Climate Change and Non-STEM Degrees - Ashley Manning

As the climate changes, Chico will see more extreme heat days per year, more cooling degree days, and significantly less snowpack in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. By the year 2037, extreme heat days are projected to increase from 7 days historically to 26 days per year, and the average number of 4-day heat waves will increase from .5 to 3.6. [1] Even more significant is the increase in the number of warm nights when the temperature won’t drop below 70.0F. These nights are expected to increase from 4 to 19 by the year 2037. [2] In addition, snowpack in March in nearby Butte Meadows is expected to decrease from 7.0” to 1.3” [3], leading to lower water reserves in the local aquifer and other water sources that provide water for Chico and the surrounding communities. 
As effects of climate change become more extreme, demand will increase for employees with an educational background in sustainability. However, liberal arts schools, such as Chico State, currently have a lower likelihood of offering climate-related courses as part of the core curriculum compared to larger research universities. [4] The availability of liberal arts degrees offered at Chico State could be affected if programs outside of the STEM colleges fail to include climate-related courses in their curriculum. One way to avoid the loss of non-STEM degrees is by increasing “focus on social and behavioral disciplines, including emerging inter-disciplinary fields.” [5] One way or another, Chico State will have to adapt to the shift in demand in education if administrators expect sufficient enrollment is to be maintained.
1,2,3 http://cal-adapt.org/
4 Hess, & Collins. (2018). Climate change and higher education: Assessing factors that affect curriculum requirements. Journal of Cleaner Production, 170, 1451-1458.
5 Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to Climate Change