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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Using Local Food Systems and Justice Issues to teach Sustainability
- Eureka College (IL)
For two years, I have taught an upper-level seminar in Environmental Studies on Local Food Systems and Justice issues that also meets a gen ed requirement for undergraduates in Sustainable …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Opening up the 'Black Box' of Recycling: Discussion of Justice in Recycling Promotes Waste Reduction
- The University of Findlay (OH)
Although recycling is a popular sustainability practice, college students usually have limited knowledge of how and where the recyclables they put in recycling bins are turned into usable products. It …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Get in the Zone: A New Training Model to Build Environmental & Social Consciousness
- New York University (NY)
How do you foster dialogue about sustainability and the impacts on climate change on your campus? In 2019, NYU's Office of Sustainability began developing a Green Zone training to fall …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Research, Innovation and Student Engagement: University Field Stations as Sustainability Praxis
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (WI)
Field stations are rich venues for engagement and investigations of natural science and social science connections to the environment. Universities of all types have a history of using field stations …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Demystifying that Six Syllable Word: Designing an Effective Intro to Sustainability
- University of Richmond (VA)
With so many different definitions of sustainability on a university campus, it can be difficult to find people who share a common understanding of that tricky six syllable word. For …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Climatepedia.org: A Nationwide Student Effort to Spread Climate Change Information
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Climatepedia (CA)
Over 97% of publishing climate scientists agree that climate change is a real, anthropogenic threat to all life on earth. However, various polls show that amongst the American public, there …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Sustainability Literacy in an Undergraduate Class About Disabilities - What Are You Thinking?
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
In order to mobilize for a just transition, undergraduate education majors must understand how sustainability practices can be embedded in their teaching practices. Doing so has the ability empower today's …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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EchoWorks: a Cooperative e-Recycling Program
- Western Dakota Technical College (SD)
Globally, electronic waste is the fastest growing segment of municipal waste. Unfortunately, there is a widespread lack of availability of safe disposal options for the often-toxic e-materials. To provide this …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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We Are All Educators: Preparing Staff to Act as Effective Educators in Sustainability Projects
- Harvard University (MA)
Increasingly, staff members are encouraged to engage with students on co-curricular sustainability projects that enhance their learning. However, too often, these staff members are not trained properly to create learning …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Educating Students in the Business Schools through Project-Based Courses to Advance Sustainability
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
Recently, Business Schools have been focusing on educating student with social responsibility and sustainable practices by offering sustainability programs and sustainability project-based courses. However, there is little research about the …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Teaching the UN SDGs: Developing local goals in the classroom
- Central Community College (NE)
In 2015, Central Community College (CCC) developed a faculty-driven program to incorporate sustainability issues across the curriculum. The presenter is co-chair of the Environmental Sustainability Across the Curriculum (ESATC) committee. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Choose Earth Certificate: A Hands-on Approach to Improving Sustainability in Study Abroad
- The Education Abroad Network (IL)
The Choose Earth certificate is an optional, add-on program that students can choose to participate in while studying abroad with TEAN. It was born from our organization's Choose Earth initiative, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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AIM2Flourish: Using Business for Good Education to Mobilize for a Just Transition
- Case Western Reserve University (OH)
AIM2Flourish is an initiative of the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit at the Weatherhead School of Management Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Process of Developing a Sustainability Certificate Program
- University of North Carolina, Asheville (NC)
This talk will cover the three-year process of developing and launching an interdisciplinary Sustainability Certificate at the University of North Carolina Asheville. The multi-step process included developing campus support (with …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Veterans and Sustainability Education: Why Aren't we Taking Better Advantage of it?
