple University, Tuttleman Counseling Services. offers you support for your emotional, educational, or vocational concerns. Assistance is confidential and free of charge. They provide an atmosphere that is informal and professional, where you can feel safe and comfortable seeking help. Please use the link above because these are trying times. They are doing services via phone and Zoom.

There is also an additional fee based service available to the Temple community, but their rates are also low at Psychological Services Center.

Your academic advisors can be great advocates for you. While I expect that you will all make an effort to keep me informed if you will be absent, or ask for help if you are struggling, your advisor also can help you find the people at the university that you need to talk to if you have an unexpected life event. I know from experience that everything can be fine one day, and not the next, so please reach out to an advisor or me if you need a referral to get help. EVERYONE needs help at some point in their life.

Library Resources

Temple University Libraries provide resources to assist Temple students with their class projects and research needs. Visit the Libraries’ website to find millions of articles, books, video, and other resources, both in print and online.

The site also provides tutorials to help you start your research, as well as subject and course research guides to help you identify resources that may be particularly useful for this class.

Contact the library at any stage of the research process. You can chat with a librarian 24/7 or make an appointment with your subject librarian, who can help you explore a topic, craft a research question, and identify and cite sources.

 

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Course Schedule

• Monday August 25: Classes Begin
• Monday September 1: Labor Day
• Monday September 8: Last day to drop or add
• Friday October 17: Wellness Day
• November 24-28: Fall Break
• Monday, December 8: Last Day of Classes. Last day to withdraw

 

Schedule of Due Dates (All times are Eastern Time)
Unit I: Environmental History, Policy and Economics (Aug 25-Sep 28)
Item	Made Available:	Due:
Exam I	Sep 24	Sep 28 by 9 pm
Essay 1	Sep 5	Sep 10  by 9 pm
Essay 2	Sep 18	Sep 22 by 9 pm
Readings due: Contents of Unit I readings folder
Unit II: Population, Agriculture and Water (Sep 29-Nov 2)
Exam II	Oct 29	Nov 2 by 9 pm
Essay 3	Oct 3	Oct 8  by 9 pm
Essay 4	Oct 15	Oct 22 by 9 pm
Readings due: Contents of Unit II readings folder
Unit III: Climate Change and Renewable vs. Non-renewable Resources (Nov 4-Dec 9)
Exam III	Dec 5	Dec 12  by 9 pm
Essay 5	Nov 7	Nov 12 by 9 pm
Essay 6	Dec 1	Dec 5  by 9 pm
Readings due: Contents of Unit III readings folder

 

 

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Grading & Assessment Guidelines

Grading Scale

 

Table 2 - Grade Percentage Breakdown

Percentage	Letter Grade
92-100	A
90-91.99	A-
88-89.99	B+
82-87.99	B
80-81.99	B-
78-79.99	C+
72-77.99	C
70-71.99	C-
68-69.99	D+
62-67.99	D
60-61.99	D-
0-59.99	F

 

 

Course Minimum Grade

A grade of “C-” or better is required in all GenEd courses for you to satisfy a General Education requirement.*

I will do my best to warn you if you are in danger of not meeting this minimum, but you should reach out to me if you become worried about not achieving the minimum needed grade.

 

Assessment Summary

The assessments in this course have been created for two reasons: (1) For you to demonstrate your progress towards the learning goals for the course and receive useful feedback. (2) For you to practice skills and develop ways of thinking that will be of use to you in the future.

Exam I – 15 percent of your final grade

Exam II – 15 percent of your final grade

Exam III – 15 percent of your final grade

Five/ Six essays @ 9 percent each = 45 percent of your final grade

Voicethread participation – 10 percent of your final grade

 

Late Submissions/Missed Exams & Quizzes

Life gets in the way for all of us from time to time. For this reason, the lowest paper grade is automatically dropped. Because you have five days in which to complete each assignment and exam, late work is generally not accepted.

Missed Exam Policy: Because you have 5 days to take exams, they can’t be made up in absence of significant family or medical issues with clear documentation. You procrastinate at your own risk! Computer problems are not an excuse.

Late work policy: Barring significant, documented medical reason or family emergency, no late essays will be accepted without penalty. Any essay submitted within 24 hours of the due date without documentation will be eligible for a 10 % deduction, but no essay will be accepted after the 24-hour grace period.

 

Class Attendance & Participation

Your attendance and participation is determined by your interactions with the VoiceThreads. At a minimum, you will need two high quality interactions with my lecture, as specified in above in the assessments section. You will not be creating VoiceThreads, but are required to interact with the threads I post in the modules. Punctuality is important, and these interactions should be done at least a week before the unit exam is posted.

Because this is an online asynchronous course, there are no required meeting times. However, consistent engagement throughout the unit is expected and counts as your "attendance" in the course. At a minimum, students should log in at least two to three times per week to view course materials, complete assignments, and participate in discussions. The assignments have five days, and starting it the day it is posted, instead of the day it is due will have better outcomes.  Staying active and on schedule is essential for your success in the course.

