Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 60.54
Liaison Jane Stewart
Submission Date March 1, 2024

STARS v2.2

Washington and Lee University
EN-12: Continuing Education

Status Score Responsible Party
-- 0.00 / 5.00 Kimberly Hodge
Director of Sustainability Initiatives and Education
Student Affairs
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 . Continuing education courses in sustainability

Total number of continuing education courses offered:
37

Number of continuing education courses that are sustainability course offerings:
13

Percentage of continuing education courses that are sustainability course offerings:
35.14

Course Inventory 

A copy of the institution’s inventory of its continuing education sustainability course offerings and descriptions:
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Institution’s inventory of its continuing education sustainability course offerings and descriptions:
Sustainability related courses were chosen from community education partnership, Alumni College and Traveller Programs:
Alumni College: we encourage you to satisfy your enduring curiosity about the world, to think with us about history, philosophy, literature, the arts and sciences, and current events while engaging the expertise of the W&L faculty.

Family Adventure in Science:
Share W&L and Lexington with your children and grandchildren in our special family-oriented campus program, built around amazing explorations and discoveries with the W&L faculty. Now in its 12th year, this program is specially designed for children ages 8-14, their parents and grandparents.
Are you ready for an active scientific treasure hunt in the outdoors? Grab your hiking shoes and notepad because the clues may be a challenge to find. Each one will lead you to the next exciting segment of our three- day adventure on and around campus. We'll explore a creek bed for critters and discover how rich in life a simple neighborhood creek can be. Want to see how rivers erode bedrock in a cool science lab, then discover how it has actually happened on the river? We'll hike along the Maury River through a towering forest of broadleaf trees and study the rock record written in the limestone cliffs along the river's banks. Get ready for a picnic lunch on a rock that is more than a million years old! It could lead you to a discovery of what makes a plant thrive in certain areas of our back campus, or it might help you investigate the critters that live in streams and rivers. Like bugs? We can find them and learn more about their habitat and why it is important to keep it healthy for them.
If you're curious and love adventure, this is the program for you. We'll learn some basic outdoor skills, such as knot-tying and how to read a map with a compass, and collect stories to tell your friends back home, along with lots of useful knowledge for your next adventure. This program will feature short field trips and laboratory sessions led by W&L science faculty. Parents and grandparents accompany their children and participate in nearly every phase of the program. Space is limited, so we encourage early registration.

The Literature, Music, and Art of the Harlem Renaissance
America is a nation of many voices. At key moments in our history, when social forces, popular culture and political life have coalesced, these separate voices have come together to form new national expression, new artistic achievement. The Founding Era is one example; so too is the American Renaissance of the 1850s. The period of the Harlem Renaissance in the early 20th century is another. Within a few decades, American art and culture flourished in ways that are still influencing our understanding of ourselves as a nation.
At the end of World War I and continuing into the Great Depression period of the 1930s, African-American artists created a community of art and cultural achievement that was remarkable. Fueled by the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South into the great cities of the Northeast and Midwest, the Harlem Renaissance brought together literature, music, visual art, dance and other art forms in an explosion of creativity. Harlem itself became the focal point not just of African American art, but also of the nightclub scene, as the Cotton Club, Small's Paradise and Connie's Inn became centers of music, dance and social life. Political life was quickened, as the NAACP and Urban League grew in stature partly through their support of Harlem artists.
The leaders of the Harlem Renaissance form a virtual who's who of African American cultural achievement: Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, W.E.B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson and many others. Great jazz musicians formed a central part of the Renaissance. Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie and Duke Ellington, singers Bessie Smith and Billie Holliday, and the great dancer and fashion icon Josephine Baker.
In this program, we'll examine the historical causes and context of the Harlem Renaissance. We'll survey the major achievements of the movement, including Hughes's great lyric poetry, Hurston's fiction and the seminal essays and art of the movement. We'll also enjoy selections from the music that defined the Age of Jazz. Finally, we'll consider the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and how this signal event continues to shape American thought and art to this very day. Serving as faculty will be Lena Hill, dean of the College; Michael Hill, professor of Africana Studies; and jazz expert and performer Damani Phillips, from the University of Iowa.

