Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.75
Liaison Mark Klapatch-Mathias
Submission Date May 1, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Wisconsin-River Falls
AC-1: Academic Courses

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.64 / 14.00 Mary Wright
Asst. Professor
Teacher Education
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Figures required to calculate the percentage of courses with sustainability content::
Undergraduate Graduate
Total number of courses offered by the institution 2,993 803
Number of sustainability courses offered 40
+ Date Revised: Jan. 16, 2015
3
Number of courses offered that include sustainability 18 0

Number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer at least one sustainability course and/or course that includes sustainability (at any level):
18

Total number of academic departments (or the equivalent) that offer courses (at any level):
30

Number of years covered by the data:
Three

A copy of the institution’s inventory of its course offerings with sustainability content (and course descriptions):
An inventory of the institution's course offerings with sustainability content (and course descriptions):

Please see the uploaded Sustainability Learning Outcomes Project course inventory as well as the list of other course offerings with sustainability content below.

Sustainability Studies Minor:
(ESM 105, Intro to Environmental Studies is a prerequisite)
Required Courses: 18 Credit Hours
ESM 220 Environmental Sustainability: Theories, Issues, and Management 3 cr.
ESM 251 Community Decision-Making OR ESM 351 Planning for Sustainable Communities OR SOCI 245 Environmental Sociology 3 cr.
SM 377 Business Ecology OR ESM 351 Planning for Sustainable Communities 3 cr.
(Students who choose ESM 351 to meet requirement (2) must take ESM 377 to meet this requirement)
CROP 368 Sustainable Agriculture 3 cr.
GEOL 350 Geological Destinies of Nations 3 cr.
AGEC 450 Introduction to Natural Resource Economics 3 cr.
Directed Electives: 6 Credit Hours

ESM 109, ESM 251*, ESM 300, ESM 303, ESM 305, ESM 343, ESM 351*, ESM 377* 2-3 cr.
GEOG 366 3 cr.
GEOL 202, GEOL 269, GEOL 330 3 cr.
SOIL 325 3 cr.
AGEN 325 3 cr.
ENGL 228 3 cr.
CHEM 200 3 cr.
SOCI 245* 3 cr.
(*This course counts as EITHER a requirement OR a directed elective.)
http://www.uwrf.edu/Catalog/DegreeRequirements/SUSTMinor.cfm

Sustainable Management Science Certificate, Sustainable Enterprise Management Certificate
SMGT 460 Environment and Society
SMGT 495 Sustainable Management Capstone
https://www.uwrf.edu/Catalog/DegreeRequirements/SMGTCertificate.cfm

Sustainable Management
This is an online degree program designed for the new economy. Through interdisciplinary inquiry, problem solving, and strong foundations in science and business, you will be equipped to meet the needs of an ever-changing world and business environment. You will develop and build knowledge and skills to help organizations meet triple bottom line requirements, balancing profitability with the needs of the environment and the wider communities in which we live.

SMGT 115 Environmental Science and Sustainability
SMGT 220 Systems Thinking
SMGT 230 Triple Bottom Line Accounting for Managers
SMGT 235 Economics in Society and Sustainability
SMGT 240 Technical Writing for Sustainable Management
SMGT 310 Ecology for Sustainable Management
SMGT 315 Global Environmental Chemistry
SMGT 320 Energy for Sustainable Management
SMGT 325 Natural Resource Management
SMGT 330 Marketing for a Sustainable World
SMGT 331 Sustainable Organizational Finance
SMGT 332 Economics of Environmental Sustainability
SMGT 335 Management and Environmental Information Systems
SMGT 340 Organizational Behavior and Sustainability
SMGT 350 Operations Management and Sustainability
SMGT 360 Environmental and Sustainability Policy
SMGT 370 Logistics, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainability
SMGT 430 International Management for a Sustainable World
SMGT 435 International Development and Sustainability
SMGT 460 Environment and Society
SMGT 495 Sustainable Management Capstone
http://www.uwrf.edu/Majors/M-Z/SustainableManagement.cfm

Sustainable Agriculture Minor
CROP 368 Sustainable Agriculture 3 cr.
ESM 220 Environmental Sustainability: Theories, Issues and Management 3 cr. Prereq: ESM 105
AGEC 450 Introduction to Natural Resources Economics 3 cr. Prereq: AGEC 230
SOCI 245 Environmental Sociology 3 cr. Prereq: SOCI 100 or ANTH 100 or ESM 105
AGEC 445 Land Use and Sustainable Agriculture Law
AFES 310 Agricultural Human Resource Management 3 cr
CROP 468 Organic Production Systems 3 cr. Prereq: Foundation of Agriculture courses completion
ANSC 389 Special Topics: Sustainable Animal Production 3 cr.

