Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.38
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date March 1, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Cornell University
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.21 / 8.00 Mark Lawrence
Communications Mgr
ACSF
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total number of graduates from degree programs (i.e. majors, minors, concentrations, certificates, and other academic designations):
7,129

Number of students that graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome:
3,751

Percentage of students who graduate from programs that have adopted at least one sustainability learning outcome:
52.62

Do the figures reported above cover one, two, or three academic years?:
One

Does the institution specify sustainability learning outcomes at the institution level (e.g. covering all students)?:
No

Does the institution specify sustainability learning outcomes at the division level (e.g. covering particular schools or colleges within the institution)?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the institution level or division level sustainability learning outcomes:

Three colleges, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the College of Engineering, and the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell have sustainability-related learning outcomes.

The learning outcomes for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (http://cals.cornell.edu/about/) include: (1) Further agricultural systems to ensure food and nutrition security, human health, and sustainability (2) Advance knowledge in the life sciences about the unity and diversity of life (3) Foster the understanding of the economy and society for individual and community well-being (4) Steward environmental resources and sustainable energy solutions.

The learning outcomes for the College of Engineering (http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/about/mission.cfm#CP_JUMP_7918) include: (1) lead in bioengineering, complex systems, and energy and the environment (2) design, model, and analyze engineering systems...analyzing factors such as performance, safety, cost, sustainability, and marketing considerations (3) formulate and solve problems with regard to constraints of economics, safety, environment, and society.

The learning outcomes for the College of Veterinary Medicine
(http://www.vet.cornell.edu/education/dvmprogram/educationalgoals.cfm) include: (1) An understanding of the interactions among animals, people, and the environment; and (2) a commitment to professionalism, including a commitment to animal welfare and to following the best practices in relation to ethical, cultural, global, business management, and legal issues.


Does the institution specify sustainability learning outcomes at the program level (i.e. majors, minors, concentrations, degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other academic designations)?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the program level sustainability learning outcomes (or a list of sustainability-focused programs):

See attached spreadsheet for undergraduate and graduate sustainability programs list. Below are the learning outcomes for programs not a part of one of the three colleges mentioned above (CALS, Engineering, Vet). See programs list: https://www.cornell.edu/academics/fields.cfm. Programs with course-level sustainability learning outcomes are discussed in the "Course Level Learning Outcomes" section of this credit.

Undergraduate:
-Agriculture and Life Sciences - CALS
-Architecture - "Architects must have the ability to build abstract relationships and understand the impact of ideas based on research and analysis of multiple theoretical, social, political, economic, cultural and environmental contexts. Students learning aspirations include: Applying principles of sustainable design & Rationalizing environmental stewardship goals across multiple systems for an integrated solution" (https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/architecture/undergraduate/learning-outcomes)
-Design & Environmental Analysis - "Identify complex interactions between individuals and their environments; explain interactions within and between the natural, physical, and social sciences; manage diverse and changing social sciences; manage diverse and changing social, technological, and material environments" (http://dea.human.cornell.edu/mission)
-Engineering - Engineering
-Science of Earth Systems - Engineering & CALS
-Science & Technology Studies - "The major in Science & Technology Studies aims to further students' understanding of the social and cultural meanings of science and technology [including] the politics of climate change" (http://sts.cornell.edu/sts-major)
-Urban & Regional Studies - "The bachelor of science degree in urban and regional studies prepares graduates to: Address urban and regional issues ethically and sustainably" (https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/crp/undergraduate/learning-outcomes)
-Agribusiness Management - CALS
-Aerospace Engineering - Engineering
-American Indian Studies - CALS
-Applied Mathematics - Engineering
-Applied Exercise Science - CALS
-Animal Science - CALS
-Biomedical Engineering - Engineering
-Biomedical Sciences - Vet
-Biological Sciences - CALS & Engineering
-Biometry & Statistics - CALS
-Dyson Business Engineers - Engineering
-Business - CALS
-Business Minor-Life Sciences - CALS
-Climate Change - CALS
-Communication - CALS
-Crop Management - CALS
-Computer Science - Engineering
-Development Sociology - CALS
-Education - CALS
-Electrical and Computer Engr - Engineering
-Engineering Management - Engineering
-Entomology - CALS
-Environmental & Resource Econ - CALS
-Environmental Sustain & Sci - CALS
-Food Science - CALS
-Game Design - Engineering
-Horticulture - CALS
-Intl Development Studies - CALS
-Intl Trade & Development - CALS
-Information Science - CALS
-Landscape Studies - CALS
-Marine Biology - CALS
-Mechanical Engineering - Engineering
-Materials Science and Engr - Engineering
-Nutrition and Health - CALS
-Operations Research & Mgmt Sci - Engineering
-Plant Breeding - CALS
-Science of Earth Systems - CALS & Engineering
-Soil Science - CALS
-Sustainable Energy Systems - Engineering
-Viticulture and Enology - CALS

