Dawson College
AC-7: Incentives for Developing Courses

Release time is given to teachers to develop sustainability-related courses. Recent examples of new courses at Dawson are: 1. An ecological landscaping course that focuses on maintaining and creating biodiversity areas on campus - This was a Fall 2020 Physical Education course 2. The Psychology dept. chair was given release time to integrate the concept of sustainable happiness into several courses (how sustainability action positively influences well-being). 3. A learning community paired-class grouping of outdoor education and an English focusing on environmental writers of the past (intensive outdoor class) and comparing this to present day global issues 4. An Electronics Engineering class that focused on designing and testing equipment for a solar panel powered radio station in rural Mexico that focused on "rescuing traditions" as s program theme - supported by development funds from the Sustainability Office 5. Mechanical Engineering students designing compost shredders for the sustainability team and identifying other mechanical system needs for the college that can promote sustainability - supported by development funds from the Sustainability Office 6. Illustration program class researching and experimenting with soy-based inks for advertising sustainability accomplishments at the college - supported by development funds from the Sustainability Office 7. Geography department final seminar class - research on an authentic sustainability challenge at the college - supported by the academic dean's office teacher release fund 8. Community Recreation & Leadership Training program staff implemented a training in Sustainable Happiness - how sustainability related projects influence well-being - supported by the HR professional development fund. 9. Biology introduces Sustainable happiness concept in its Biology of Sustainability class - supported by development funds from the Sustainability Office 10. Office of Academic development offers individual help to teachers who want to integrate sustainability into their coursework and meet College sustainability goals within the strategic plan.

Full release from teaching 1-2 course sections to work on special sustainability projects are given yearly. Student Success Action Program - a college bank of funds that can be applied for, including for sustainability-related projects. All applications to this fund have a sustainability event guideline made available and are guided to the sustainability website for more information. Preference is given for applications that integrate the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Human Resourses financially supports workshops that enrich the learning experience and skills of teachers, including for sustainability-specific content that can be transferred to the classroom. The Sustainability Office has operational funds for equipment and instructional manuals that specifically help create action-based projects on campus and coordinates various grants and partnerships that can also benefit teachers through funding, equipment and training opportunities. About 20% of the Sustainability Office budget is allocated to helping teachers integrate sustainability topics into their curricula.

SSAP - Student Success Action Projects funds have criteria for meeting sustainability and graduate profile objectives: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/ssap/application-forms/ssap-final-report-and-budget-summary/ Office of Academic Development supports teachers with grant writing, research resource access, and library services for any teacher involved in sustainability research. They also have pedagogical counsellors that help integrate sustainability themes into program revisions and individual course projects. https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/oad/ Tri-council research support: https: //www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/research/research-support-fund/