The undersigned representatives of environmental studies and environmental science degrees in Canadian universities wish to draw to the attention of our colleagues our concerns over activities of the Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) Canada.
For the past few years ECO Canada has been pushing to provide a degree accreditation process for environmental degrees. At this point several environmental science programs have signed on. At a recent presentation for a gathering of environmental studies programs, a representative of ECO Canada made it clear that it is now pushing to accredit environmental studies — and in the near future environmental education — degrees.
The one major difference between this proposal and what happened with environmental science programs is that no one in environmental studies has asked for ECO Canada accreditation.
It is impossible to accredit a non-vocational, liberal arts-type program. The range of topics that can potentially be included in any environmental studies program — from economics, public policy, philosophy to science — makes it impossible for parties to agree on core and foundation courses, let alone electives to be included in an accredited program.
The degrees are transdisciplinary. The underlying idea is to address problems in ways that integrate attention to the full suite of interacting issues — social, economic and ecological — at multiple scales and over the long haul. Different degrees and programs across the country have diverse approaches and different strengths.
It is important programs share their insights and engage in cross fertilization, but there is no potential advantage and great peril in having a body that would dictate the common elements of an acceptable undergraduate and graduate calendar, or judge who has the necessary credentials to do good environmental work. Hence, an accredited program is impossible and accreditation meaningless.
We have other serious reservations about the process and the proposed accreditation. These are:
(1) Environmental studies programs have not asked for this accreditation process, ECO Canada has been told many do not wish this process, but ECO Canada is pushing forward regardless;
(2) There is no real benefit to our students. Most do not end up in professions that would expect accreditation. Indeed our alumni are ending up in such diverse positions, genuine accreditation would be impossible to determine (and students can join ECO Canada if they wish without that accreditation);
(3) We are not regulated degrees, such as forestry or planning, which require accreditation, and accreditation has the probability of severely limiting our ability to keep our degrees responsive and relevant in a rapidly changing environmental context;
(4) ECO Canada duplicates processes we already undertake through external reviews, but in the case of external reviews, we select the best academics in the field available, not an accreditation panel of uncertain qualifications, academic rigour and knowledge;
(5) ECO Canada is charging very high fees for this unnecessary service at a time of fiscal challenge; and
(6) ECO Canada receives its funding from industry and government sources which raises deep concerns about conflicts of interest in ultimate goals and agendas.
If ECO Canada succeeds in forcing environmental studies degrees to conform to an unnecessary process, we believe our academic freedom and academic integrity will be threatened by a non-academic, industry-driven body. It changes our mission from educat-ing our students to be citizens with broad social perspectives to creating technicians.
If you share these concerns (regardless of your academic affiliation), we ask that you join us in requiring ECO Canada to stop its forced accreditation program and support academic freedom and integrity.
Annie Booth
Professor
Environmental Studies
Ecosystem Science & Management Program
University of Northern British Columbia
Michael Rutherford
Associate Professor
Environmental Sciences
University of Northern British Columbia
Barbara Rahder
Former Dean & Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Catriona Sandilands
Professor
Environmental Studies
Canada Research Chair in
Sustainability & Culture
York University
Paul F. Wilkinson
Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Stefan Kipfer
Associate Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Lewis Molot
Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Leesa Fawcett
Associate Dean & Associate Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Martin J. Bunch
Associate Dean (Research)
& Associate Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Timothy Leduc
Assistant Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Gail Fraser
Associate Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Alex Murray
Professor Emeritus
Environmental Studies
York University
Felipe Montoya-Greenheck
Professor
Environmental Studies
York University
Cristian Suteanu
Associate Professor & Coordinator
Environmental Science Program
Saint Mary’s University
George McCourt
McGill School of Environment
McGill University
Brian Cumming
Professor & Director
Environmental Studies
Queen’s University
Peter Hodson
Environmental Studies
Queen’s University
Mick Smith
Professor
Environmental Studies & Philosophy
Queen’s University
Paul Kay
Associate Professor
Environment & Resource Studies
University of Waterloo
Bob Gibson
Professor
Environment & Resource Studies
University of Waterloo
Peter N. Duinker
Professor
Resource & Environmental Studies
Dalhousie University
Peter Tyedmers
Professor & Director
Resource & Environmental Studies
Dalhousie University
Daniel Rainham
Professor
Environmental Science
Dalhousie University
Kate Sherren
Assistant Professor
Resource & Environmental Studies
Dalhousie University
Lorelei Hanson
Assistant Professor
Environmental Studies & Human Geography
Athabasca University
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Join the Call
For more information contact
Annie Booth, Ecosystem Science & Management Program, University of Northern British Columbia, tel: 250-960-6649.