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.
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Perspectives on Sustainability in Short-term Faculty-led Programs
- School for International Training (VT)
Sustainability is a relatively new topic to the field of International Education. Despite this, its importance is tantamount for the continuation of the industry for future generations. The industry’s significant …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Environmental Attitudes of Community College Students Concerning Age, Gender, and Race
- St. John's University, New York (NY)
Many studies have shown the mental, physical, and academic benefits of environmental education to students. Equally important, environmental education can develop our students into more environmentally minded citizens. However, we …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Understanding Environmental Justice Instruction in Higher Education: Activist Epistemic Orientations and a Continuum of Community Engaged Curricular and Pedagogical Practice
- University of Massachusetts Boston (MA)
Starting in the early 1980’s, the environmental justice (EJ) movement was critical in drawing much needed attention to how communities of color, low-income groups, Indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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The Green Passport Program: Proposing A Study Abroad Program to Encourage Sustainable Behavior and Offset Emissions
- University of Richmond (VA)
The University of Richmond has a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, and in order to do this, carbon offsets are likely a necessary component to implement in lieu …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Who will save the world if the profit is too low?: A single case study on a Swedish business school, investigating their work toward responsible management education
- Jönköping University
Background: Business schools are one of society’s most influential institutions as they contribute to transforming and influencing the way the business world works. Hence, business schools bear responsibility for the …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Preparing Business Students to be Sustainable Business Leaders in the 21st Century
- University of Michigan (MI)
The necessity and importance of sustainability has been discussed increasingly often and urgently as material business considerations, notably by Larry Fink, the CEO of Blackrock (Fink 2021a). Further, research over …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Perspective Transformation Regarding Sustainability in Higher Education
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
This study examined transformative sustainability learning (TSL) by determining the occurrence of perspective transformation (PT) regarding sustainability in sustainability-focused courses offered at a public university. 131 students in two upper-division …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Sustainable entrepreneurial intentions: Exploration of a model based on the theory of planned behaviour among university students in north-east Colombia
- Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
- Universidad Industrial de Santander
Entrepreneurship is considered the basis of economies, in which finding ways to stimulate it is a constant object of research. With the increasing awareness of social and environmental sustainability, sustainable …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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Planetary health education in medical curricula in the Republic of Ireland
- University College Dublin, National University of Ireland
- Trinity College Dublin (The University of Dublin)
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- University Hospital Galway
- Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
The World Health Organization considers climate change an urgent global health challenge requiring prioritised action. A recent global survey reported that only 15% of medical schools have incorporated climate change …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Teaching sustainable development: an approach to rapidly introducing the UN sustainable development goals into an undergraduate business curriculum
- Dominican University (IL)
The purpose of this study is to determine whether an undergraduate business program that rapidly introduced sustainable development into its curriculum, without an overall curriculum revision, was effective in terms …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Integrating sustainability into scientific research
- My Green Lab (CA)
Laboratories have a large environmental impact, with high levels of resource consumption and waste generation. In this article, I discuss some of the actionable strategies that can bring real and …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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A model of behavioral climate change education for higher educational institutions
- University of Arizona (AZ)
This paper puts forth a novel model of Climate Change Education (CCE) targeting to bridge the attitude-behavior gap in students’ climate action, called the behavioral CCE. It refers to relevant …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Narcissism as a global barrier to education for sustainable development
- Troy University (AL)
- Berjaya University College
Narcissism, extreme self-interest, refers to a set of personality characteristics including arrogance, self-centeredness, need for admiration, sense of entitlement, grandiosity, lack of empathy, and interpersonal exploitation, which can range from …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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EffSET: a Self-Evaluation Tool to Assess the Effectiveness of Education for Sustainable Development
- University of Bari Aldo Moro
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a prominent part in the process of building the ethical, responsible, and sustainable consciousness of future generations and in addressing the sustainability challenge that …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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On sustainability and higher education: Towards an affirmative ethics
- North-West University (North West)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
Sustainable development has been the dominant focus in sustainability discourses over the past three decades. In 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as …
- Posted June 15, 2023
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Embedding sustainable development goals (SDGs) in an undergraduate business capstone subject using an experiential learning approach: A qualitative analysis
- Monash University (VIC)
Universities have an important role in ensuring that business school graduates can address issues regarding sustainable development and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. While …
- Posted June 15, 2023
- Publications
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What is Ecological Economics?