Traveller, W&L’s adventure program, you'll get to know the world firsthand, to experience different cultures inside their borders, to appreciate different world views, and to savor the inspiring beauty and history of other lands.

Galapagos Islands
Designated the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, the Galapagos Islands have been described as a "unique living museum and showcase of evolution." The Islands are home to a fascinating array of wildlife inhabiting an unspoiled ecosystem, and living in unusual harmony with their human visitors.
This exciting journey features a day of guided touring in Quito, Ecuador, plus a comfortable cruise through the archipelago with intimate access to endemic species. Expert naturalists will guide you through the wonders of this national park, whale sanctuary, and marine reserve.

Safari to Tanzania and Kenya
East Africa offers more than just another wildlife adventure, but a journey into the heart of nature. On the immense arena of the Serengeti, where millions of animals still live in total freedom, the drama of creation plays out each day. Happily, you’ll still be able to sleep at night, for the accommodations that we’ve reserved are really quite remarkable. The new Serena properties throughout our itinerary offer ingenious architecture, spacious bedrooms, and delicious meals, as well as easy access to game viewing.

Japanese Immersion
Japan's dramatic coastlines, volcanic mountain ranges, and misty forests so often depicted in Japanese art reveal a country of extraordinary diversity and natural beauty. The soaring mountains of the nation's interior range combined with the proximity of her craggy coastline create deep valleys with swift rivers and pristine lakes. Scattered throughout the countryside are quiet villages, and yet, within a short distance by high-speed rail, teeming cities rise in steel and neon. Throughout her vast archipelago, Japan is also a country of varying climates, hot in summer, cold in winter, with spring and fall sweetly mild. Our objective on this 10-night cruise from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond is to savor both the exquisite natural beauty of Japan in spring as well as the delicate complexities of her many traditions.

Discover Southeast Alaska
Alaska has been a favorite destination of the W&L Traveller for many years. “To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.” So wrote John Muir 100 years ago while exploring the Alaska coast. Muir offered his testimonial well before Alaska became our 49th state. Today, Alaska is the grandest expression of “America the Beautiful,” and the Inside Passage its most accessible wilderness.
We invite you to explore the wild beauty of Alaska from the comfort of the 76-guest Chichagof Dream. This exclusive small-ship itinerary offers many advantages that simply are not available on other Alaska cruise programs: unparalleled access to tranquil coves, the exquisite leisure of early-morning kayaks on quiet waters, and informed exploration of glacier moraines and the crystal-clear depths of tidal basins. With a talented and enthusiastic team of on-board naturalists assisting you, you’ll have an unparalleled opportunity to observe the wonder of Alaskan wildlife at eye-level: humpback whales, sea otters, bears, orcas, puffins, as well as the deeper patterns of life in the wild kingdom available only to those with close access. Among the pleasures of sailing on the nimble Chichagof Dream is the freedom and flexibility to change course at a moment's notice to watch humpback whales while they breach and feed, to deploy kayaks and paddle to a rushing salmon stream where a mother bear is teaching her cubs how to fish, or to take a skiff ride (with hot chocolate) among the blue ice newly calved from a massive glacier.
Another highlight of this exceptional itinerary are two wondrous days in Glacier Bay, Muir’s favorite Northern destination, where you’ll have the opportunity to walk through the lush temperate rainforest, kayak or skiff along the spectacular coastline, or bird watch from a comfortable seat on the bridge. “In wilderness is the preservation of the world.” —And the spirit, perhaps. This is a voyage for those ready and willing to entertain the possibility.

