Nothing but "eco-education" here!

Some 325 people are really making the environment their main focus, and I mean living, breathing, entire college education kind of focus.

The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, founded in 1969 is a college with only one major, and no departments. That major is human ecology, with only one required course.

“The core of human ecology is real simple,” says David F. Hales, president of the college. “Individual humans exist in a natural and cultural environment, and human ecology is the study of how we relate to those environments.”

The college plans to become the nation's first campus to become "net zero," with absolutely no greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the year. They also say that by 2015, all the activities they partake in will be from renewable resources.

The classes usually have from five to 15 students, and are all about encouraging large-scale brainstorming. Although small and out of the box, this school shouldn’t be taken lightly. It is even listed in The Princeton Review’s “Best 366 Colleges.”

Everything, and I mean everything is environmentally friendly at the College of Atlantic. From biodiesel in the tractors and generator to organic farm and zero-waste graduation ceremonies, and even composting toilets are being discussed regularly.

One teacher said that, "we teach students that individuals can make a difference, and that if you have the opportunity to make a difference, you have the responsibility. We believe that, so we have to act on it.”

This isn’t the only college going green, there are almost a dozen "eco-colleges" across the country, and with the growing concern and more advocates of a greater environment there have been a growing number or applicants. There is even a N.C.A.A Division III athletic school, Northland, the only one of its kind, founded near Lake Superior in 1906.

A senior student, Ashlesha Khadse, described her major, human ecology, as “a way of looking at things and also a way of acting.” To these students, this really is a way of life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/lewin-atlantic.html?_r=2&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fE%2fEnvironment&oref=slogin&oref=slogin