Graduate:
-Aerospace Engineering - Engineering
-Agricultural Economics - CALS
-Agronomy - CALS
-American Indian & Indigenous - CALS
-American Indian Studies - CALS
-Animal Science - CALS
-Applied Economics & Management - CALS
-Applied Operations Research - Engineering
-Architectural Science - "Program objectives are (1) to afford an opportunity for students of architecture to expand their creative design potential by increasing their knowledge and understanding of environmental science and building technologies and (2) to provide a framework within which students who have graduated from other technical disciplines may explore computer science, computer graphics, and computer-aided design methods." (https://gradschool.cornell.edu/academics/fields-of-study/subject/architecture/architectural-science-ms-ithaca)
-Atmospheric Science - CALS & Engineering
-Behavioral Biology - CALS
-Biochemistry - CALS
-Biogeochemistry - CALS
-Biological&Environmental Engr - Engineering
-Biomedical Engineering - Engineering
-Biometry - CALS
-Biophysics - CALS
-Chemical Engineering - Engineering
-Civil & Environmental Engr - Engineering
-Communication - CALS
-Computational Biology - CALS
-Computational Science and Engr - Engineering
-Conserv & Sustainable Develop - CALS
-Conservation Biology - CALS
-DEA - Human Behavior & Design - "Research focuses on environmental settings across a range of scales (from products to buildings to cities), that support safe, healthy and productive behaviors and foster sustainable design and lifestyles." (http://dea.human.cornell.edu/phd-hbd)
-Design - "The M.A. in Design rests on the following basic premises: Individual and organizational behaviors are affected by the form of the environment. The users of environments are diverse and have different needs. Individual characteristics such as gender, stage in life cycle, family structure, role or task affect our environmental needs. How the goals and ideals of both the individual and the organization are translated into physical form; and what the designer's responsibility is to society." (http://dea.human.cornell.edu/m-a-design)
-Development Sociology - "the program examines a wide range of issues concerning processes and practices of social transformation both domestically and internationally, including: changes in labor markets, governance, community and civic organization, food production and distribution, migration, population patterns, environmental dynamics"(https://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/graduate)
-Ecology - CALS
-Econ Dev Plan, Comm & Regions - "Economic development planning students acquire the analytical tools and practical skills to enable them to produce effective economic development policies and plans. They also gain perspective on sources of social inequalities and the politics of municipal finance as well as the ability to model different economic development approaches. Finally, they learn about how community and regional assets, such as those in social services as well as in the arts and culture, and can build healthy sustainable economies." (https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/crp/graduate/planning/mrp/concentrations/economic-development-planning)
-Education - CALS
-Electrical & Computer Engr - Engineering
-Electrical Engineering - Engineering
-Energy & Sustainability - CALS
-Engineering Management - Engineering
-Entomology - CALS
-Envir & Water Res Sys Engr - Engineering
-Envir Fluid Mech & Hydrology - Engineering
-Environ Information Science - CALS
-Environmental Policy - "MPA Fellows concentrating in Environmental Policy tailor their courses to gain an understanding of current economic, social, political, technical and legal issues regarding the restoration and management of our natural environment, as well as engineering, economic and legal perspectives for analyzing and formulating policy at the national, sub-national and international levels." (http://www.cipa.cornell.edu/academics/curriculum/concentrations/Environmental-Policy.cfm)
-Environmental Processes - Engineering
-Environmental Quality - Engineering
-Evolutionary Biology - CALS
-Field Crop Science - CALS
-Food Science - CALS
-Food Science & Technology - CALS
-Genetics - CALS
-Geological Sciences - CALS
-Horticultural Biology - CALS
-Human Behavior and Design - "The Ph.D. in Human Behavior and Design at Cornell University is a multidisciplinary program integrating the social sciences and design. Research focuses on environmental settings across a range of scales (from products to buildings to cities), that support safe, healthy and productive behaviors and foster sustainable design and lifestyles." (http://dea.human.cornell.edu/phd-hbd)
-Human-Environment Relations - "The M.S. in Human Environment Relations major rests on the following basic premises: Individual and organizational behaviors are affected by the form of the environment. The users of environments are diverse and have different needs. Individual characteristics such as gender, stage in life cycle, family structure, role or task affect our environmental needs." (http://dea.human.cornell.edu/human-environment-relations)
-Immunology - Vet
-International Development - CALS
-Intrnl Agric and Rural Develp - CALS
-Landscape Architecture - CALS
-Materials Science and Engr - Engineering
-Mechanical Engineering - Engineering
-Microbiology - CALS
-Molecular & Cell Biology - CALS
-Natural Resources - CALS
-Neurobiology - CALS
-Nutrition - CALS
-Operations Research - Engineering
-Opers Research & Info Engr - Engineering
-Pharmacology - CALS
-Physiology - Vet
-Plant Biology - CALS
-Plant Breeding - CALS
-Plant Pathology - CALS
-Plant Protection - CALS
-Population & Development - CALS
-Regional Science - "Investigate subjects including: Urban and regional development, Economic geography, regional interaction, and institutional systems, The environment: systems and natural resource use, Land use, spatial agglomeration, and segregation of activities" (http://aap.cornell.edu/academics/crp/graduate/regional-science)
-Risk Analy, Commun & Policy - CALS
-Rural & Envir Sociology - CALS
-Soil & Crop Sciences - CALS
-Soil Science - CALS
-State, Economy & Society - CALS
-Sustainable Energy - CALS
-Systems - Engineering
-Systems Engineering - Engineering
-Transportation Systems Engr - Engineering
-Veterinary Medicine - Vet
-Water Resources - CALS
-Zoology - Vet
-Sustainable Global Enterprise - "provides students with breadth and depth of knowledge related to the broad impact social and environmental issues present to firms across numerous industries." (http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/Center-for-Sustainable-Global-Enterprise/Students/Curriculum)
-Veterinary Medicine- Vet


