Curriculum
Introduction
One of the primary functions of colleges and universities is to educate students. By training and educating future leaders, scholars, workers, and professionals; higher education institutions are uniquely positioned to understand and address sustainability challenges. Institutions that offer courses covering sustainability issues help equip their students to lead society to a sustainable future.
Featured Resources
Latest News from AASHE Bulletin
New Resources
Handbook of Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Volume 1
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
This Handbook offers an overview of what universities around the world are doing to implement sustainable development (e.g., via curriculum innovation, research, activities, or practical projects) and how their efforts …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2016
- Publications
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HEASC Best Practices in First Year Experiences in Sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Clemson University (SC)
- Colorado State University (CO)
- Western Colorado University (CO)
- Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) (PA)
Want to learn about best practices in First Year Experience (FYE) programs in sustainability? Need resources and ideas to develop an FYE program in sustainability? Interested in finding out what …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Videos & Webinars
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Infusing Sustainability Principles and Practices into Study Abroad
- Concordia College (NY)
- Delta College (MI)
- Lawrence University (WI)
Sustainability, a common thread across curriculums, can serve as the connection for engaged learning. Tie it to international travel and it links our students with opportunity for greater understanding of …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Student Research and Projects Conducted Through a Campus as a Living Lab Program
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY)
- Indiana University Bloomington (IN)
This panel will reflect on best practices for undergraduate research and course-based projects designed to advance student learning while generating collaborations that benefit university academics and operations. Two case studies …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Community as a Living Laboratory: Promoting Community Engagement Through Student Internship Programs
- Furman University (SC)
- Indiana University Indianapolis (IN)
- University of Arizona (AZ)
Community and campus sustainability issues can be addressed simultaneously while creating a hands-on learning opportunity for students. In this presentation, representatives from three universities (Furman University, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Assessing Course Impact: Three Models of Sustainability Evaluation
- Baylor University (TX)
- Bemidji State University (MN)
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs (CO)
This session is a discussion of three different ways of assessing the incorporation of sustainability into the world view of college students. The presenters wish to start a discussion with …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Scaling applied learning programs for sustainability
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
Applied learning opportunities, from internships, to community-based learning courses to student research provide training for students in addressing complex societal challenges. These endeavors are mostly designed to optimize the student's …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Conscious College: A Framework for Campus Chapters to Inspire, Educate, and Activate Students Around Sustainability
- Turning Green (CA)
What do you need to bring sustainable thinking and action to your campus with real, lasting impact? The Turning Green team has been working with students for over eleven years, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Scaling Applied Learning for Sustainability Programs: Building a Community of Peers
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
This meeting brings leaders of applied learning programs for sustainability outcomes together-catalyzing the development of a group of peers interested in collaborating on this topic. Scaling applied learning programs means …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Connecting with community for striking a sustainable balance: a documentary about student experience in a biosphere reserve
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
- Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve (SK)
Striking Balance is a documentary series, launching Fall 2016, to celebrate Canada's 16 biosphere reserves-learning sites for research and education about biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Created by UNESCO, biosphere reserves …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Universal Designs, Part 1: Nicaragua
- Villanova University (PA)
Universal Designs' documents the decade plus long relationship the Villanova engineering and nursing schools have with the remote region of Waslala, Nicaragua by highlighting the ways the relationship has transformed …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Academia is a Training Ground: Applying the 6 Pillars of Holistic Sustainability to Build Within and Move Beyond the Campus
- Sierra Nevada College (NV)
Teachers must foster the role their students play in theorizing sustainability, implementing sustainability lessons, and applying work from their classrooms outside of academic settings. After the celebratory, supportive, and important …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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LEED Lab Live; Curricula in O+M Application
- Colorado State University, Pueblo (CO)
- The Catholic University of America (DC)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
- American University in Cairo (Cairo)
A Market Need, A Curricular Solution: For the past few years, a laboratory course called LEED Lab, created at The Catholic University of America in partnership with USGBC, designed to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Wearing Dual Town-Gown Hats: Catalyzing Ambitious Action as Elected Officials & Sustainability Professionals
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- Elected Officials to Protect America (SC)
The US and China made history by ratifying the Paris Agreement, signed by 196 countries in December at COP21 (or the Paris 2015 Climate Conference). President Obama said,'our willingness to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Using the Campus as a Living Learning Laboratory: Methods for Informal Sustainability Education
- University of Michigan (MI)
This panel will explore how new and existing sustainability projects at the University of Michigan are being integrated into a pathway for student sustainability engagement and leadership as we aim …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Techno-philia and Sustainability: Oxymoronic Bedfellows?
