| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.78 |
| Liaison | Amber Saxton |
| Submission Date | Sept. 1, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
George Mason University
AC-5: Immersive Experience
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Mary
Liang Sustainability Analyst Sustainability |
Does the institution offer at least one immersive, sustainability-focused educational study program that is one week or more in length?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s) offered by the institution, including how each program addresses the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability:
George Mason University (Mason) offers numerous immersive learning experiences focused on sustainability issues, including internships, independent study and service learning opportunities. Emblematic are the collaborative action research projects at the core of the undergraduate capstone course, [EVPP 480] Sustainability in Action, which challenges students to make a difference in our community, using sustainability wisdom as their guide, then document and report on what they learn. One example of students' products from this process is presented in a George Mason new article in URL below. This course is the capstone for the Environmental and Sustainability Studies B.A. degree, which also requires a pertinent internship experience.
In addition to the on-campus sustainability program, Mason offers semester long immersive experience at The Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation in which students spend an entire semester getting hands on experience with prominent conservationists, researchers, and educators. This immersive experience offers two programs: Conservation, Biodiversity, and Society (CBS) and Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC). These programs offer a unique opportunity to learn about conservation biology within the social, economic, and political context. Students also learn sustainable living and life style skills by living in a dorm which is LEED certified.
Also, George Mason offers many study aboard programs in the spring and summer that cover sustainability specifically. For example, during the summer mason has offered an aboard program for students to study in some of the most remote parts Peru. During this exciting 8-day field studies course to the Amazon rainforest, students investigate the region’s exceptional biological diversity by tracking primates and other rainforest species. Students will also get the unique opportunity to explore the traditional culture of the indigenous Maijuna people and their innovative conservation and sustainability initiatives.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data is for FY2016.
URL for Sustainability in Action project:
https://www2.gmu.edu/news/311786
URL for Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation:
http://smconservation.gmu.edu
URL for study abroad:
http://masonabroad.gmu.edu
Data is for FY2016.
URL for Sustainability in Action project:
https://www2.gmu.edu/news/311786
URL for Smithsonian Mason School of Conservation:
http://smconservation.gmu.edu
URL for study abroad:
http://masonabroad.gmu.edu
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.