Some materials from this collection are available online.
Using These Materials
- RESTRICTIONS:
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Access to student material in Series 2 is restricted, please consult an archivist to view this material.
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Summary
- Abstract:
- A multidisciplinary program active from 1970-1977 that encouraged the study and research of environmental issues.
- Extent:
- 1.33 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Environmental Studies Program Records, 1969-1976. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Environmental Studies Program Records).
Background
- Scope and Content:
The students, faculty, and administrative committees of the Environmental Studies Program generated the materials in this collection during its five years of existence. Numerous members of the program, most notably Lou Ismay, Eugene McLaren, and Rosemary Nichols, collected these materials. The records consist of memoranda, correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, and class materials. There is little material from the years that the program was in full operation. Instead, most of the documents concentrate on the programs creation (1970-1971). The materials that do represent the years of operation generally consist of class materials or course descriptions rather than administrative materials.
Also included are materials generated by offshoots and side projects of the program, like the Capital District Solid Waste Environmental Education Program (CD SWEEP) and the student newsletter, Environmental Issues. The largest of these projects is the Albany Peoples Pipewatch
Related Collections iare the papers of Jackson Davis, Louis Ismay, Vincent Schaefer, Eugene McLaren, and Robert Rienow, all of whom were involved in the program and the records of the Environmental Decisions Commission, Office of the President, and the University Senate.
- Biographical / Historical:
The Environmental Studies Program of the State University of New York at Albany (as the University at Albany, SUNY was then known) was established in 1970 under President Louis T. Benezet. Its inception came at a time of increasing interest in environmental issues through programs such as the Environmental Forum, a community open forum that brought together academic and local activists and was organized by Louis Ismay since 1969 at the university. The Environmental Decisions Commission was also created under President Benezet in 1971. It was responsible for considering and advising on environmental issues on campus. At the same time, publication began of an environmental student newsletter, Environmental Issues.
The Environmental Studies Program was organized by a Program Planning Committee coordinated by Eugene McLaren, a professor of chemistry and a researcher in the Atmospheric Science Research Center (ASRC). An Advisory Committee headed by Vincent Schaefer, Director of the ASRC, aided the planning committee. The Environmental Studies Program was designed to be multi-disciplinary and pull together faculty like Louis (Lou) Ismay, Rosemary Nichols, and Robert Rienow. The resulting program began in 1972 by designating existing courses as environmentally related and offering several new classes in existing departments. The official environmental major or second field was established in 1973.
In 1975, after having been officially in operation for two years, the program had a total of 60 students in the major or as dual-majors. A Presidents Select Committee found the program too fragmented and diffuse and recommended that it be terminated. A Task Force considered the issue in 1976 and concurred, noting that budget constraints at the time prevented the program from being properly expanded and developed. Despite appeals to new President Emmett Fields from student and faculty groups, the program was dissolved in 1977.
- Acquisition information:
- All items in this manuscript group were donated to the University Libraries, M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2016 by Joshua Hauck-Whealton.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into three series arranged chronologically.
- Physical / technical requirements:
Web Archives
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to student material in Series 2 is restricted, please consult an archivist to view this material.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
This page may contain links to digital objects. Access to these images and the technical capacity to download them does not imply permission for re-use. Digital objects may be used freely for personal reference use, referred to, or linked to from other web sites.
Researchers do not have permission to publish or disseminate material from these collections without permission from an archivist and/or the copyright holder.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. More information about U.S. Copyright is provided by the Copyright Office. Additionally, re-use may be restricted by terms of University Libraries gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.
The University Archives are eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Environmental Studies Program Records, 1969-1976. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Environmental Studies Program Records).