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
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
- View more
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
- View more
UBC’s Sustainability Open Data: Research, Learning and Operations
- The 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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
The UBC Climate Studies and Action Certificate as a Response to the Climate Emergency Declaration
- The 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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
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
- View more
Impactful Sustainability Curriculum: Supporting Faculty Implementation of High Impact Teaching
- Georgia Institute of Technology (GA)
- University of Oregon (OR)
Integrating Service-Learning/Community Engagement (SLCE) into Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) can enhance student learning outcomes and competencies, across all disciplines. SLCE in higher education has been shown to enhance knowledge …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The 2041 Project: Imagining a Positive Climate Future
- State University of New York at Oneonta (NY)
One of the essential tasks in responding to the ongoing climate crisis is imagining alternatives to current circumstances that could lead to possible, plausible, and positive futures. Simply absorbing data …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Lightning Talks: Teaching & Learning (Group 1)
- Lipscomb University (TN)
- Thompson Rivers University (BC)
- University of Liverpool
This session consists of 3 15-minute Lightning Talk sessions related to teaching and learning. The Lightning Talks are: Turning Out Graduates Who Can Promote Sustainability Within Organisations - This session …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Impactful Education for Sustainability Through Research and a Community of Practice
- University of Tasmania (TAS)
For humanity to persist, we need populations with sustainability knowledge and practices. Higher education has the potential to contribute but there are many barriers preventing higher education actors from reaching …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Innovation in Sustainability Degree Programs
- Saybrook University (CA)
- Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) (OR)
Three ISSP Education Partners will lead a discussion on innovation within sustainability degree programs to meet industry needs and accelerate students within the profession. Topics will include integrating systems thinking, …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Teaching Behavior Change Principles for Sustainability Careers
- Center for Behavior and Climate (FL)
- Behavior Development Solutions (FL)
As sustainability professionals, we know that to address climate change in the short timeframe we have left requires nothing more than transformational systems change. Sustainability programs have an urgent role …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Teaching Key Competencies in Sustainability Education
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- University of Dayton (OH)
- University of Hawaii at Manoa (HI)
- Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (MD)
The Sustainability Curriculum Consortium (SCC) and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) have launched a new series of materials for faculty teaching sustainability topics. The …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Integrating Climate Justice and Climate Change Into Curricula Through Community-Based Learning
- Portland Community College (OR)
Portland Community College’s 2021 Climate Action Plan: Resiliency, Equity and Education for a Just Transition calls for the college to support and encourage students to engage with sustainability and climate …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Achieving Deep Sustainability Through Hands-on Learning
- The University of British Columbia (BC)
- University of the Fraser Valley (BC)
- Okanagan College (BC)
Achieving sustainability competencies often involves multiple skill sets, from abstract reasoning to applied and experiential learning. How exactly can sustainability competencies be demonstrated? How can these competencies be transferred to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Building Decarbonization Education for the Next Generation
- Howard University (DC)
- Stanford University (CA)
In order to prepare the next generation of building professionals, engineering education must adapt. The Stanford Building Decarbonization Learning Accelerator (BDLA) provides free teaching resources to professors so they can …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Interdisciplinary Learning Community: Sustainability and Agriculture
- County College of Morris (NJ)
An interdisciplinary approach to environmental topics, such as climate change and sustainability, helps to bridge the gap between identifying an environmental concern and implementing a societal resolution. This presentation aims …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
High Impact Practices at Bridgewater State University’s Permaculture Garden and Local Farms
- Bridgewater State University (MA)
In this presentation, faculty from the Bridgewater State University Sustainability Program share their experiences of using the permaculture garden as a tool for their teaching, research, and scholarship. The goal …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Review of an Online International Sustainability Collaboration
- The College of Saint Scholastica (MN)
In spring of 2021, nine Chemistry and Sustainability at The College of St. Scholastica entered into an innovative active learning collaboration with five English-major Russian students at Petrozavodsk State University …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Advancing the SDGs through Education Abroad
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- The Forum on Education Abroad (RI)
It may seem that institutional goals for education abroad are at odds with institutional goals for sustainability. But what if your study abroad programming could actually advance one or more …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Making Study Away Programs More Climate Conscious
- Williams College (MA)
The presentation will illustrate opportunities and challenges in measuring and reducing the carbon footprint of study away programs using data from Williams College. A growing number of students opt to …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
University Power Grid Resilience Teaches Steps to Carbon Neutrality
- Chatham University (PA)
- Green Business Certification Inc (DC)
Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus is designed to be a living lab for sustainability and resiliency where students can drive progress while developing their skills. Advancing progress towards carbon neutrality required …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
Developing Sustainability Skills in Future Language Teachers
- Universidad de Colima
As teachers, we address the sustainability crisis from the field of education and we dedicate ourselves to develop sustainability skills among teachers in training who will be key players in …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
A Student-led Process for University Carbon Footprinting
- Michigan Technological University (MI)
Students at Michigan Technological University have been calculating the institution’s carbon footprint for over 20 years as part of a project-based academic course. We will share the contours of the …
- Posted May 17, 2023
- Conference Presentations
- View more
The Week: The New Playbook for Climate Mobilization
- The Week
The Week is a climate mobilization tool that anyone can pick up and use, for free, to create courageous conversations about climate breakdown, and what we as a society can …
- Posted May 10, 2023
- Tools
- View more
Curriculum Self-Assessment Rubrics
- University of Michigan (MI)
This brief document offers several rubrics to assess courses, syllabi and individual units based on principles of sustainability- and social justice pedagogy, including community connections, cultural relevance, and more.
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Course Materials
- View more
Integrating Sustainability and Social Justice Concepts Across the Curriculum
- University of Michigan (MI)
This brief document offers matrices that show how sustainability and social justice concepts such as community and equity can be integrated across disciplines. With this document, instructors can take steps …
- Posted May 8, 2023
- Course Materials
- View more
Building an Embedded Sustainability Approach
- TAFE Queensland Robina Campus (QLD)
The TAFE Queensland Robina Campus has been purpose-built to lead the way as a sustainable vocational education and training (VET) provider across Australia. The campus was designed from the ground …
- Posted May 5, 2023
- Case Studies
- View more
Rider University Earth Day Event
- Rider University (NJ)
Eco-Reps that work for the Office of Sustainability that also conduct plant research in our campus greenhouse grew pollinator friendly plants to sell at our Earth Day event. With a …
- Posted May 3, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Climate in the Classroom: Bell Tower Takeover
- Temple University (PA)
Climate in the Classroom: Bell Tower Takeover was a special Earth Month event hosted by the Temple University Office of Sustainability, the Office of the Provost and select student and …
- Posted May 2, 2023
- Photographs
- View more
Shifting Instruction for Sustainability: Lessons from COVID
- New Mexico State University (NM)
The COVID-19 pandemic irrevocably changed the ways that libraries function. Libraries had to shift and our skills as librarians and educators were put to the test in new ways. As …
- Posted April 13, 2023
- Publications
- View more
Bending Towards Justice: Evolving Sustainability Education at Prescott College
- Prescott College (AZ)
- AASHE (MA)
The PhD in Sustainability Education at Prescott College, the first of its kind in North America, attracts a transdisciplinary cadre of students/scholars/activists committed to social and environmental justice as enacted …
- Posted March 30, 2023
- Videos & Webinars
- View more
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.