In the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR), excitement for discovery and a commitment to life-long learning are central. The Rubenstein School's emphasis on the integration of natural science, social science, and cultural and political perspectives reflects the interdisciplinary context in which ecosystem management, resource planning, and environmental concerns must be addressed. The School believes there is a strong interplay between teaching and scholarship and each is vital to the other.
The Rubenstein School seeks to cultivate an appreciation and enhanced understanding of ecological and social processes. The School aims to generate and disseminate knowledge and to foster learning and skill building that allows students, colleagues, and citizens to become innovative, environmentally responsible, and accountable leaders.
The Rubenstein School is committed to advancing equity and justice and to creating a community that is diverse and inclusive. Individual and professional responsibility, as well as scholastic excellence, are emphasized within the school’s supportive atmosphere. The School has a team of Professional Advisors and Faculty that work directly with students, providing guidance and helping them to clarify and achieve their goals. The School's academic and extracurricular programs prepare students for a range of career opportunities in the environmental field as well as pathways to pursue advanced study.
The Office of the Dean of the School is located in the George D. Aiken Center for Natural Resources.
Experiential Learning
The Rubenstein Student Services Office operates a robust Experiential Learning Program for students that helps them to build skills and provide a diversity of learning opportunities. Reflective career development, course work, and co-curricular activities are integrated to foster competencies that will make RSENR graduates highly competitive professionals and engaged, effective citizens. We take a holistic approach to career preparation by encouraging and supporting participation in community-based projects, internships, applied research, and off-campus study. Student development is facilitated through support of faculty and community partners as they create and implement community-based courses and research projects. At the heart of our work is a demonstrated commitment to student and faculty development and collaborative problem-solving between school, the university, and the local, national, and international communities. The RSENR Student Services team works directly with the Office of Community-Engaged Learning (CELO), UVM Office of Engagement, and the UVM Career Center, and collaborates regularly with other academic units at UVM.
The field-based curriculum in RSENR is centered on Vermont’s natural landscapes – its mountains, lakes, fields, and forests - to provide students hands-on experience studying ecology and ecosystem processes. In addition, RSENR offers a variety of intensive field courses during vacation breaks and summer session that provide students special opportunities to study outside of Vermont. Past field explorations have included: introduction to ecotourism and environmental interpretation in Costa Rica, experience with regional examples of sustainable forest management and practices, and the study of aquatic ecology in Lake Champlain from the deck of UVM’s new research vessel.
The RSENR Experiential Learning staff also work with students, faculty, and community partners to facilitate and support high impact engagement through internships, independent study and research experiences. A formal structure with targeted learning objectives and deliverables related to the students' disciplinary focus allows students to earn course credits that can be counted towards degree requirements with program director approval.
Computing Resources
The Aiken Computer Teaching Lab (Aiken 101) provides students with access to key software and technologies utilized in environmental disciplines. In addition, all undergraduate students are required to have a laptop computer that meets the minimum specifications (https://www.uvm.edu/it/students). Students are not required to purchase a new laptop if they have an existing laptop that meets the established specifications. If students need to purchase a laptop, they are not required to purchase it through UVM.