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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Charting new futures for faculty development for sustainability
- Elon University (NC)
For almost two decades, the Piedmont Project at Emory University and the Ponderosa Project at Northern Arizona University have been used as models to support faculty who are interested in …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Embracing Crisis as Catalyst: Mobilizing SDGs in Post-Secondary Classrooms and the SDGs in the Classroom Toolkit
- York University (ON)
In the face of persistent disruptions and fractures in the post-secondary education sector, exacerbated by global events, it becomes imperative to reconceptualize crisis as a potential catalyst for positive transformation …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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A Faculty Meetup – Where do we go From Here
- Ramapo College of New Jersey (NJ)
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
This session is a collaborative gathering aimed at fostering open discussions among faculty members about future directions in sustainability education and initiatives. Several topics at the June Sustainability Education Forum …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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TASK - A Psychometric Tool for Measuring Meaningful Impact in Higher Education
- Sulitest
HEIs aiming to embrace sustainability face a common challenge: how to empower faculty to transform the curriculum in line with the SDGs and Earth crisis. To meet this challenge, Sulitest …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Teaching for Sustainability in the Pacific Northwest
- Seattle University (WA)
- Western Washington University (WA)
We are inviting academics and practitioners of sustainability to come to this session to discuss best practices in sustainability across the curriculum, and to share and network with other in …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Best Practices in Using the Campus as a Living Lab
- Rice University (TX)
- Santa Clara University (CA)
Using the campus as a living lab for applied sustainability learning is a powerful way for students to learn about sustainability and develop key sustainability competencies, and is an important …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
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Developing Sustainability Learning Outcomes & Assessment
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
Developing a sustainability major, minor, certificate, or school? If so, you are likely crafting or updating learning outcomes and related assessments. This interactive Learning Lab will enable participants to be …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Pathways to Resilience: A Climate Education Leap at App State
- Appalachian State University (NC)
In this session, we will describe a case study of curricular transformation and lessons learned for individuals who want to create significant change in sustainability focused curriculum at their own …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
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Lessons Learned from the Organic Origins of Sustainability Curricula at Appalachian State
- Appalachian State University (NC)
Appalachian State’s deep embrace of sustainability curricula traces its origins back to an experimental general education program that existed from 1978-1983 called Earth Studies, housed in the Department of Interdisciplinary …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
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Sustaining Wholeness: Reimagining a Regenerative Graduate Landscape
- Prescott College (AZ)
- University of West Alabama (AL)
Obtaining a PhD can be a dehumanizing experience, especially for systemically marginalized scholars. Dominant culture in U.S. academia is often infused with colonial, patriarchal, racialized and heteronormative epistemologies. These epistemologies …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
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Essential Tensions in Graduate Training for Research-Practice on Urban Transformations
- Georgia State University (GA)
- University of Colorado Denver Business School (CO)
It is imperative that cities become more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, and society’s need to imagine, design, and implement innovative strategies has never been greater. Less clear is whether …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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STARS and Student Engagement for Sustainable Colleges and Universities
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- Seattle University (WA)
- Binghamton University (NY)
- AASHE (MA)
The combined session features interactive discussions of three educational cases related to using STARS as a Living Lab. The first session, titled “STARS as Our Curriculum: An Institution as a …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Measuring the Impact of Student-Led Sustainability Projects
- University of Washington, Seattle (WA)
The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) is a student-run and student-funded grant program at the University of Washington working towards justice-centered sustainability. Student-led sustainability projects on campus are great ways to …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
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Inspiring Future Leaders: Developing Sustainability Literacy in First Year Classrooms
- University of Maryland, College Park (MD)
At the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), the latest students are more knowledgeable about sustainability and passionate about solving the climate crisis. Or so we thought. Despite growing media …
- Posted Feb. 28, 2025
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"Campus as a Living Lab" Through the Lens of Internships, Grants and Courses
- Duke University (NC)
- University of Georgia (GA)
"Living Lab" or "Campus as Lab" programs position students as sustainability and climate change leaders on campus. This interactive session invites sustainability stakeholders (students, staff, faculty, and more) to explore …
- Posted Feb. 27, 2025
- Conference Presentations
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Why Aren’t Faculty More Engaged on the Climate Crisis? (Spoiler: It might be the tenure process)
- Smith College (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
Do you ever wish that more faculty at your institution were working on sustainability? Many leaders have called for improved support for engaged scholarship(ES) to better connect the academy with …
- Posted Feb. 20, 2025
- Videos & Webinars
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University Leadership that Enables Sustainability Education and Scholarship