Wild Baja: the whales of Magdalena Bay
In this compact natural history expedition, we'll enjoy six extraordinary days in the company of majestic grey whales. This is not an ordinary whale-watching experience. We literally anchor among the whales in Bahía Magdalena, where mothers and calves relax after the longest mammal migration on earth.
We'll see and hear them around the ship and venture out in expedition-landing craft for exhilarating up- close encounters. Magdalena's 70-mile-long bay will offer us ample opportunities for interactions. While whales are likely to be the highlight of our voyage, the Baja Peninsula is home to so much more. We'll paddle through intricate mangroves aboard sea kayaks in the narrow channels of the Hull Canal or peddle fat-tire bikes along the remote beaches of Boca de Soledad.
We'll beachcomb endless crescents of sand, studded with thousands of sand dollars on Isla Magdalena. Here also, we can view the many species of birds, including magnificent frigate birds and diving pelicans, in this world-renowned birding region. Throughout the voyage, we'll choose from our favorite locations to hike in small groups and kayak peaceful shorelines, engaging with the region in the most immersive, educational, and enjoyable way possible.
The National Geographic Sea Lion is ideal for exploring Magdalena Bay. Intimate and inviting, her scale fosters a rewarding sense of community and esprit de corps, accommodating just 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. Our expert expedition team will illuminate the wonders of the region — desert ecosystems, seabird migrations and whale behavior — from every possible angle. Our expedition leader, undersea specialist, certified photo instructor and naturalists, plus a wellness specialist and video chronicler are all dedicated to ensuring a most rewarding voyage. You're sure to discover, as we have, that, among natural history cruising, Lindblad Expeditions is THE class act.

Antarctica
We'll visit Antarctica during the brief austral summer, when the days are long, temperatures moderate, and the wildlife most active. In this rare untouched environment, the wildlife is remarkably unafraid of humans; visitors are privileged to witness at close range creatures following their age-old patterns and cycles.
Today, more than ever before, Antarctica is accessible to those wishing to know her intelligently. We have chosen a beautiful new ice-class small ship for this Antarctic exploration, the 180-passenger Ocean Victory, a state-of-the-art expedition ship that combines very comfortable accommodations, a superb staff of onboard naturalists, personalized service, and meticulous environmental sensitivity. The voyage's truly exceptional team of naturalists will work with our own expertise to make this a truly unforgettable introduction to the seventh continent.

Patagonian Adventure
This trip includes trekking in a national park, horseback riding with a gaucho across the wind-swept pampas, mountain biking through majestic forest, navigating by boat around a glacier filled lake or visiting an authentic Patagonian estancia.
We'll visit Torres del Paine National Park, whose towering spires of granite, ice fields and glaciers will inspire indelible memories. Here condors ride on currents above the Andes, and foxes, rheas and guanacos give chase across the pampas. Returning to Santiago we'll conclude our adventure with lunch and tasting of select Chilean vintages at the private Kingston Family Vineyards in the Casablanca Valley.

Grand Canyon Rafting Adventure
The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the standard by which all other adventure trips are judged. Its rapids are known throughout the river rafting world: Crystal, Hermit, the legendary Lava River Falls and many more. But a river trip through the Grand Canyon is much more than exciting rapids. It's also the hikes in side canyons to fern grottos, waterfalls and huge natural amphitheaters, the beautiful beach campsites on the river, the blazing canopy of stars at night and the shared experience of the ultimate natural history trip with friends and family. Throughout our trip, knowledgeable guides, steeped in the history of the Canyon, will enhance our appreciation of the highlights.

Costa Rica Family Program
We invite you and your family to join us on a natural history adventure just after the Christmas holidays in beautiful Costa Rica. A democracy for over 100 years, Costa Rica is a friendly and peaceful destination that will appeal to all ages. With over 25 percent of its land set aside for reserves, this small nation is famous for its biodiversity, with 850 species of birds, hundreds of waterfalls, pristine beaches, tropical rainforest, and cloud forests along with an astonishing array of wildlife.

Not only does W&L have individual continuing education courses that relate to sustainability, but in early 2022 (January through the end of February), the Lifelong Learning office offered a whole series specifically dedicated to sustainability. A Series of Interactive Discussions by W&L Faculty and Alumni on the Importance and Complexity of Sustainable Development. W&L Faculty shared their research on creating a more sustainable future. W&L alumni engaged in sustainable development will discuss policies and business models for achieving sustainability in the areas of food production, waste management, energy, and fresh water and ocean conservation.

Another webinar series focused on Prejudice, Discrimination, and Anti-Racism. This is a Five-Part Series of Interactive Discussions by W&L Faculty, Guest Faculty, and Alumni on Challenges Facing Racial Relations in American Society Today

Do the figures reported above cover one, two, or three academic years?:
One

Part 2. Sustainability-focused certificate program

Does the institution have at least one sustainability-focused certificate program through its continuing education or extension department?:
No

A brief description of the certificate program(s):
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Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s continuing education courses and programs in sustainability is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.