Dallas College
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Dallas College offers several programs that immerse students in sustainability concepts of equity, environment and economy.

- Field Studies Programs in Hawaii and Texas Gulf Coast include student learning outcomes that exemplify the interdependence of ecological and socio-economic systems. Student learning outcomes include being able to describe environmental hazards and risks and the social and economic ramifications associated with the interdependence of ecological and socio-economic systems. The 6 to 8 week field studies programs include pre-trip and post-trip coursework to prepare and reflect on the experiential and immersive 10-day field studies trip. https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/global-education/study-abroad/america/pages/default.aspx

- Study Abroad Programs in Europe, Costa Rica, Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Japan, France, Spain and Canada offer students opportunities to earn course credit and experience culture immersion while learning about the United Nations 17 global goals for sustainable development (SDGs). https://www.dallascollege.edu/resources/global-education/study-abroad/pages/trips.aspx

- Black History Seminar Series and Civil Rights Field Trip is a six-week program for students to learn about civil rights and segregation. The course ends with a field trip to historical sites and museums in Mississippi and Alabama, focusing on socio-economic sustainability concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion and human rights.

The Black History Seminar Series and Civil Rights Field Trip is not long enough to meet the STARS Immersive Experience standard of one week or more by itself; however, the field trip was part of a month-long seminar series with expert speakers on Black History that began on February 12th and led up to the field trip March 21-24.

This program has a focus on human rights, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence and appreciation of cultural diversity as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.7. This meets the STARS credit standard of programs that address a "sustainability challenge" in reference to the Earth Charter or United Nations SDGs. http://newsregisteronline.com/civil-rights-tour-still-taking-reservations/

- Global Citizenship Seminar is part of a college-wide special academic program to educate students, faculty and staff on the impacts of globalization to our economy, our society and our environment. As indicated on the Global Citizenship Alliance web page, Seminars for Students is a week-long seminar program with a "changing thematic foci (e.g. sustainable development, human rights, refugees and migration)." Several of the seminar speakers discuss the interdependence of ecological and socio-economic systems by presenting the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the types of migrants and refugees (climate migrants/refugees, political migrants/refugees, economic migrants/refugees, and victims of war migrants/refugees). https://globalcitizenshipalliance.org/programs/student-program/

- The Student Leadership Institute offers free education and training to all students for personal and professional growth through interactive online workshops, hands-on activities, guest speakers, conferences and retreats. Sustainability topics are discussed throughout the programming, including the annual student leadership retreat that has most often taken place at Lake Texoma and Eisenhower State Park. Sustainability life skills, leave no trace principles, and global citizenship and stewardship are covered at the week-long student leadership retreat. The SLI includes a curriculum component for women's leadership and advancing women in organizations, as outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.5, which meets this STARS credit standard of programs that address a "sustainability challenge" in reference to the Earth Charter or United Nations SDGs as outlined in this credit criteria and reference to the AASHE SDGs supplemental document. https://www.dallascollege.edu/slife/leadership/pages/default.aspx