- University of Calgary
This chapter is part of a new open access handbook from Taylor and Francis (https://www.taylorfrancis.com/reader/download/13f32394-c078-4201-8b83-0bce63352914/book/pdf?context=ubx). It explores and articulates different levers and areas of responsibility for sustainability in academic programs …
- Posted Feb. 20, 2025
- Publications
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Redesigning Assessment for Equity Through Alternative Grading
- AASHE (MA)
- MacEwan University (AB)
Alternative grading offers a lot of potential for improving equity in the classroom and ensuring students achieve key competencies for sustainability. However, getting started can be intimidating. In this session, …
- Posted Feb. 13, 2025
- Videos & Webinars
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Holistic Inclusive Education On Climate Change
- The American College of Greece (Aghia Paraskevi)
The American College of Greece (ACG) is committed to advancing climate action and sustainability through an inclusive, multi-faceted approach to education. Under the umbrella of Holistic Inclusive Education on Climate …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
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Leading the way: Developing a new approach to sustainability education for the college sector
- Mohawk College (ON)
- Students Organising For Sustainability (SOS-UK)
Mohawk College has a track record of innovation and leadership in the college sector in Canada and globally. Over the past two years they have led the way in developing …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
- Case Studies
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Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC) - Mandatory Sustainability Education for all Undergraduate Students
- Nanyang Technological University
In 2021, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU) introduced the Interdisciplinary Collaborative Core (ICC) as a mandatory component of its undergraduate curriculum. This initiative aims to equip students with essential transferable …
- Posted Jan. 24, 2025
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Student Education for Environmental Development (SEED)
- McGill University (QC)
Student Education for Environmental Development, or SEED, is an initiative that brings free, interactive environmental education lessons to schools in Canada and the US with a focus on underprivileged students. …
- Posted Jan. 7, 2025
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Assessing sustainability curriculum: from transmissive to transformative approaches
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls (WI)
Assessing sustainability curriculum: from transmissive to transformative approaches
- Posted Jan. 7, 2025
- Publications
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A Learning Landscape: Living, Maintaining and Teaching Sustainability
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
It’s the 1980s and the Southland is a thriving, bustling region criss-crossed by freeways and almost notorious for the slight gray haze that can be seen against the backdrop of …
- Posted Dec. 11, 2024
- Photographs
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CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and Resilience 2024
- California State University, Chico (CA)
In the Spring of 2024, 210 faculty from twenty-one California State University campuses and three California Community College campuses participated in the second CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate …
- Posted Dec. 2, 2024
- Case Studies
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Climate Action Clinic at UNH: Training Carbon Management Professionals in Collaboration with Community Organizations
- University of New Hampshire (NH)
The Climate Action Clinic is a high-impact learning opportunity that builds off UNH's decades-long role supporting carbon footprinting and climate action by other organizations--leveraging the expertise rooted in UNH’s own …
- Posted Oct. 24, 2024
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Sustainability - CSUF works on the economic as well as environmental impacts
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
June 13, 2019 | Orange County Register, The (Santa Ana, CA) Author/Byline: By Susan Gill Vardon sgvardon@scng.com
At Cal State Fullerton, the idea of sustainability involves more than coming up …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2024
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Committed to Sustainability
- California State University, Fullerton (CA)
Campus Undergoes Study to Measure Effort
By Pamela McLaren
Last year, Cal State Fullerton committed to developing a campus more focused on sustainability in its operations, outlook and curriculum. Following …
- Posted Oct. 10, 2024
- Photographs
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Climate Action Unbound: A New Curricular Model Driving Institutional Change
- Hampshire College (MA)
- AASHE (MA)
Equipping students with both the knowledge and skills to be effective change agents is essential to solving the climate crisis. The inaugural Climate Action Semester Unbound at Hampshire College offered …
- Posted Sept. 20, 2024
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The State of Environmental and Sustainability Education in Canada: A Review of Past, Current, and Future Directions
- University of Saskatchewan (SK)
ABSTRACT This chapter reports results from a study by the Sustainability and Education Policy Network in Canada, as well as other published reports and studies, to provide a partial overview …
- Posted Sept. 3, 2024
- Publications
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Webinar: Using Organizational Behavior Change Principles to Amplify Sustainability in Higher Ed
- Macalester College (MN)
- University of St. Thomas (MN)
- AASHE (MA)
Institutions of Higher Education (HEIs) are critical for a sustainability transformation given their role developing innovations and preparing future citizens and leaders. Yet, efforts to mobilize sustainable change in HEIs …
- Posted Aug. 29, 2024
- Videos & Webinars
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Teaching Sustainability Competencies across the Disciplines - A Guide for Instructors
- AASHE (MA)
Members of AASHE’s Scaling Up Sustainability Across the Curriculum Community of Practice produced this guide for instructors in our curriculum development workshops and for others who seek to integrate sustainability …
- Posted Aug. 29, 2024
- Publications
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UC San Diego Students Gardening
- University of California San Diego (CA)
UC San Diego students spend time gardening in the Warren Garden, one of many campus community gardens used for education and outreach.
