PALS 2024 SUMMIT

Assistant Director / Programs & Operations Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD)WWW.AICAD.ORG401-270-5991 ryan@aicad.org

Ryan O'Keefe

Join PALS, a national platform for sustainability leaders in art & design higher education, to advance sustainability at our institutions.

<h3>PALS AND THE 2024 SUMMIT </h3><h4>About PALS</h4>The Partnership on Academic Leadership in Sustainability is a national platform for sustainability leaders in art and design higher education to address the challenges of global climate change and other key sustainability issues through the power of creativity and an art and design education. The value of PALS lies in its ability to leverage collective resources and foster a community of peer institutions to integrate sustainability into the core of art and design education through the PALS network and Summit.As a member of the PALS Cohort you will be joining a group of faculty and administrative leaders from the AICAD consortium as well as other art and design schools. PALS Fellows will serve as sustainability leaders empowered to support their institution’s communities through discussions, peer-to-peer support and the establishment of cross-institutional programs in sustainability. <h4>The 2024 Summit</h4>At the annual Summit, the Fellows will work collectively to invigorate the incorporation of sustainability principles at our institutions. We aim to identify ways to unite sustainability with values that support a sense of belonging, health and equity of all members of our campus communities. As in prior years, the 2024 Summit will serve as our yearly touchstone to renew and recognize partner institutions’ commitment to sustainability education and to build a collective braintrust. <h4>Themes:</h4>In the 7 years since the last PALS Summit, the landscape of sustainability at our institutions has shifted, evolved and transformed. Learning from where we came from will help to inform where to go next. The 2024 summit will be centered around the following key themes:The More-than-human: Approaching our work from an expanded view of our place in the ecosystem, moving away from human exceptionalism and centering indigenous wisdom.DEI and Sustainability | A Shared Space: Aligning the shared purpose and goals of Sustainability and DEI initiatives.A PALS Fellow Pedagogical Playbook: Key practices for transformational sustainability teaching and learning.Strategies for Institutional Change: Strategic frameworks and actionable steps to drive transformative improvements and foster long-term sustainable practices within our institutions. <h3>JOIN US AT THE SUMMIT | Oct 17-19, 2024</h3> <h4>Format and Locations and Times: The 2024 PALS Summit will consist of concurrent regional meetings (nodes) that will connect virtually for keynote, presentations, and discussions.</h4>The three schools hosting in-person nodes are:Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NYMinneapolis College of Art and Design, Minneapolis, MNOtis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CAAdditionally, there will be an all-virtual node available to those who would prefer to participate from afar. The Summit will take place during the following times:Thursday October 17, 6:30 - 9:30pmFriday October 18, 8am - 9pmSaturday October 19, 8am - 6pmGiven that this hybrid in-person and virtual summit will take place across multiple time zones, the exact schedule of each day will be made available in the weeks before the Summit. Attendance Guidelines:The PALS Summit resembles more of a "think tank" than a traditional conference. While key presentations will be delivered at various points throughout the event, attendance across the entire 2.5-day duration is mandatory for all participants. This requirement ensures that each attendee fully benefits from the comprehensive agenda designed to stimulate discourse, introduce actionable themes, facilitate participation in working groups and enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing among attendees. This commitment to attendance allows the PALS Summit to be co created by each attendee; we become an active collective learning community imagining and designing a transformational future for sustainability in higher ed art and design.Lodging:We have not booked banks of rooms at local hotels with the expectation that each participant’s lodging preferences will be different. For help in booking lodging near to the Summit sites, you will receive an email after registering with the contact information of the Node Leader for each site, who can share a list of commonly used local hotels.Payment:There is a membership fee of $200 for each fellow who joins PALS for the academic year 2024-2025. This low fee has been made possible by the generous support of AICAD for this year. The fee covers not only attendance at the 2.5 day summit (virtual or in person) but also other PALS co-created resources and events throughout the 2024/25 academic year. Summit Registration Deadline: September 30, 2024 Other information:After registering via this Eventbrite, you will receive a follow-up email with further Summit logistics and a request for information from you to assist us in designing an inclusive, welcoming, and engaging few days together. We will connect you with the node leader for the site you plan to attend to answer any questions you may have.For more information, we refer you to <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pZjfrGpn5D-uxceX2ctp-IdCqhBCWtzY/view?usp=sharing" title="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pZjfrGpn5D-uxceX2ctp-IdCqhBCWtzY/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">a pdf about the work of PALS.</a> Feel free to reach out to the PALS Leadership team with any questions:Claudia J. Hernández Romero, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sustainability, Liberal Arts &amp; Sciences, Otis College of Art &amp; Design, Los Angeles, CA, <a href="mailto:cromero@otis.edu" title="mailto:cromero@otis.edu" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">cromero@otis.edu</a>Jane D. Marsching, Professor, Sustainability Fellow, and Director of the Sustainability Minor, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston MA, <a href="mailto:jmarsching@massart.edu" title="mailto:jmarsching@massart.edu" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">jmarsching@massart.edu</a>Carolyn Shafer, Director of Sustainability for Academic Affairs, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, <a href="mailto:cschaebe@pratt.edu" title="mailto:cschaebe@pratt.edu" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">cschaebe@pratt.edu</a>