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
While many veterans take advantage of the educational benefits provided by the Post 9/11 GI Bill, the number of student veterans participating in the earned benefit by the Veterans Administration …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Own Your own Backyard: Farm to Keg
- Grand Valley State University (MI)
This presentation will be a reflective narrative of multiple voices from a research project intended to assess the transformational learning of students engaged in a partnership between Grand Valley State …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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People of the Environment: Lessons Learned From an Interdisciplinary Liberal Education Course
- Bemidji State University (MN)
A distinctive component of the Bemidji State University general education curriculum is the team-taught, interdisciplinary class People of the Environment. In 1998, the Minnesota State College and University system established …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Campus as a Living Lab Curriculum: Lessons from a Diversity of Institutional Types
- Michael Roy Iversen, Urban and Campus Sustainability Consultancy (IL)
The 'campus as a living lab' approach blends academic curriculum and campus facilities management, so as to both benefit students with experiential, real-world learning, and institutions with a purposeful means …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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SDG101: Sustainable development integration in the classroom with the SDG Academy
- United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (NY)
The SDG Academy creates and curates the best available educational content on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and makes it available as a public good. As the flagship education …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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We Need the Leaders to Make it Happen
- Radford University (VA)
- Virginia Tech (VA)
The world is facing unprecedented sustainability challenges. While overcoming these challenges is daunting, it is reassuring to know that viable solutions already exist, and that in many cases we simply …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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SCP Arts: A Collaborative, Applied Learning Partnership Model for Creative Community Engagement
- University of St. Thomas (MN)
Communities locally and globally face the challenge of re-imagining and implementing systems that restore interconnected human and environmental well-being. Creative forms of engagement can inspire broad-sector participation with community sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Valuing What We Teach, Along With How We Teach in Sustainability Education
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Education for sustainability is critical in preparing future generations with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to address the sustainability problems that challenge the health and stability of our world. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Living Lab Approach to Saving The Farm
- Butler University (IN)
The Farm at Butler University has existed for 10 years without dedicated administrative funding. With no immediate funding support from the University planned, the Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Open Access Sustainability Survey Data: How to integrate a longitudinal dataset into your classroom
- Michigan State University (MI)
Many people call for research data to be made publicly available and praise those who publish their work in open access outlets. But what good is such data if no …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Creating Pathways to Empower Sustainability Professionals
- Colorado Mountain College (CO)
- International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) (OR)
Sustainability professionals lead organizations and communities in driving social justice, environmental health, and a regenerative economy. For graduates of sustainability-oriented academic programs, professional, post-nominal, credentials help create an immediate on-ramp …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Developing an introductory Chemistry and Sustainability course for Sustainability majors
- The College of Saint Scholastica (MN)
This talk will discuss the pedagogical experiences and challenges of developing and teaching an introductory level Chemistry and Sustainability course as part of a new Sustainability Studies major at The …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Increasing Access to Sustainability Education Through Online Programs
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
Education has long been seen as crucial to supporting the needed sustainability transitions. Yet if these sustainability transitions are going to be just and inclusive than so must the education …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Successes and Lessons Learned: Using Digital Badges to Engage Students in Sustainability
- Central Community College (NE)
In 2015, Central Community College embarked on a series of sustainability digital badging projects in an effort to engage students, faculty, and the community on sustainability topics. To that end, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Breaking into Academics Without a PhD: Creating Sustainability Curriculum from Facilities
- Florida State University (FL)
How can Offices of Sustainability change the academic culture of their institutions without an academic home? Colleges and universities are institutions of learning, and sustainability curriculum that engages students in …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Producing Podcasts in the Classroom: A Case Study from ENST 300 - Environmental Justice
- Lawrence University (WI)
This session will focus on how to guide students through the process of scripting, recording, producing, distributing, and assessing podcasts as a course project. It will draw on specific examples …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Preparing a Faculty Cohort to Facilitate Internal Curriculum Integration Workshops
- University of Michigan (MI)
- Dallas College (TX)
An increasing number of colleges & universities are working to integrate sustainability & social justice into the curriculum. This often involves faculty development workshops led by external facilitators. In-house efforts, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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New Methodology and Measurement Tool Linking Curricula to the 2030 Agenda and University Strategy
- Copenhagen Business School
At Copenhagen Business School (CBS), 2008 marked the beginning of a university-wide effort towards connecting curriculum to Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainability (RES). As a United Nations PRME (Principles of Responsible …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Embedding SDG competencies into global education curriculum
- The GREEN Program (PA)
This session will discuss the process of designing global education programs that educate for SDG competencies and measure progress in SDG comprehension through pre- and post-program assessment. The session will …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Engaged Learning in the Landscape
- Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus (NJ)
Land grant institutions have historically used the campus landscape as a classroom and laboratory for teaching, research and outreach on agricultural topics. Contemporary challenges urged us to expand this model …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Social Justice in Learning Outcomes: Environmental Literacy in an Indigenous Language Hotspot
- Everett Community College (WA)
This session introduces a bottom-up approach to curriculum in environmental literacy, aligned explicitly to social justice learning outcomes at a state community college in Everett, Washington. Presented herein are three …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Meeting Immediate Needs: A Curriculum for Worker Cooperatives
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
- Cooperacion Santa Ana (CA)
UCI Community Resilience Projects fosters people-centered and inclusive solutions to climate challenges. Our community-driven academic partnerships work from a shared understanding that the problems of climate change, racism and all …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Enlightened Education: Solar Engineering Design to Energize School Facilities
- Madison Area Technical College (WI)
This presentation will explore the potential for universities, colleges, and K-12 schools to implement solar electric infrastructure projects on their campus that also provide a learning environment and instructional opportunities …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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A Global Affairs Office and a Sustainability Office: What's the Connection?
- University of California, Davis (CA)
Over the past year, the University of California, Davis Global Affairs office and the Office of Sustainability have collaborated in ways that are mutually supportive of each office's mission on …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Student Leadership Institute for Climate Resilience: A Just Transition Introductory Curriculum
- University of California, Irvine (CA)
Developed at UC Irvine and in its ninth year, the Student Leadership Institute for Climate Resilience (SLICR) is an annual three-day residential program that provides a select cohort of incoming …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Transitioning the Culinary Industry though Transformative Culinary Education
- Johnson & Wales University, Providence (RI)
The foodservice industry is one of the most influential towards building a just and sustainable future. Food being the critical link, it is evident that culinary education programs in higher …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Sustainability and Competency Based Education
- Southern New Hampshire University (NH)
Colleges are becoming more experimental in their desire to provide access to underserved populations (Sturgis, et al, 2016). New methods include badging, micro-credentials, and competency-based education (CBE). Each delivery platform …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Transformational Education or Transforming Education?
- University of South Dakota (SD)
- University of Minnesota, Morris (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
- University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (WI)
In order to mobilize a just transition, transformation in how we think, act and our sense of being in the world envisioning a holistic approach of head, hands and heart. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Rethinking Your Campus: Creative Curriculum, Programs, and Policies that Address a Just Transition
- California State University, Chico (CA)
- Skyline College (CA)
- Strategic Energy Innovations (CA)
- University of California, Merced (CA)
Adapting to climate change and interrelated social crises is no easy feat, especially for campus systems with longstanding institutional frameworks. Key to this shift is to encourage broad student, campus, …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Lessons From the Field of Education: Bridging Social Justice and Environmental Sustainability
- Chatham University (PA)
- University of Michigan (MI)
Social justice (i.e. equity) is one of sustainability's '3Es,' alongside the economy and environment. Yet too often, these 'Es' are framed with shaky connections or as separate spheres. This has …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Building Your Campus Energy Workforce: Opportunities for Students, Faculty and Staff
- Washington University in St. Louis (MO)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (DC)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are exploding with interest from students while colleges and universities across the country are working to rapidly deploy both solutions. How can these interests be …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Partnering the university with correctional facilities for equitable education
- Butler University (IN)
College is a privilege not accessible to everyone. The structure of higher education is elitist and promotes a specific ideology in even the most liberal of schools. How can we …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Interdisciplinary Approach to Environmental Education Through Service-Learning
- Husson University (ME)
- Saint Joseph's College - ME (ME)
- Maine Campus Compact (ME)
In 2017, in partnership with Campus Compact offices throughout Southern New England, Maine Campus Compact (MCC) awarded subgrants to 14 interdisciplinary faculty teams across four states (CT, MA, ME, NH) …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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The Challenge and Promise of a Living Building Project in a Dynamic Urban Ecosystem
- Unity Environmental University (ME)
- Thornton Tomasetti (ME)
- Simons Architects (ME)
Where many people see an unassuming drab brick building in a corner of Portland, Maine's, historic waterfront, Unity College sees an unprecedented opportunity for a physical manifestation our sustainability mission. …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Podcasts and Podcasting for Sustainability in Higher Education
- Bard College (NY)
- Central College (IA)
- Brailsford & Dunlavey (DC)
This session explores podcasting as a tool for sustainability in higher education. A panel of three podcast producers will share examples of how they have used podcasts to support sustainability …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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Issues Don't Move People; Stories do - Using Films to Catalyze Student and Community Engagement
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (CA)
When it comes to films, too often our focus is on what appears on the screen when the projector turns on. But our focus really needs to be on action--what …
- Posted Nov. 15, 2021
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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.