Photographer: Erik Jepsen
- Posted Aug. 21, 2024
- Photographs
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Restoring Oyster Reefs
- Georgia Southern University (GA)
Once each year since 2018, students from Georgia Southern University have traveled a couple hours north to assist the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources with restoration of oyster reefs …
- Posted Aug. 20, 2024
- Photographs
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Seneca Polytechnic - Sustainability Career Fair
- Seneca Polytechnic (ON)
In 2023, the annual Green Citizen Symposium was held November 7-9, exploring the theme, “Collaborate for Climate Action.” By fostering collaboration, partnership, and innovation at various levels across different sectors, …
- Posted Aug. 8, 2024
- Photographs
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UC San Diego Seventh College Synthesis Program Decarbonization Living Laboratory
- University of California San Diego (CA)
Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, faculty from the Seventh College Synthesis Program have partnered with staff from Operations Management and Capital Programs to develop living laboratory, project-based courses for …
- Posted Aug. 2, 2024
- Case Studies
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Haudenosaunee creation story
- Cornell University (NY)
Anna Margaret Davidson's class "The Art and Science of the Mohawk River" meets in Fernow Hall. Chris Rivera ’24 , an environment and sustainability major, created a mosaic that tells …
- Posted July 30, 2024
- Photographs
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How to enhance education for sustainable development
- League of European Research Universities
Education for sustainable development (ESD) is an important strategic agenda for universities. This paper displays the rapidly increasing expertise about and experience with the strategic, programmatic and operational take-up of …
- Posted July 30, 2024
- Publications
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SDSU Students Learning About Sustainability - 2024 Sustainable Campus Index
- San Diego State University (CA)
Photo for 2024 Sustainable Campus Index
- Posted July 29, 2024
- Photographs
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Stan State Sustainable Campus Index Photo Submissions
- California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
Campus photos for SCI top performer submission highlighting campus engagement, environmental justice, immersive education.
- Posted July 29, 2024
- Photographs
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Stan State Sustainable Campus Index
- California State University, Stanislaus (CA)
Campus photos for SCI top performer submission highlighting campus engagement, immersive education.
- Posted July 29, 2024
- Photographs
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Top Performer in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI)
- University of Toronto Mississauga (ON)
SCI 2024
- Posted July 25, 2024
- Photographs
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Aerial View of Bentley's Arena
- Bentley University (MA)
Bentley's arena is home to Bentley's Divison 1 mens hockey team. The Bentley Arena is the first standalone ice arena in the country to receive LEED Platinum certification, and the …
- Posted July 25, 2024
- Photographs
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Seneca Polytechnic - Curriculum
- Seneca Polytechnic (ON)
The below images are related to the Seneca Living Lab Program, which takes advantage of the unique nature of campuses, which are like small cities with facilities supporting diverse and …
- Posted July 24, 2024
- Photographs
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Interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability in higher education: a sustainability competence support model
- Umeå University
After several decades of work toward elevating sustainability education, many have called for a transformation of the education system to create timely action. Teachers, students, organizational leaders, and many other …
- Posted July 16, 2024
- Publications
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Dickinson College Pollinator Garden
- Dickinson College (PA)
The Dickinson College landscape has been changing to reflect important sustainability goals, which include a campus-wide dedication to hands-on sustainability education and stewardship. To reflect these goals, landscape design and …
- Posted July 15, 2024
- Photographs
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The Hive: Beekeeping at Dickinson
- Dickinson College (PA)
The Hive engages its members in learning about sustainability problems and solutions through the direct experience of beekeeping, honey production and community building.
- Posted July 15, 2024
- Photographs
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Sustainability at Connecticut College
- Connecticut College (CT)
Images submitted for the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index.
- Posted July 11, 2024
- Photographs
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NAU SCI 2024 Water Images
- Northern Arizona University (AZ)
NAU is thrilled to honor our appearence in the High Performers: Water category in this years SCI!
- Posted July 10, 2024
- Photographs
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Cli Fi, Sci Fi, and the Culture of Sustainability
- University of Hawaii Kapiolani Community College (HI)
- AASHE (MA)
Climate fiction, or cli-fi, is a form of literature that features a changed/changing climate or global warming as part of the character, setting, or plot of a novel or short …
- Posted June 26, 2024
- Videos & Webinars
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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.