Bucky Badger and members of the UW Band led students, staff and other guests Monday in celebrating the new Environmental Studies undergraduate major through the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.
According to Gregg Mitman, Interim Director for the Nelson Institute, four decades of work has gone into establishing the major.
""For the first time in the history of the UW-Madison campus, students can pursue an undergraduate major in environmental studies,"" Mitman said.
The College of Letters and Science has worked in partnership with the Nelson Institute.
Gary Sandefur, Dean of the College of Letters and Science, said he is happy to celebrate their accomplishment and looks forward to seeing the number of students in the major grow.
""I know it took a long time for it to happen and for those of us who got to be a part of it, it's something we will always remember as something that happened during the time we were here,"" Sandefur said.
Like Sandefur, Mitman said he is honored and humbled to be a part of the Nelson Institute.
""Today demonstrates what hard work, perseverance and the spirit of unity and cooperation that the heart of the Nelson Institute can accomplish,"" Mitman said.