- Natural Sustainability (MA)
Modern society is techno-philic- automatically in-love with the next gadget. Yet critiquing technology, merely raising awareness of real positives and negatives, labels you 'technophobic' or a 'Luddite.' Even mainstream sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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New Directions for Curriculum Development and Faculty Development through a Consortium Approach
- Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (MD)
At AASHE 2015, the presenters convened an interactive dialogue designed to identify the significant challenges facing sustainability educators in higher education and their recommendations to address their most critical needs. …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Teaching sustainability as an interdisciplinary subject: An effective model
- George Mason University (VA)
Sustainability is not a scientific issue or an environmental issue. It presents enormous challenges to human and natural systems and entails political, economic, legal, and ethical dimensions. Instructors who teach …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Prioritizing Co-curricular and Curricular Strategies to Create Sustainability Literate Graduates - and how to Measure Success
- University of California, Office of the President (CA)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Purdue University (IN)
What are the most effective strategies and programs for creating sustainability literate graduates who are ready to go beyond the campus? What do we mean by effective-and how do we …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Community-based teaching and research: Sustainability-focused case studies from Portland State University
- Portland State University (OR)
Portland State University's faculty and students routinely go beyond the campus and put into practice the University's motto, 'Let knowledge serve the city.' This panel examines case studies from a …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Farm-to-school & school-to-farm!
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
- Burke County Public Schools (GA)
This conference session will highlight how collaborations between universities, schools, and farms have been incorporated into Dietetic Internship programs and curriculum to promote farm-to-school and school-to-farm efforts. Panelists will share …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Environmental Dashboard: Fostering K12-College Collaborations that Discover and Realize Education and Conservation Opportunities
- Oberlin College (OH)
Many schools have adopted resource-use visualization 'dashboards' that provide real-time feedback on energy and water use in campus buildings. While dashboard technology and programming (such as resource-use reduction competitions) have …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Student Engagement and Learning at the UN Climate COPs
- Amherst College (MA)
- Dickinson College (PA)
- Macalester College (MN)
- Texas Southern University (TX)
- University of Connecticut (CT)
Youth have had a growing presence in recent years at the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This includes numerous US colleges …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Building a College Culture of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity: Sustainability Across Curriculum & Programs
- Portland Community College (OR)
This panel presentation will feature two colleges' approaches to building institutional cultures of inclusion, equity and diversity by integrating sustainability curriculum and programming across all departments. Specifically, this panel presentation …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Student Experience Elevated: How high impact sustainability engagement raises the bar on student success
- Boston University (MA)
- North Carolina State University (NC)
Research has shown that high-impact educational experiences complement classroom learning, increase student retention and engagement, and maximize the collegiate experience. The proof of learning is no longer just a degree …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Sustainability Literacy Test: Can universities & colleges be sure they are producing sustainability literate graduates?
- KEDGE Business School (Bordeaux)
The Sustainability Literacy Test was created to help higher education institutions, companies and any organization around the world ensure that they are producing graduates or work with employees with awareness …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Cultural Learning: Building Sustainability into the Outcomes of Education Abroad
- The Education Abroad Network (IL)
How better than through study abroad to teach youthful Homo sapiens the stakes of biodiversity and global sustainability? How can we hope to steward the planet-its fragile flora & fauna …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Scaling Applied Learning for Sustainability Programs: Crash-Course
- Arizona State University (AZ)
- Portland State University (OR)
The panel presents insights for scaling applied learning programs for sustainability outcomes. The panel starts with providing a quick overview what applied learning programs for sustainability outcomes mean: that is …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Green Workforce: A Community College Perspective
- Community College of Baltimore County (MD)
- American Association of Community Colleges (DC)
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), through its Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Center, aims to advance sustainability and clean technology education programs at community colleges by sharing …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond the Campus: Developing Students into Employable Graduates
- Lehigh University (PA)
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
- Princeton University (NJ)
- University of California, Berkeley (CA)
Recent research suggests that 87% of employers give positive weight to sustainability skills when making hiring decisions. The concept of 'green careers' continues to expand as a professional niche including …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Meet Universities who are Reinventing Relevance via Innovation Districts that include Corporations and Cities.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
- Oklahoma State University (OK)
- University of Texas at Austin (TX)
- McGill University (QC)
- Morphosis Architecture (NY)
Join Jane Talkington for a national overview on Innovation Districts, a burgeoning new form in which the university can GO BEYOND campus boundaries to create relevance by building interdisciplinary capacity …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Educational Sustainability Leadership
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
In this session, there will be a discussion about the importance of creating leaders in education that understand sustainability. The term educational sustainability will be defined and described in order …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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From Bird Houses to Tiny Houses: Courage Changes Everything!
- Portland Community College (OR)
A two-term project of building a tiny house for a homeless community produced a community-building learning process for students and local residents, with practical, long-lasting benefits for the City of …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Building Social Capital: Fostering Inclusion and Trust on Campus and in the Community
- Green Mountain College (VT)
The largest challenge facing communities who are trying to make the sustainability transition is often social. Although sociologists have found declines in social capital nationally and internationally, few higher education …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Building Sustainable Communities: an International Collaboration Between Island Communities and Academia
- College of the Atlantic (ME)
Through community engagement and a plan for economic rejuvenation Samsø¸ Island, Denmark became one of the first carbon negative communities in the world. In 2014, an international partnership between Samsø's …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Teacher preparation for Education for Sustainable Development: A participatory video research in Canada
- McGill University (QC)
This presentation will discuss a study that examines prospective teachers' understanding of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and competencies in relation to teaching sustainability concepts in K-12 settings in Quebec, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Impact beyond the campus: Promoting non-competitive and caring sustainability scholars training through collaborative writing.