Do course level sustainability learning outcomes contribute to the figure reported above (i.e. in the absence of program, division, or institution level learning outcomes)?:
Yes

A list or brief description of the course level sustainability learning outcomes and the programs for which the courses are required:

Undergraduate:
-Fiber Science & Apparel Design - must take one course in Ethics/Sustainability (see list of course options here: http://www.human.cornell.edu/registrar/degree-progress/upload/Fiber-Science_16-17.pdf)
-Applied Economics - AEM 2600: Managerial Economics I is a required course that "covers microeconomic principles that inform managerial decisions in firms and organizations. The course touch[es] on how these principles apply to the Dyson School research foci of management, agribusiness, environmental sustainability, and emerging markets." (https://dyson.cornell.edu/programs/undergraduate/degree-requirements/core.html)
-Global Health: students are required to take one advanced course in each of the following areas: Social & Behavioral Health, Biological Aspects of Public Health, Environmental Health, and Health Policy & Management (see http://www.human.cornell.edu/dns/academic/gphsmajor.cfm for further info)
-Inequality Studies: Controversies About Inequality
(SOC/ DSOC/ PAM/ ILROB 2220, PHIL 1950, and AMST/GOVT 2225) is a required course. "This course introduces students to ongoing social scientific debates about the sources and consequences of inequality, while also exploring how social inequality is enacted and reinforced in everyday life." (http://inequality.cornell.edu/minor/inequality-courses/controversies-about-inequality/)

Graduate:
-Architecture - ARCH 5611 Environmental Systems I: Site and Sustainability is a required course. "This course examines the relationships between building, site, landscape and sustainability through the lens of ecology and systems thinking. Topics include: basic concepts of sustainability, energetic processes, climate, spatial data visualization, global warming, solar geometry, landscape processes, microclimates, site strategies and grading, building footprint & sustainable building metrics." (https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/architecture/graduate/march/curriculum)
-City & Regional Planning - At Master's level, CRP 5190 Urban Theory and Spatial Development and CRP 5250 Introductory Methods of Planning Analysis are both required courses (descriptions here: https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/crp/graduate/planning/mrp/curriculum). At PhD level, CRP 6011 Ethics, Development, and Globalization is a required class (description: https://aap.cornell.edu/academics/crp/graduate/planning/phd/requirements-curriculum)
-Fiber Science - FSAD 6260: Chemistry of Finishing and Dyeing is a required course. "Discusses the environmental effect of textile chemicals and current federal regulation" (http://courses.cornell.edu/preview_course.php?catoid=28&coid=440681&print)


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Some majors, minors, and graduate programs within College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, and College of Veterinary Medicine are listed within the lists of programs, but the numbers of students are only counted once.

Currently with out the Johnson Schools Students because that information is available in the Sustainable Global Enterprise (SGE) Immersion program (The SGE immersion is held every Spring semester). Once this information is received, I will add the number of SGE students to the number who graduated with sustainability learning outcomes.


Some majors, minors, and graduate programs within College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, and College of Veterinary Medicine are listed within the lists of programs, but the numbers of students are only counted once.

Currently with out the Johnson Schools Students because that information is available in the Sustainable Global Enterprise (SGE) Immersion program (The SGE immersion is held every Spring semester). Once this information is received, I will add the number of SGE students to the number who graduated with sustainability learning outcomes.

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.