Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.36
Liaison Ian Johnson
Submission Date June 8, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Colorado College
AC-1: Academic Courses

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 10.42 / 14.00 Ian Johnson
Sustainability Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the percentage of courses with sustainability content::
Undergraduate Graduate
Total number of courses offered by the institution 1,017 10
Number of sustainability courses offered 83 0
Number of courses offered that include sustainability 77 0

Number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer at least one sustainability course and/or course that includes sustainability (at any level):
22

Total number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer courses (at any level):
35

Number of years covered by the data:
Two

A copy of the institution’s inventory of its course offerings with sustainability content (and course descriptions):
An inventory of the institution's course offerings with sustainability content (and course descriptions):
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The website URL where the inventory of course offerings with sustainability content is publicly available:
A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the course inventory:

An intern in the Office of Sustainability contacted all departments to ask faculty to identify whether they teach sustainability courses or courses that include sustainability. Response rates varied, but the process helped better inventory courses. The intern also went through the course catalog to identify courses based on the STARS definitions and the course descriptions included on the website. All block courses from the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 years were included, excluding theses, independent study courses, adjuncts, and summer courses.


How did the institution count courses with multiple offerings or sections in the inventory?:
Each offering or section of a course was counted as an individual course

A brief description of how courses with multiple offerings or sections were counted (if different from the options outlined above):
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Which of the following course types were included in the inventory?:
Yes or No
Internships No
Practicums No
Independent study No
Special topics Yes
Thesis/dissertation No
Clinical No
Physical education No
Performance arts No

Does the institution designate sustainability courses in its catalog of course offerings?:
No

Does the institution designate sustainability courses on student transcripts?:
No

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The Office of Sustainability is working on implementing a course designation for sustainability-focused and -related courses. The designation is in the process of being reviewed by faculty, and will be voted on by the end of the end of the year. It was written by a group of students, faculty, and staff that was part of the Sustainability Action Team appointed by the president during the 2013-2014 academic year. Ideally, in 2015-2016 sustainability courses will be designated in the catalog and on student transcripts.
https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/sustainability/curriculum/

The curriculum category scores have improved significantly over our 2014 submission. This was primarily due to an oversight in previous methodologies for determining total course offerings. Previously all offerings through the registrar's office were counted, including non-credit courses and student-taught courses. The number has been revised to include only regular, credit-bearing course offerings during the academic year (blocks 1-8).


The Office of Sustainability is working on implementing a course designation for sustainability-focused and -related courses. The designation is in the process of being reviewed by faculty, and will be voted on by the end of the end of the year. It was written by a group of students, faculty, and staff that was part of the Sustainability Action Team appointed by the president during the 2013-2014 academic year. Ideally, in 2015-2016 sustainability courses will be designated in the catalog and on student transcripts.
https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/sustainability/curriculum/

The curriculum category scores have improved significantly over our 2014 submission. This was primarily due to an oversight in previous methodologies for determining total course offerings. Previously all offerings through the registrar's office were counted, including non-credit courses and student-taught courses. The number has been revised to include only regular, credit-bearing course offerings during the academic year (blocks 1-8).

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.