Pacific University
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

First the University's mission supports sustainability in education: Pacific is a nationally recognized University devoted to excellence in teaching and learning. A commitment to collaborative scholarly and creative activities promotes a vibrant academic culture. Our campus community is enriched by embracing sustainable practices, by appreciating diverse perspectives, and being dedicated to civic engagement, both locally and globally. Embrace sustainability, and use the University as a learning laboratory for sustainable practices. Additionally, as an institution of higher learning, Pacific takes seriously the unique opportunity to fully investigate the imperative of creating a more sustainable future, to empower our students to pioneer solutions, find connections, and to foster eco-literacy, social equity, and leadership in our community of influence. Pacific is exploring opportunities to further integrate sustainability concepts into curricula, additional interdisciplinary scholarship and research that will lead to a more holistic view of sustainability issues, and finding more and more opportunities to use our unique campuses as learning laboratories for sustainability. Courses which are sustainability-focused or -related, particularly those in environmental studies, include the following aspects: # An interdisciplinary approach that integrates courses from art, political science, business, economics, psychology, philosophy, English, history, biology, chemistry, physics, math, computer science and environmental studies # Access to the B Street Permaculture Project—three acres of farmland and riparian forest used to investigate sustainable systems of food production and building design # A location surrounded by diverse ecosystems including oak woodland, bunchgrass prairie, coastal communities and old-growth forests # Opportunities to study abroad in the Galapagos Islands, Belize, Costa Rica and other locations # Close connections to Pacific’s graduate programs in health science and regional programs in environmental science, sustainability and environmental law http://www.pacificu.edu/sustainability http://www.pacificu.edu/about/mission/index.cfm