- United States Society for Ecological Economics (PA)
This document is a very brief description of the field of ecological economics, which purports to be more trans-disciplinary than environmental economics. The former also claims to have closer ties …
- Posted June 8, 2023
- Course Materials
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The Sulitest Certificate: a new global standard for assessing sustainability knowledge
- AASHE (MA)
- Sulitest
The Sulitest was the first tangible implementation of the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative at the United Nations’ Rio+20 event in 2012 to allow educational institutions and their students to assess …
- Posted June 1, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Kaié:ri Nikawerà:ke Indigenous Bridging Program
- Concordia University (QC)
We are proud to offer the Kaié:ri Nikawerà:ke Indigenous Bridging Program as a pathway for eligible First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples who don’t meet Concordia’s traditional admission requirements.
For …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Sustainability into Action: Undergraduate Certificate Catalyzes Sustainability Progress
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
A generation of students faced with a sustainability crisis have the appetite to learn how to "do sustainability" and put their learning into action. We developed an innovative interdisciplinary program …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Duke University Climate Commitment
- Duke University (NC)
As Duke University enters its second century, President Vincent Price has directed the University to marshal its collective resources and capabilities to address the climate crisis. Stemming from President Price’s …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Brandeis University’s Year of Climate Action
- Brandeis University (MA)
In 2019, a task force set out to write a new climate action plan for the university. Among its recommendations was to dedicate an entire year to catalyzing and deepening …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Addressing Climate Anxiety through Resilience and Community Building
- Portland Community College (OR)
Sustainability and climate work require resilience to fend off burnout and avoidance. While our college does good work promoting sustainability through our Climate Action Plan and curricular and co-curricular environmental …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Addressing the Social Pillar of Sustainability by Enhancing Racial Equity of Minorities in STEM Higher Education through the CREaTE Pathway
- El Paso Community College (TX)
- University of Texas at El Paso (TX)
The Center for Research in Engineering and Technology Education (CREaTE) is a national center for research in engineering, science, and technology education at The University of Texas at El Paso …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Unanue Scholars Program: Improving College Access for Local Latina Students
- Catawba College (NC)
The Unanue Scholars Program serves junior Latina students from public high schools in Rowan County, North Carolina. Recipients of the scholarship are provided with a cost-free course at Catawba College …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Case Studies
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Advancing Sustainability Education through a Cross-Disciplinary Online Course: Sustainability and Human Rights in the Business World
- Florida State University (FL)
Abstract: The increasing threats of climate change, resource depletion, and human rights crises have led us to realize the impendent need for advancing sustainable development education and to reevaluate the …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Publications
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Sustainable New Product Development for Ten Thousand Villages, a Fair-Trade Social Enterprise: Empowering Women and Economic Development through Problem-Based Service Learning
- Florida State University (FL)
Abstract – Universities have an important role in advancing sustainable development by educating future professionals. As an effective approach to scaling sustainability education, the author implemented a problem-based service-learning (PBSL) …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Publications
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US Society for Ecological Economics
- United States Society for Ecological Economics (PA)
The United States Society for Ecological Economics (USSEE) provides a venue for intellectual exchange and collaboration on issues related to the theory, policy, and implementation of sustainability. The society consists …
- Posted May 31, 2023
- Research Centers & Institutes
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UBC’s Sustainability Open Data: Research, Learning and Operations
- University of British Columbia (BC)
- AASHE (MA)
The Sustainability Hub – a central unit at UBC focused on collaboration – have created a new open data platform to share sustainability performance metrics, increase transparency, support teaching, learning, …
- Posted May 25, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
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Students Taking on Oil & Petrochemicals Fellowship
- Post-Landfill Action Network (NH)
PLAN’s Students Taking on Oil and Petrochemicals (STOP) Fellowship supports students that attend universities in Appalachia, a region threatened by an impending petrochemical buildout. This year-long fellowship provides students with …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Co-Learning Partnerships & Carbon Management in Denmark & Canada
- University of Northern British Columbia (BC)
- Aarhus University
Businesses are increasingly interested in carbon management as a climate change mitigation tool. They want to respond to climate policy targets aimed at keeping global warming within a two-degree centigrade …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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From the Amazon to Florida: Climate Change Education at Miami Dade College
- Miami Dade College (FL)
This educational session will showcase how the high-impact teaching approaches used in Miami Dade College’s Global Sustainability and Earth Literacy Studies (GSELS) learning network are also efficacious climate change education …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Environmental Justice & Nature Immersion: A Collaborative Partnership
- North Hennepin Community College (MN)
- YMCA of the North (MN)
