State University of New York at Oneonta
AC-1: Academic Courses

A two-tiered designation system that would identify sustainability-focused courses as well as sustainability-related course sections was approved by the Curriculum Committee (December 2014). The basic guidelines are based on AASHE’s recommendations and STARS recognition. The sustainability-focused designation will be granted to courses in a manner that will not vary by section, while the sustainability-related designation will be granted to course sections so that it may vary by section. Designation Definitions: The task of defining sustainability is not a simple one, as the concept entails a range of meaning. The PACS committee working definition: “sustainability: meeting the economic, environmental, and social needs of present and future generations.” ● Sustainability-Focus ○ will be assigned by course ○ AASHE guideline: “a course in which the primary and explicit focus is on sustainability and/or on understanding or solving one or more major sustainability challenge (e.g., the course contributes toward achieving principles outline in the Earth Charter).” ● Sustainability-Related ○ will be assigned by section ○ AASHE guideline: “a course that includes sustainability that is primarily focused on a topic other than sustainability, but incorporates a unit or module on sustainability or a sustainability challenge, includes one or more sustainability-focused activities, or integrates sustainability issues throughout the course.”