 

School-Life Conflict

Many unpredictable things can happen over the course of a semester. If you find yourself struggling to balance your education and your other commitments, please reach out to me immediately so that we can work together to build a plan for your success. Some of the resources in the next section may also be of use to you.

 

Attendance and Your Health

To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is your responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you can, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.

 

Religious Holidays

It is your right to observe religious holidays without impacting your opportunity to learn and succeed in this course. Please reach out to me at the start of the semester so that deadlines can be reviewed in advance of your religious observations. You will still be held responsible for course content and any assignments, but you will not lose points for attendance and participation on days important to your faith.

 

Caregiver Responsibilities

I have great respect for students who are pursuing their education while responsible for the care of children or other family members. Please contact me if you encounter challenges that require you to miss a class session or if your caregiving responsibilities are interfering with your success in the course. Together, we may be able to find some flexibility to support your learning.

 

Withdrawal

If you are considering withdrawing from the course after the add/drop date, please don’t make that decision alone! Withdrawing from the course without talking to me first eliminates the possibility of finding a path to success for you. Furthermore, it is extremely important that you consult your academic advisor before withdrawing. They will be able to walk you through how the withdrawal would impact your progress towards your degree and your graduation date.

Please check the academic calendar for the last day to withdraw from a course.

 

Incomplete

A student will be eligible for a grade of “Incomplete” only if the student: 1) has completed at least 51% of the work at a passing level, 2) is unable to complete the work for a serious reason beyond their control, and 3) files a signed agreement with the instructor outlining the work to be completed and the time frame in which that work will be completed. The student is responsible for initiating this process, and all incomplete forms must be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the start of study days in that semester.  

Please refer to the following for further details: Temple University’s Incomplete Policy. (Policy #02.10.13). 

 

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Technology Guidelines

Technology Requirements

To participate in this course, you will need the equipment, software, and internet access necessary to reliably use Zoom and Canvas, as well as “productivity tools” like word processors and slide show creators.

Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application located in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources. The University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.

Note that there are technology resources available for students, including on-campus computers available for student use, the Tech Center computer labs and free laptop and battery borrowing at Charles Library, software that is available for free download and other specialty software that may be available for remote access through ITS.

 

Technical Support

For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Tech Support page.

Live Chat or Request Help: help.temple.edu

Phone: 215-204-8000

Email:  help@temple.edu

Website: its.temple.edu

Location: The TECH Center, Room 106

 

Technology Usage

If something does not appear to be working, please email and let me know. I have had students wait until the end of the unit before they tell me that something is not working on their end, and this is too late. If I determine something is not working for everyone, I will announce it. But I find many problems are better resolved by TUHelp, as not every computer is set up to show all content in this class.

 

Class Recording

The recordings on VoiceThread are intended to be for University academic and research purposes only. Individuals are not permitted to record, copy, publish, or redistribute audio or video recordings of any portion of the course to individuals who are not associated with the University without the express permission of the host/faculty member and of any other meeting participants who are recorded. Distribution without permission could be a violation of various privacy laws, including FERPA, as well as the Pennsylvania Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act, and possibly copyright law.

 

Privacy and Data Protection

Please see the links below to become familiar with the privacy policies for each of the following: 

• Temple University
• Canvas Instructure
• Zoom

 

AI Policies 

The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, etc.) are not permitted in this class; therefore, any use of AI tools for work in this class may be considered a violation of Temple University’s Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in failing the assignment, and referral to the Dean of Students.

 

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Academic Guidelines

Academic Freedom

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. I have the freedom and responsibility to design and facilitate our learning environment to best achieve the promise of the course as outlined in its official description. You have the responsibility to engage with the course in good faith and freedom from mistreatment when your opinion differs from mine. Note that it is not an abuse of this freedom for me to require that you support relevant opinions with clear argumentation and solid evidence. For more on academic freedom, consult the official Temple policy on the matter.

 

Academic Integrity

Temple University believes strongly in academic honesty and integrity. Plagiarism and academic cheating are, therefore, prohibited. All work you submit for assessment should be your own efforts. For more on this topic, consult the relevant portions of Temple Bulletin and the Student Conduct Code.

Citing your sources: Every time you report a fact or an idea that is not yours, you have to provide your source for reference. Citing your sources prevents you from plagiarizing and adds credibility to your work. Cite your sources and provide a list of works cited for each of your assignments. You are welcome to use MLA, APA, or Chicago Style for your references, but please select one style and use it consistently. Failure to cite borrowed material constitutes plagiarism. Undocumented use of materials from the World Wide Web is plagiarism.

Citation guidelines for MLA, APA, and Chicago Style are available at the following address: http://www.easybib.com/guides/

 

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