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School of Environment and sustainability

Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Enacting new ways to thrive as global citizens.

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We empower students to lead community shifts toward ecologically resilient, economically sustainable, and socially just energy, food, water, and land-use systems. With a commitment to delivering hands-on learning experiences, our students have explored environmental and sustainability studies by monitoring forests on snowshoes, managing our campus organic farm, traveling around the globe to collaborate with different communities, and much more.

Areas of Study

Rich Stromberg demonstrates how to attach a USB port to a solar panel for some students.

Climate Action Planning

Emphasis

Climate Action Planning
Environment and sustainability

Environment & Sustainability

Major | Minor

Environment & Sustainability
Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Food Systems

Emphasis

Food Systems
Global studies

Global Sustainability Track

Master in Environmental Management

Global Sustainability Track
Western solar panels

Individualized Contract

Emphasis

Individualized Contract
Integrative & Public Land Management Track

Integrative & Public Land Management Track

Master in Environmental Management

Integrative & Public Land Management Track
Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

M.S. in Ecology

Master of Science

M.S. in Ecology
Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

M.S. in Ecology 3+2

Accelerated Degree Programs

M.S. in Ecology 3+2
Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Master in Environmental Management (MEM)

Master in Environmental Management

Master in Environmental Management (MEM)
MEM 3+2

Master in Environmental Management (MEM) 3+2

Accelerated Degree Programs

Master in Environmental Management (MEM) 3+2
Students walk through a forest

Public Land Management

Emphasis

Public Land Management
Students garden on campus.

Sustainable & Resilient Communities Track

Master in Environmental Management

Sustainable & Resilient Communities Track
Water studies

Water Studies

Emphasis

Water Studies
Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Focusing on environmental studies to tackle the challenges of the twenty-first century.

The most serious environmental problems of our time have the potential to change the course of life as we know it. Issues like global warming, toxic waste, pollution, and diminishing energy supplies threaten our future if we don’t have the leadership and expertise to counteract it.

The Clark Family School fulfills this need for leadership and expertise, featuring an Environment & Sustainability major with unique emphasis options and two graduate programs, a Master in Environmental Management (MEM) and a Master of Science in Ecology. Our curriculum is rich with an environmental studies core, focusing on experiential and personalized learning, fostering strong relationships with partner organizations and donors, and creating impactful work.

Focused on the future

Master of Science in Ecology student, Courtney King, gazes through a telescope at bighorn sheep during her Wildlife Techniques Class.

Clark SES Network

Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

An environmental sustainability degree that connects people and organizations worldwide.

Master in Environmental Management (MEM) students have completed over 80,000 hours of projects serving community organizations across Colorado, the American West, and as far as Kenya, the Himalayas, and Costa Rica. Faculty researchers, student project leaders, and thoughtful innovators come together at Western Colorado University to find solutions to the most pressing environmental issues of our time.

Search Network

Sustaining growth

MEM students, Cassidy Cichowicz and Aubrey Schoff, visit Castle Valley, Utah to connect with local stakeholders and learn about sustainable food and energy practices.

Giving

Help amplify the impact of an education centered around environmental studies.

How can students from a small liberal arts university in Colorado’s Western Slope find ways to combat global climate change? How can generations of students dedicate their talent, vision, and energy to helping build socially and ecologically resilient communities internationally? These questions inspired us to launch the Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability, home to our environmental sustainability degree programs. We invite you to help support our mission by donating to our capital campaign, which provides scholarships for MEM students.

Donate Today

Scholarships

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities*. This platform houses over 300+ school-specific and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.

Check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

*Please note these opportunities are only open to undergraduate students. Graduate students are encouraged to consider our program fellowship opportunities.

Find your scholarships!

Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities*. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.

Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.

Check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.

*Please note these opportunities are only open to undergraduate students. Graduate students are encouraged to consider our program fellowship opportunities.

Find your scholarships!

Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship

The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.

Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.

  • This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
  • Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
  • GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).

Due date has been extended to April 30 for 2024. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.

Apply

Alumni Legacy Scholarship

The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).

Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:

  • This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
  • Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
  • The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
  • GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).

The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.

Apply

Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship

The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.

Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).

  • Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
  • The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
  • The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.

The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.

For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.

For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.

Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.

For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.

Note: Students enrolled in a Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program (i.e. major) do not qualify for Western Merit Scholarship programs. See the Rady Merit Scholarship section above for scholarship opportunities.

News & Research

A bighorn sheep grazing in a field under trees.

New Student-led Study to Look at Health of Black Canyon Bighorn Herd

Read More about New Student-led Study to Look at Health of Black Canyon Bighorn Herd
Guest speaker Ernest House Jr. gives a traditional Ute land acknowledgement using a feather and sage at the Verzuh Ranch sign unveiling ceremony.

