UC SISL Trainers’ Training

The trainers’ training program invites the University of California (UC) community to scale the Student Institute for Sustainability Leadership (SISL) Level 1 program across all ten campuses, in line with the goals of the Student Engagement working group of the UC President’s Global Climate Leadership Council.

About SISL

Developed by UC Irvine, SISL Level 1 is a three-day residential program that provides incoming first year and transfer students with a meaningful introduction to their campus’ carbon neutrality and sustainability community, as well as to the many ways that sustainability scholarship and practice at the UC address issues of social equity, regenerative economy, food systems, and the ecological crises in California and around the globe. It also introduces students to leadership modalities that develop awareness of the interdependence of all life, intersectionality, cultural narratives, collaborative problem solving, and systems thinking.

SISL Level 1 exposes incoming students to opportunities to engage as they enter student life, and enables them to develop plans for stepping into leadership and action on sustainability and community climate resilience. Many SISL alumni have gone on to become key student leaders in these areas and have shaped their academic pursuits accordingly.

At UC Irvine, SISL is facilitated by the Global Sustainability Resource Center (GSRC).  GSRC is a collaboration among UCI Community Resilience Projects, Student Affairs, Student Housing, and Division of Undergraduate Education. GSRC created SISL in 2013 and joined in partnership with the international non-governmental organization SERES in 2015 to update the training design.

SISL Trainers’ Training

The trainers’ training will prepare a core group of interested staff and faculty from each UC to conduct one full cycle of SISL Level 1 on their campus in 2018-19.

The training will be held in two parts, with each part taking place during a 2.5 day residential retreat.

Part 1 enables trainees to experience SISL 1 as a participant cohort while engaging in a discussion on the pedagogy, facilitation skills, and theory of change.

Part 2 enables trainees to practice facilitating multiple modules with feedback, tailor material for their campus, and innovate with their colleagues. They will also develop an action plan for implementing their SISL pilot.

Trainees will receive a curriculum manual and all handouts, notes, and resources required to run SISL on their campus. Seed funds and modest stipends to conduct one SISL pilot will be provided to each UC campus from which two faculty and/or professional staff members complete the trainers’ training.

UCI Community Resilience Projects will host the trainers’ training together with the lead training partner, Aryeh Shell. The trainings will take place in Fall 2018. Details about eligibility and how to apply will be available in April 2018.  For more information, please email communityresilience@uci.edu.