GCST 1970 is a nature-based, credit-bearing program for North Hennepin Community College and high school students from Brooklyn Park, MN, in partnership with the YMCA and Three Rivers Park District. …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Engaging Students and Curricula to Create a More Sustainable and Equitable University Food System
- Naropa University (CO)
Join us for a step-by-step explanation of a curriculum-based, community development approach to creating a more sovereign, secure and sustainable food system at Naropa University. Discover how staff and faculty …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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The UBC Climate Studies and Action Certificate as a Response to the Climate Emergency Declaration
- University of British Columbia (BC)
This certificate is a response to the climate emergency 1. Creating justice centered, action oriented, accessible, interdisciplinary and hopeful climate education opportunities was one of six strategic priorities in the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Innovative Approaches and New Networks Around Sense of Place and Connection to Nature
- Wellesley College (MA)
Undergraduate education often separates “place” from pedagogy. Incorporating place into pedagogical approaches through landscape “living laboratory” frameworks can provide benefits that include improving well-being, increasing “pro-environmental” behavior, and fostering a …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Supporting Roles for STARS: Regional Campus Libraries in Sustainability Initiatives
- Indiana University South Bend (IN)
- Indiana University Southeast (IN)
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
Academic libraries are rich storehouses of expertise and initiatives that directly contribute to sustainability initiatives impacting both your campus and local service communities. These initiatives also contribute to ongoing reporting …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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The KCKCC Library Sustainability Research Guide: Resources, Literacy, & Engagement
- Kansas City Kansas Community College (KS)
This session will provide an overview of the Sustainability Research Guide created for the Kansas City Kansas Community College library. This guide has been crafted over several years and is …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Social & Financial Sustainability: What Is Its Role in the Sustainability Dialogue?
- Sonoma State University (CA)
Sustainability denotes many things to many of us. But to the majority in education space, if you have offered a sustainability course it means you have done something related it …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Education as Sustainability: Courageous Conversations in a Changing World
- Nipissing University (ON)
For the past ten years, we have been offering a PhD in Educational Sustainability. We recognize that “education for sustainability means educating for the emergence of a different, possible world” …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Innovative Approaches to Teaching Sustainability
- Stanford University (CA)
This session presents learnings from the design and teaching “Leading Change for Sustainability,” a Stanford University course that is part of the Sustainability Science and Practice Master’s Program. It examines …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Bringing a Travel Experience Into the Classroom
- University of Arkansas at Little Rock (AR)
How material obtained from a university funded research project on sustainability focused on water conservation in Israel is used to create a learning module will be presented. The presenter created …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Submitting to “Case Studies in the Environment”: A Workshop for Authors
- University of Southern California (CA)
“Case Studies in the Environment” (CSE) is a peer-reviewed journal published by the University of California Press. The online journal publishes case studies, which provide nuance to environmental problem solving …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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The LEED Curriculum: A New Standard for Sustainability Education
- University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (WI)
This session provides a comprehensive overview of The LEED Curriculum for college CTE and university undergraduate programs. Using the globally recognized LEED rating system as a framework, facilitator Heather McCombs, …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Just Sustainable Leadership: Integrating Stakeholders
- Arizona State University (AZ)
Wicked environmental dilemmas (e.g. climate change) are difficult to explain, plainly define, have no one solution, and are often the result of other indefinable problems that require integrative collaborative initiatives …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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The Future of Work and Implications for Sustainability in TVET
- Colleges and Institutes Canada (ON)
According to many reports on sustainability, ambitious net-zero goals will require millions of workers to learn new job skills over the next decade. The world’s transportation, energy, and manufacturing industries …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Lightning Talks: Teaching & Learning (Group 2)
- Simon Fraser University (BC)
- EcoChallenge.org (OR)
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to campus academics and operations. The Lightning Talks are: Behavior Change for Campus & Courses: Driving Engagement & Impact - …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Using Self-Assessment to Extend Sustainability Competency Development
- MacEwan University (AB)
One of the key benefits of developing sustainability competencies is that they enable students to pursue future work and study opportunities within sustainability despite diverse fields and challenges. However, if …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Tools to Fill the Education Gap for Agenda 2030
- United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (NY)
This discussion will cover the tools needed to fill the gap in higher education systems for Agenda 2030. The mission of the SDG Academy is to create and curate the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
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Reimagining Field-Based Sustainability Learning: A Journey to Active Hope
- Dalhousie University (NS)
Conventional field courses are often focused on experiencing the outside world through the lenses of the natural sciences, where students learn and practice methods to measure and compare various biological …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- 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.