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
This session explores experiences of four doctoral students engaged in a collective project of place exploration at the university of Saskatchewan. Our goals for the project include: contesting the paradigm …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Community Based Teaching - Carbon accounting with local businesses from the Prince George Chamber of Commerce
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
Climate change has given rise to a new generation of opportunities for sustainable business. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, British Columbia has implemented several policies, including a carbon …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Bridging Formal and Informal Learning Spaces to Accelerate Innovation in Higher Education.
- SERES (Sacatepequez)
How do we transform our existing institutions and centers of learning at a scale and pace fast enough to prepare young people for the challenges that lie ahead? SERES - …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Wicked Problems in Sustainability Initiative - Creating and Supporting a Multi-Institution Course Community
- Engineers for a Sustainable World (CO)
Creation or replication of multidisciplinary courses with real-world context is limited by technical and economic constraints at many institutions. Efforts that connect multiple institutions to multidisciplinary resources can enable success …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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More than the environment! The journey to a community-engaged, multi-dimensional sustainability course
- Macalester College (MN)
In 2014, we began a program called Educating Sustainability Ambassadors (ESA) which aims to broaden the understanding of sustainability on campus and emphasize the interconnections between a healthy natural environment …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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The Process of Progress: Involving Multiple Academic Partners and Disciplines
- Daemen University (NY)
The East Side of Buffalo represents one of the most neglected neighborhoods within the fourth poorest US city. In 2012, a grassroots coalition began brainstorming ways to improve their community. …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability Education in Northern Appalachia: Connecting Gender, Race and Class in Interdisciplinary Sustainability Studies
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania (PA)
This case study will address our efforts to connect gender, race and class in an interdisciplinary sustainability program at a university historically tied to the fossil fuel industry. Our efforts …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Two Sides of the Same Coin: An Integrative Education Model for Sustainability and Global Citizenship
- Dallas College (TX)
Two Sides of the Same Coin' is a case study of curricular and co-curricular education programs at North Lake College in Irving, Texas, part of the Dallas County Community College …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Experiential Sustainability Certificates - Connecting the Classroom to the Real World
- Duke University (NC)
- University of Kansas (KS)
The 'living lab' concept is not new in the higher ed. sustainability world. However, developing robust programs that allow students, across disciplines, to study these complex issues while linking curricular …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Infusing Sustainability Across the Campus: Sustainability Learning in Expected and Unexpected Places at Beloit College
- Beloit College (WI)
Beloit College's Pathways to Sustainability Leadership Program engages students in sustainability learning and leadership development through its 'Liberal Arts in Practice' curriculum. Students develop expertise and capacity for action in …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Finding Heart: Generating and Maintaining Hope and Agency through Sustainability Education
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
Indigenous educator Gregory Cajete (2000) articulates the motivations and questions that drive the presenter's research. For Cajete, effective education entails 'finding heart,' an active process within and beyond the person …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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From Baltimore to Burundi: The Case for Crossing the Divides of Diversity by Building toward Sustainable Peace and Development
- Colorado State University (CO)
Amahoro' is the Kirundi word for peace. After forty years of genocide and civil war during which a large percentage of its educated citizens were targeted, exiled or killed, impoverished …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Energize Colleges: Energy Education and Internships for the Campus and Community
- Skyline College (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
Energize Colleges is an innovative program bringing energy education and project-based internships to 12 California community colleges and universities. Launched earlier this year, the program employs clean energy as the …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainability as a Lifestyle from Campus to the Community
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
Grand Valley State University piloted an introductory course called 'Sustainability as a Lifestyle.' This 1-credit course was designed to examine sustainability through an academic lens and use the campus as …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
AC 1: Academic Courses
- Percentage of courses that are sustainability course offerings
- Percentage of academic departments with sustainability course offerings
- Inventory of sustainability course offerings (upload)
- Website URL - Sustainability course offerings
AC 2: Learning Outcomes
- Description of institution level sustainability learning outcomes
- List of degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability
- Percentage of students who graduate from programs that require an understanding of sustainability
- Website URL - Sustainability learning outcomes
AC 3: Undergraduate Program
- First sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- Second sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- Third sustainability-focused undergraduate degree program
- First sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
- Second sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
- Third sustainability-focused undergraduate minor or concentration
AC 4: Graduate Program
- First sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- First sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level minor or concentration
AC 5: Immersive Experience
- Description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s)
- Second sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
- Third sustainability-focused graduate-level degree program
AC 6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment
- Copy of the sustainability literacy assessment (upload)
- Copy of the sustainability literacy assessment (description)
- Website URL - Assessment of sustainability literacy
AC 7: Incentives for Developing Courses
- Description of the course development incentives
- Website URL - Incentives for developing sustainability courses
AC 8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.