Gregg B. Walker, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Speech
Communication
Adjunct Professor of Forest Resources
Director, Peace Studies Program
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-6199
USA
Ph: 541.737.2461 -------- Fax: 541.737.4443
email: gwalker@orst.edu
The Nature of the Course
"Environmental Conflict Resolution" deals
with conflict and dispute resolution in environmental and natural resource
policy settings. The course focuses primarily on conflict assessment,
negotiation, decision-making, and public participation in environmental
and natural resource conflict situations. As both a communication
and peace studies course, the class features ways to manage and resolve
environmental conflicts, including methods for collaboration and systems
thinking. As the syllabus reveals, topics addressed include conflict
and negotiation theory, assessment and design, environmental policy, collaboration,
and systems thinking. The course features case studies, group work,
and a comprehensive simulation to illustrate concepts considered in class
sessions and readings.
Course format
The class will include lectures, case
studies, exercises, video, a simulation, a group project, some guest
speakers (tentative), and hopefully, a lot of productive discussion.
Readings
1. Reserve Article Advocacy
Paper - 05%
Due 05 April
2. Systems Analysis
Paper - 15%
Due 24 April
3. Simulation Paper
- 15%
Due 22 May
4. One exam of the essay
variety - 30%
Takes place on 01 May
5. Group presentation
and portfolio - 30%
Presentation dates vary; the portfolio
(25%
group grade, 05% peer evaluation)
is due 1700 Wednesday 07 June.
6. Commitment grade
- 05%
Assessed throughout the course
The course commitment grade (5%) that reflects my judgment of your commitment to the course, as displayed by involvement in class activities, discussion, attendance, attentiveness, and the like. Please note that I use the +/- grading system. Your course grade is computed by multiplying the value of the grade received for each assignment (i.e., 12 for an A+, 10 for an A-, 8 for a B, 2 for a D, etc.) by that assignment's weight and summing the results for all assignments. For example, the weighted grades for a student who received all B's would sum to a total of 8, or B.
Grade Standards
Evaluation of performance and achievement
involves judgments of quality. Please note that I view quality of
work as significantly different from (and more important than) quantity
of effort.
The A range is for excellent to outstanding
performance and superior achievement.
The B range denotes good to very good
performance and substantial achievement.
The C range indicates standard, acceptable,
average performance and achievement.
The D range is for substandard performance
and marginal achievement.
An F is given for unsatisfactory performance
and achievement.
An I is given only for documented emergencies
or other extraordinary circumstances. An Incomplete is not a "dead"
or finals week option as a stress management tool.
Attendance and re-write policy
As long as your attendance is good, you
can re-write papers and take a second (or third) version of the midterm.
Only "on-time" work can be revised. Missing class more than 10% (two
class periods or equivalent) without a great excuse results in loss of
the paper re-write, exam re-take privilege.
Late assignments
Written work should be turned in on time.
I accept late papers, but for each week a paper is late, it will lost 10%
of its "weight" (a week is one hour to seven days). The class
simulation, exam, and presentations must be completed when they are scheduled.
Late work is evaluated whenever I can get to it and cannot be "re-done."
Late papers cannot be re-written. I tend to apply more rigorous grading
standards to very late papers.
Walker's schedule
Office hours are MONDAY & WEDNESDAY
1400-1600, TUESDAY 900-1100, and by appointment. Office hours may
vary due to extended education and administrative commitments.
I am traveling to a number of project sites and conferences this term and,
consequently, will be out of town on a few scheduled office hour days.
I am easier to reach via email than telephone. As my family, friends,
and creditors will tell you, I do not have particularly good phone
behavior (returning phone calls is not one of my strengths).
Week One (27 and 29 March)
Introduction to the course. Fundamentals
of conflict and negotiation.
READ: Daniels and Walker,
Chapter 3; Weber, Chapter 1.
Week Two (03 and 05 April)
The nature of environmental conflict and
public policy situations.
READ: Weber, Chapters 2
and 3.
THE RESERVE PACKET
ARTICLE ADVOCACY PAPER IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY 05 APRIL.
Week Three (10 and 12 April).
Learning, systems, complexity, and the
importance of assessment.
READ: Daniels and Walker,
Chapters 5, 6, and 8.
Week Four (17 and 19 April)
Dispute resolution systems - when to litigate,
when to collaborate? Assessing collaborative potential. Mediation,
regulatory negotiation, and public participation.
READ: Weber, Chapters 4
and 5.
GROUP MEETING
TIME 19 APRIL.
Week Five (24 and 26 April)
Dispute resolution systems, continued.
Introduction to Collaborative Learning.
READ: Daniels and Walker,
Chapters 2 and 9; Weber, Chapters 6, 7, and 8.
THE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
PAPER IS DUE ON MONDAY 24 APRIL.
Week Six (01 and 03 May)
Collaborative Learning, continued.
Introduction to the simulation.
THE LONE EXAM
WILL TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY 01 MAY. THE
SIMULATION INSTRUCTIONS AND GROUPS WILL BE PRESENTED ON 03 MAY.
Week Seven (08 and 10 May)
The Natural Resources Conflict Simulation
(both days).
Week Eight (15 and 17 May)
Environmental justice and environmental
conflict.
READ: TBA.
Week Nine (22 and 24 May)
Environmental justice issues, continued.
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
THE SIMULATION
PAPER IS DUE ON MONDAY 22 MAY.
Week Ten (31 May)
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
Week Eleven (05 June at 1800 OR 06 June
at 1200)
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
GROUP PROJECT
PORTFOLIOS AND PEER EVALUATIONS ARE DUE BY 1700 ON WEDNESDAY O7 JUNE.
Notes: