| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.08 |
| Liaison | John Pumilio |
| Submission Date | July 17, 2013 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Colgate University
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
John
Pumilio Director of Sustainability Sustainability Office |
Has the institution developed a definition of sustainability in the curriculum?:
A copy of the institution's definition of sustainability in the curriculum?:
Colgate has developed definitions for “sustainability-related” and “sustainability-focused”
courses. These definitions were approved by Colgate’s Sustainability Council and are as follows:
• Sustainability-related courses: The course concentrates on two of the three dimensions of
sustainability (economic prosperity, social well-being, or environmental health) and/or a
major component of the course concentrates on a key sustainability principle or concept
• Sustainability-focused courses: The course concentrates on each of the main dimensions
of sustainability (i.e., economic, social, and environmental)
Has the institution identified its sustainability-focused and sustainability-related course offerings?:
A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the inventory:
Using the above definitions in combination with AASHE guidelines, senior Jenna Taylor examined Colgate courses in the 2012-2013 Colgate University Course Catalog to collect an inventory of sustainability-related and -focused courses. She met with each department chair or program director to review the list of courses she created and to discuss their thoughts on the role of sustainability within their division. After several professors inquired further about the requirements for a sustainability-related versus -focused courses, she expanded the definitions for the classification of sustainability courses to the following:
• Sustainability-related courses: The course helps “build knowledge about a component of
sustainability or introduce students to sustainability concepts during part of the
course. ...[They may provide] students with in-depth knowledge of a particular aspect or
dimension of sustainability (such as the natural environment), ...a focus area (such as
renewable energy) for a student’s sustainability studies, or they may broaden students’
understanding of sustainability from within different disciplines” (AASHE STARS,
2012, p. 43)
• Sustainability-focused courses: The course “provides valuable grounding in the concepts
and principles of sustainability. These courses educate students about how different
dimensions of sustainability relate to and support each other in theory and practice. In
addition, these courses help equip students with the skills to weave together disparate
components of sustainability in addressing complex issues” (AASHE STARS, 2012, p.
40)
Does the institution make its sustainability course inventory publicly available online?:
The website URL where the sustainability course inventory is posted:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.