Environmental Health
- Diane Angell:angell@stolaf.edu
- Office: Regents 434 (top floor near the atrium)
- Office Hours January: I’ll generally be available both before and after class.
- Class Time: Monday-Friday 10:40-12:40
- Class Room: Regents 410
- Gender Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Course Overview
The field of environmental health sits at the crossroads of several major fields and is therefore truly interdisciplinary. Our health is intimately affected both by other organisms, the teeming parasites and pathogens that surround us, and our physical environment, the water, air and landscapes that we inhabit. The way we interact with other organisms and the physical world around us has been changing rapidly. Human populations have grown dramatically, we travel across the globe in hours rather than weeks and unaltered landscapes are rapidly disappearing. This course will introduce you to the field of environmental health and equip you with the critical thinking skills that we will need as we move into the future. This course is divided into three sections-please consider reviewing those sections by selecting the different pages available on different tabs of this website. You should note the readings assigned for each date!
Goals
- Understand basic concepts and terminology in the field of environmental health.
- Develop an awareness of the state of the world’s environmental health issues and the major environmental problems that threaten human health.
- Critically analyze how changing human and nonhuman species interactions result in emerging public health issues.
- Explore the health effects of altered land and water systems.
Exams
You will have 3 exams (2 midterms and 1 final). Exams will have a mix of questions, some simple definitions, as well as some short and longer answers. They will test both your retention of factual information and your ability to use concepts and synthesize material presented in the course. The final will focus on material in the last third of the class, but will have some questions that are cumulative. Please notify me prior to the exam if you will be absent!
Preparing for Class Participation, Contribution
Readings will be available on this course website. Please visit the page for each section of the course and complete the readings ahead of class so you are prepared to discuss them.
You are expected in class every day! We will regularly be breaking up into small groups, but the composition of those groups will vary with each class. ACTIVE participation in these groups is mandatory. If you have concerns about being able to productively engage with particular other individuals in the class please let me know.
Grading
- Exams (50pts, 60 pts, 60pts)=170 Points
- Final Research Assignment-30 Points (we will talk more about this after the first exam)
Inclusivity
In keeping with St. Olaf College’s mission statement, this class strives to be an inclusive learning community, respecting those of differing backgrounds and beliefs. As a community, we aim to be respectful to all citizens in this class, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Land Acknowledgement
We stand on the homelands of the Wahpekute Band of the Dakota Nation. We honor with gratitude the people who have stewarded the land throughout the generations and their ongoing contributions to this region. We acknowledge the ongoing injustices that we have committed against the Dakota Nation, and we wish to interrupt this legacy, beginning with acts of healing and honest storytelling about this place. Do also note that simply repeating this statement in our syllabi and on e-mails is NOT enough. Our actions are more important than our words.
Accommodations
I am committed to supporting the learning of all students in my class. If you have already registered with Disability and Access (DAC) and have your letter of accommodations, please meet with me as soon as possible to discuss, plan, and implement your accommodations in the course. If you have or think you have a disability (learning, sensory, physical, chronic health, mental health or attentional), please contact Disability and Access staff at 507-786-3288 or by visiting wp.stolaf.edu/academic-support/dac.
The Writing Desk
The Writing Desk: Peer tutors at the Writing Desk offer help with any paper, in any class, at any stage of the writing process. You can sign up for an appointment online or drop in for online tutoring. Learn more at http://wp.stolaf.edu/caas/writing-help/.
The Speaking Space
Speaking Tutors help students effectively speak and listen within academic conversations, from participating in or leading class discussions to preparing and rehearsing formal presentations. Sign up for appointments by filling out this form. A tutor will contact you to arrange a meeting time and location.
Gender Pronouns
This course affirms people of all gender expressions and gender identities. If you go by a different name than what is on the class roster, please let me know. Using correct gender pronouns is important to me, so you are encouraged to share your pronouns with me and correct me if a mistake is made. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism, the unacknowledged appropriation of another person’s words or ideas, is a serious academic offense. It is imperative that you hand in work that is your own, and that cites or gives credit to others whenever you draw from their work. Please see:
- St. Olaf’s statements on academic integrity and plagiarism at: (https://wp.stolaf.edu/facultyhandbook/academic-integrity-faculty-handbook-category-2/).
- St. Olaf’s honor system at: https://wp.stolaf.edu/honorcouncil/ and the Honor Council’s Bylaws section on syllabus statements.
- Roadmap to Academic Integrity: https://wp.stolaf.edu/roadmap-to-academic-integrity
Academic Freedom
In this class, we aspire to the same standards of academic freedom, critical inquiry, and free expression adopted by the faculty of St. Olaf College. These standards include affording everyone the “broadest possible latitude to speak, create, listen, question, and learn” in all aspects of teaching and learning, while recognizing “that encountering opposition to our firmly held commitments can be difficult and uncomfortable.” St. Olaf is a community of learners. We seek to enter into difficult discussions in the spirit of kindness and respect, even as we interrogate conflicting perspectives and engage with those perspectives through rigorous reflection and critique.
Religious Accommodations
As part of my commitment to make St Olaf an inclusive community, I will provide students with reasonable religious accommodations. If you will be missing class for a religious observance or require another religious accommodation, please meet with me to discuss these.
Mental/Emotional Health and Stress Management
I greatly value your experience in this class, and it is my duty to facilitate a safe, caring, and productive learning environment. I recognize that we all may experience a range of emotional, physical, and/or psychological issues, both in and out of the classroom, that may distract us from our learning. It is common to experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning! These health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce our ability to participate in daily activities, but with help, these concerns typically get better. If you are experiencing such issues, please do not hesitate to come see me—I am here to listen. We can also discuss what further resources might be available to you.
You are welcome to speak to me about any issues that arise for you in the context of this course, including any circumstances outside of class that may be affecting your classroom experience or academic performance. However, please be aware that I am required to refer to the college’s Title IX Coordinator any information students share about experiences of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or dating violence. I am also expected to share any disclosures of incidents of bias, harassment, or discrimination to the Bias Response Team. If you want to speak confidentially with someone about such an experience, you are encouraged to contact any of the following resources, who are not required to share your information with anyone.
There are a diversity of St. Olaf services that are available to assist with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing.
- Boe House Counseling Center
- College Pastors and Chaplains
- Sexual Assault Resource Network (SARN)
- Health Services
- TimelyCare
Information about support, resources, and options for students who have been affected by sexual harassment or misconduct is available on the Find Support page of the college’s Title IX website. Information about support, resources, and options for students who have experienced incidents of bias or discrimination is available on the college’s Equity and Inclusion website.
There are a diversity of St. Olaf services that are available to assist with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential health services available on campus via http://wp.stolaf.edu/counseling-center/.