Sustainability-Focused Courses:
Undergraduate Level
AGEN 325 – Alternative Energy Systems: A study of agricultural biomass conversion and solar energy systems with special emphasis on alcohol fuels and application of solar energy. Engine and burner modification requirements, raw material sources and licensing procedures are examined.
AGEC 445 – Land Use and Sustainable Agriculture Law: This course prepares students to understand and apply knowledge of: governmental institutions that create laws; property law principles; the current legal trends in public vs. private property rights; and, legal research and analysis so that students can conduct and apply their own research/anaylsis pertaining to land use planning and to sustainable agriculture.
ENGL 228 – Literature of Environmental Justice: A study of culturally diverse novelists, essayists, and poets who focus on the ways the human and natural environments are affected by environmental policies, economic practices, and political decisions.
ANSC 389 – Sustainable Animal Production: Description unavailable
SOCI 245 – Environmental Sociology: This course examines the historical and present-day relationships within and among six crucial factors of social ecology: population, social organization, human values, environment, resources, and technology. Questions of an ethical and policy nature are raised regarding the above factors and the human condition.
ANTH 395 – Belize Study Tour: This course requires on-campus study of Belize peoples, wildlife, and habitats followed by a spring break tour to Belize. Students are immersed in a variety of environmental settings to improve their appreciation of cultural and biological diversity.
POLS 355 – Environmental Law: The course contains an overview of public and private regulations affecting the environment, including policy considerations behind environmental legislation and the resulting legislative and administrative acts which implement that policy. Regulation at the federal, state and local levels is covered. Included are consideration of the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and other significant legislation.
ESM 220 - Environmental Sustainability: Theory/Issues/Management: Description unavailable
ESM 351 – Planning for Sustainable Communities: This course will present the sustainability paradigm as it is being implemented in community planning practice. Emphasis will be placed on examining the cutting-edge tools, techniques, and strategies that are being used to create sustainable local communities and governments.
ESM 377 – Business Ecology: This course will provide the student with the understanding of environmental trends associated with the greening of business and industry, and the environmental management systems (EMS) and strategies that can be applied to associated issues. The course will address current trends in sustainable development, industrial ecology, pollution prevention, the ISO 14000 Series, environmental performance indicators, environmental auditing, EMS corporate structure, life cycle management, risk analysis and management, professional certification, and related ethical considerations.
ESM 389 – Special Topics in Resource Management: Description unavailable
BIOL 389 – Special Topics in Biology: Description unavailable
BIOL 379 – Internship: Practical work experience in laboratory, field or professional areas of biology will be gained by students. Internship duties and responsibilities will be tailored to the needs of the sponsoring agency and the background of the student.
BIOL 499 – Independent Study: Students will perform individual study of a topic or problem involving laboratory, field or library research under supervision of faculty member; a written report is required.
GEOG 120 – Human Geography: This course introduces the student to the description and analysis of world patterns of population, race, religion, language, agriculture, industry, levels of economic development, urbanization, and human environmental impact.
GEOG 360 – GIS Theory & Methods: This course emphasizes the theory and methods for creating and utilizing geographic information systems (GIS). Applications of GIS, digital database design and construction, geographic analyses and presentation of results of analyses in map form will be covered. Students will gain experience with both vector and raster systems, using ArcGIS, ARC/Info and Idrisi
GEOG 460 – GIS Analysis & Modeling: Advanced concepts and techniques of geographic modeling and analysis are covered. Exercises provide hands-on experience performing geographic analyses in contexts applicable to both the physical and social sciences. Complex overlay, neighborhood, surface, and interpolation functions are examined in detail using ArcGIS, ArcInfo, and Idrisi.
GEOG 368 – Digital Image Processing: This course covers topics on the integration, transformation, and processing of digital data common to Cartography, GIS, and Remote Sensing. Topics include data base design, sources of digital data, data structure and format transformations, line generalization, global positioning systems (GPS) and digital image processing of satellite imagery using ArcGIS, ArcInfo and Idrisi.

Graduate Level
AGED 707 – Sustainable Community Development: This course provides a comprehensive overview of the conceptual framework and implementation process necessary for the effective development of sustainable communities, both domestically and internationally. The student will produce a project plan for the application of course content to a community of their choice.
AGED 715 – Community Engagement for Sustainability: This course will immerse students in community engagement. Students will experience the purposes and processes used to create inclusive decision-making. Both theoretical and practical aspects of community engagement as they relate to sustainable community development will be addressed.
AGED 720 – Sustainability-Focused Education Programming: Students will examine the necessity and methods for integrating education in community-wide sustainability efforts. The focus will be on the role of non-formal education programs. Students will investigate the theories, models, and tools of non-formal education and apply them to sustainable community development efforts.


The website URL where the inventory of course offerings with sustainability content is publicly available:
http://www.uwrf.edu/Sustainability/Curriculum/Curriculum.cfm
+ Date Revised: Jan. 16, 2015

A brief description of the methodology the institution followed to complete the course inventory:

A faculty survey was administered to the Deans and Chairs of all departments in 2008 to assess sustainability-focused and -related courses. The survey is included as an appendix in the Sustainable Campus Community Plan.


How did the institution count courses with multiple offerings or sections in the inventory?:
Each course was counted as a single course regardless of the number of offerings or sections

A brief description of how courses with multiple offerings or sections were counted (if different from the options outlined above):
---

Which of the following course types were included in the inventory?:
Yes or No
Internships Yes
Practicums No
Independent study Yes
Special topics Yes
Thesis/dissertation No
Clinical No
Physical education Yes
Performance arts Yes

Does the institution designate sustainability courses in its catalog of course offerings?:
No

Does the institution designate sustainability courses on student transcripts?:
No

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The total number of Undergraduate and Graduate courses offered by the institution listed above includes all lectures, seminars, labs, and discussions. These numbers reflect a higher number than the individual, unique course offerings, since many courses offer labs, lectures, discussions, etc. to encompass the single course.
*Conversely, the courses offering sustainability content where counted as one, regardless of the amount of offerings or sections.

Additional Responsible parties:
Jen Pawelko, Director of Institutional Research
Kelly Cain, SCISCD


The total number of Undergraduate and Graduate courses offered by the institution listed above includes all lectures, seminars, labs, and discussions. These numbers reflect a higher number than the individual, unique course offerings, since many courses offer labs, lectures, discussions, etc. to encompass the single course.
*Conversely, the courses offering sustainability content where counted as one, regardless of the amount of offerings or sections.

Additional Responsible parties:
Jen Pawelko, Director of Institutional Research
Kelly Cain, SCISCD

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.