Verzuh Ranch: Where Conservation Meets Education

Read More about Verzuh Ranch: Where Conservation Meets Education
Western Students Take First, Third for Posters at Research Conference

Western Students Take First, Third for Posters at Research Conference

Read More about Western Students Take First, Third for Posters at Research Conference
Taylor Hall photographed on a spring day with flowering trees in full bloom.

Western Graduate Students, Faculty Member Receive Distinguished Achievement Award

Read More about Western Graduate Students, Faculty Member Receive Distinguished Achievement Award
Three students stand surrounded by plants in a greenhouse

Western’s Clark School wins grant to help add value to internships

Read More about Western’s Clark School wins grant to help add value to internships
A firefighter supervises a prescribed burn in the GMUG National Forest.

Prescribed Fire in Wilderness Research Team Honored by National USFS Award

Read More about Prescribed Fire in Wilderness Research Team Honored by National USFS Award
Students observe a herd of cows while visiting the Verzuh Ranch in Crested Butte, CO.

Landowners donate 40-acre Verzuh Ranch to Western for conservation, learning

Read More about Landowners donate 40-acre Verzuh Ranch to Western for conservation, learning
Students build mobile enclosures that could be used to keep chickens and rabbits safe

Mountaineers Without Borders: From Concept to Colombia

Read More about Mountaineers Without Borders: From Concept to Colombia
A sign outside of the Clark Family School of Environment & Sustainability

Western receives $10,000 Catalyst Grant to help fund push toward sustainability

Read More about Western receives $10,000 Catalyst Grant to help fund push toward sustainability
Students work with a professor to conduct research in a forest damaged by wildfire

Workshop synthesis paper describes value of prescribed fire in wilderness areas

Read More about Workshop synthesis paper describes value of prescribed fire in wilderness areas

Spotlight

Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Gabby Zaldumbide

Student

“Opportunities abound in the West, and the best escape from the ‘real world’ can be just minutes from my doorstep."

Headshot of Etinosa Ingubor

Etinosa Igunbor

Student

Etinosa Igunbor came 7,132 miles from equatorial coastal Africa to the sagebrush steppe of Western Colorado, but that was just one leg of his journey. As someone who loves the natural world, he’s still going to great lengths to make sure he has the education to be a part of the solutions that will save it. Only time will tell where his journey will take him next.

Headshot of Triston smiling

Triston Turner

Student

“Any leadership role makes your college experience unique because you obviously don’t have to do this before you graduate. Being an EPIC Mentor has provided me with more perspective in my life. I see different viewpoints and the diversity of people’s backgrounds.” As he works toward his master’s degree, Triston is involved with EPIC Mentors, the Organics Guild, Western Solar Society and the Honors Program.

Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Rachel Weakland

Alumni

"Rachel Weakland has dedicated her professional efforts towards environmental education and creating global leaders here in Colorado and abroad."

Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Lindsey Lunsford

Alumni

"Lindsey Lunsford's work towards a healthier community contributes to the rural south's reclamation of the "Carver Way of Life," impacting the health of many communities."

Faculty & Staff

Additional Resources

Giving

Donate to our capital campaign to provide scholarships and remove financial barriers for our current and future MEM students.

Donate Today

Center for Public Lands

We work closely with the Center for Public Lands to study and implement cross-boundary land management.

Learn About the Center for Public Lands

Coldharbour Institute

Our students collaborate with the Coldharbour Institute to find ways to advance regenerative practices to improve the health of working agricultural land and watersheds in the Gunnison Valley and beyond.

Learn About the Coldharbour Institute

Center for Cold-Climate Food Security

The School of ENVS seeks funding for the Center for Cold-Climate Food Security to amplify experiential educational opportunities around high-alpine and cold-climate food production, while addressing hunger in the Gunnison Valley.

Learn About the Center for Cold-Climate Food Security

Clark SES Network

The Clark SES Network documents people, organizations, and projects involved with the Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability. See who our students have worked with.

Learn About the ENVS Network

Headwaters Conference

Join us Oct. 25-26 for the 35th Headwaters Conference – Generational Resiliency: Agriculture in the Gunnison Basin. Agriculture is a key part of the history, identity and future of our valley, and really globally. This year’s Headwaters Conference will hear from local producers and our states first Water Policy Advisor, Robert Sakata. We will discuss holistic practices, new technology and the implications for water use and agricultural production in our valley.

Learn More

Department Information

Clark Family School of Environment and Sustainability

Dean

Micah Russell, M.S.

Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability, Integrative and Public Land Management Director; MEM Director

Program Facilitator

Lindsay Dolezal

Program Facilitator and Grants Administrator

Campus Location

1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81230

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The best way to find out what makes Western such a special place is to experience it for yourself. Our student-led tours give you an insider’s perspective on everything from academics to student life.

Alumni
Community
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Alumni
Community

We keep the Mountaineer spirit going strong within our alumni community. Whether getting together with friends at an annual event, making a donation or mentoring a student, graduates continue to play an important role in the Western community.

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Want to discover more about Western? Request information today to get in touch with the admissions team.