Agenda

Day 1: Summit Welcome

Deb Johnson - Founder of PALS, Pratt Institute

Day 1: PALS Past/Present/Future

Frances Bronet - President of Pratt Institute; Chair, AICAD Board

Day 1: Higher Ed Art & Design Landscape Today

Nina Morris - Sustainability Director in the University of Pennsylvania Sustainability Office

Day 1: Sustainability and DEI: An Aligned Mission

Day 1: Who is in the Room? Sharing Who We Are Activity

A quick image search in google for “ecosystem” will generate images of landscapes with trees, waterways, and animals, the smaller ones on their way to be eaten by the larger predatory species. Although humans are also part of the animal world and we live in environments, we are not pictured as such. From a psychological perspective this reflects a separation that places humans as observers and as not part of “nature.” Indigenous scholars and scientists, conversely, describe interdependence between humans, flora and fauna and they share customary practices that support reciprocal engagements. Several critical questions arise: How do we incorporate Indigenous and non-western perspectives into our work and daily life? How do we make space for Indigenous leadership to lead the way? What would more-than-human art and design look like? How will a more-than-human focus share environmental policies across college campuses?

Day 2: More-Than-Human: Grounding Activity, Case Studies & Best Practices

The murder of George Floyd in the Spring of 2020 prompted calls for police reform, catalyzing a period of introspection in companies, government agencies and higher education institutions. Colleges across the nation began hiring experts to conduct bias trainings, and to develop DEI offices and community support. This was a necessary step in addressing social inequities that support community wellness, an aspect of sustainability. Nonetheless, amidst this laudable focus on social justice, concerns have arisen regarding the potential marginalization of the environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability. It is imperative, therefore, to pause and reflect on the intersections between the three pillars and to consider meaningful ways to advance a holistic understanding of sustainability to bolster the resilience and welfare of campus communities.

Day 2: DEI & Sustainability | A Shared Space

This session delves into transformational sustainability teaching and learning, offering innovative strategies to integrate sustainability into educational practices. We will focus on fostering systems thinking and nurturing a deeper sense of environmental and social responsibility in students. Through case studies, PALS Fellow will share actionable approaches that empower learners to become sustainability leaders within their communities.

Day 3: A PALS Fellow Pedagogical Playbook

We will explore how to implement effective sustainability strategies, align with institutional goals, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Through practical examples and collaborative discussions, we will gain the tools to effectively share the work of the PALS Cohort with key stakeholders at our institutions.

Day 3: Strategies for Institutional Change

We will reflect on what we've learned about each other, our institutions, and the evolving landscape of sustainability initiatives in higher education art and design. The PALS Summit is just the starting point. What gaps remain in our knowledge? What do we aim to focus on moving forward? How can we position ourselves for success as we continue this work? Who from our Cohort will lead the charge and carry the momentum throughout the upcoming year?

Day 3: Beyond the Summit: Sustaining Momentum

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PALS 2024 SUMMIT

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