Students
The challenges of climate change and learning to live sustainably will permeate all aspects of our lives
Are you ready for climate change? Do you understand how it will impact your life? Do you want to take action?
No matter your major, you play a role in what happens next!
COOLER-CLI is a pilot program aimed at bringing together UNCO students and faculty from a broad range of disciplines to work with the community to build climate change resilience.
As a COOLER-CLImate, you will earn $2,000 for completing the program, and work toward making our world more sustainable.
COOLER-CLImates
The COOLER Climate Leadership Institute (COOLER-CLI) is a pilot program for both students* and faculty at UNCO in the 2024-25 academic year. It is designed to prepare you – whatever your major field of study – to work with community-serving stakeholders on climate change-related events, projects, or challenges.
We are seeking 10 students from a broad range of disciplines to participate in the year-long cohort.
You will be working to learn about climate change science and impacts, climate change communication and climate change resilience. You will also be matched with community stakeholders on projects that build resilience.
*Graduate students are encouraged to apply and will be grouped into the appropriate cohort based on their interests and experience.
What will you do as a COOLER CLImates student participant?
Professional Development
Through Fall 2024 and Spring 2025, you will complete a series of 6-8 professional development core sessions, each lasting approximately two hours.
Themes for these sessions may include:
A CLImates Orientation Day
Build your understanding: What is Climate Change?
Learn about climate change resilience and how we build it: What is important personally, locally, and globally?
Dealing with climate change anxiety in yourself and others
Climate change communication: how to communicate with people from other perspectives and building community around a common goal
Leadership skills (e.g., facilitation, conflict resolution, etc.)
COOLER Community events
In addition to the core sessions above, there will be opportunities for CLImates participants to attend events that are open to the broader COOLER community, such as:
Attending the Energy and Environment Leadership Symposium in Oct 2024
Touring local farms and/or facilities
Meeting with and hearing from community groups to discuss community concerns and challenges related to climate change.
Cohort Meetings
Cohorts will meet about twice a month. These meetings are generally led by a COOLER Student Team member and serve the purpose of providing support and helping you deepen your learning in a cohort-centered way. You may spend time reflecting on your learning, discussing/sharing around a specific topic, meeting a guest speaker, or getting feedback on ideas/projects in a low-stakes space. Some COOLER sessions will bring together students and faculty from a range of disciplines, but faculty will also have monthly cohort sessions of their own.
Completion Requirements
Attend six professional development sessions
Participate in six cohort discussions in between sessions
Attend two COOLER Community events throughout the year
Develop a proposal for a project with other students that may involve coordinating with a community group
Implement projects in spring
Present a report (~2 pages and poster) on your final project at the CLImates celebration at the end of the school year and participate in a session to brainstorm new project ideas
Share your feedback about your experiences with the program in surveys and in a group meeting with the COOLER program evaluator
PLEASE NOTE THE EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT BELOW
Eligibility
You must be a UNCO student*, presently enrolled, and in good academic standing.
Anyone with a passion for working with the broader community on climate change issues.
Any student from any major at UNCO is welcome to apply.
You may be at any stage in your studies.
*Graduate students are encouraged to apply and will be grouped into the appropriate cohort based on their interests and experience.
Expected time commitment and compensation
The expected time commitment is about 3-4 hours/week to attend meetings and complete work for the program. Students who complete the program will be compensated with a $2000 stipend ($1000 will be paid out after completion of Fall Semester activities, and another $1000 at the end of Spring Semester, after completion of program requirements).
Student Meeting Schedule:
Fall Semester
Mondays 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Sep 14 (Saturday 10am-2pm) – COOLER CLI all-cohort kick-off and orientation
Sep 23rd - Professional Development: What kind of leader do you want to be?
Oct 1-3 - Energy and Environment Leadership Symposium (Enrichment option)
Oct 14th - Cohort Discussion -- Project Ideas
Oct 21st - Join Community Partner Meeting and Debrief
Oct 28th - Cohort Discussion
Nov 18th - Professional Development
Dec 2 - Virtual Meeting: Professional Development
Spring Semester
Spring Semester 2025
Mondays 4pm-6pm
Jan 27th - Professional Development
Feb 10th - Cohort Discussion
Feb 24th - Professional Development
Mar 10th - Cohort Discussion
Mar 24th - Professional Development
Apr 7 - Professional Development
Apr 21 - COOLER CLImates all-cohort finale celebration
Step 2:
Meet the COOLER team for a short interview to decide if the program is right for you!
Preview of questions we will ask you:
Name
Contact info (UNCO Bears email)
Major, and minors if applicable
Year started at UNCO
Expected graduation year
Time availability: How many credit hours are you taking? Do you have a job? Do you think you can commit 3-4 hours to this program?
Describe your experience working with communities.
Why do you want to work in the area of climate change resilience? Or with community?
Why do you think climate change is important for communities to care about?
Include one professional reference (name, contact info, what your relationship was with them)
About Us
COOLER (Community Collaboration and Learning for Climate Resilience) is an NSF-funded project (Award #2228170) aimed at building a learning ecosystem around climate change resilience in Northern Colorado. This planning grant supports the development of trans-disciplinary climate change curricula, as well as connections between UNCO students and faculty with community groups on projects that build local climate change resilience.
Questions?
Please contact us with questions!
Dr. Cindy Shellito, Prof. of Meteorology and COOLER Project Lead: lucinda.shellito(a)unco.edu
