| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.23 |
| Liaison | Maria Dahmus |
| Submission Date | June 21, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of St. Thomas
AC-1: Academic Courses
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
7.10 / 14.00 |
Maria
Dahmus Director Office of Sustainability Initiatives |
Figures required to calculate the percentage of courses offered by the institution that are sustainability course offerings:
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
| Total number of courses offered by the institution | 1,274 | 1,007 |
| Number of sustainability courses offered | 37 | 2 |
| Number of courses offered that include sustainability | 48 | 8 |
Percentage of courses that are sustainability course offerings:
Total number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer courses (at any level):
Number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer at least one sustainability course and/or course that includes sustainability (at any level):
Percentage of academic departments with sustainability course offerings:
A copy of the institution’s inventory of its sustainability course offerings and descriptions:
Do the figures reported above cover one, two, or three academic years?:
A brief description of the methodology used to determine the total number of courses offered and to identify sustainability course offerings, including the definitions used and the process for reviewing and/or validating the course inventory :
The total number of sustainability-focused courses offered was determined by whether the course (or a section of the course integrating sustainability) was offered at least once over a two-year period (fall 2016 - spring 2018), and multiple offerings were not included in the count (e.g., the same course offered in multiple semesters or multiple sections of the same course were counted as only one course). Courses were identified as sustainability courses through a combination of a SUST designation application form administered by the Office of Sustainability Initiatives (OSI), conversations with faculty and the OSI director about their courses, and a separate survey OSI sent to Engineering faculty to determine the scope of sustainability within their curriculum.
Any course designated as a SUST course (whether it is the primary focus or includes sustainability) must do the following:
1) Course introduces students to sustainability concepts (ecological, social, and/or economic dimensions);
2) Students apply knowledge and methods of the course to engage with sustainability issues;
3) Course learning goals are linked to or support one or more of the following competencies: thinking critically about environmental problems and solutions, solving problems by applying concepts and principles, communicating effectively about sustainability; and
4) Grading gives weight to sustainability related reflection or integrated assignments.
Courses in which sustainability is the primary focus are courses in which the course content itself addresses sustainability throughout the semester, regardless of who teaches the course. Courses in which sustainability is integrated into the course are courses in which a portion of the course integrates sustainability and may be dependent on whether the faculty instructor chooses to integrate sustainability into their section of the course.
How were courses with multiple offerings or sections counted for the figures reported above?:
A brief description of how courses with multiple offerings or sections were counted (if different from the options outlined above):
Are the following course types included in the inventory? :
| Yes (included) or No (not included) | |
| Internships | No |
| Practicums | No |
| Independent study | No |
| Special topics | Yes |
| Thesis / dissertation | No |
| Clinical | No |
| Physical education | No |
| Performance arts | No |
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:
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.