Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 36.38
Liaison Michelle Larkins
Submission Date Feb. 17, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.0

Pacific University
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 3.00 Karren Timmermans
Assistant Professor
Education-Eugene
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution developed a definition of sustainability in the curriculum?:
No

A copy of the institution's definition of sustainability in the curriculum?:
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Has the institution identified its sustainability-focused and sustainability-related course offerings?:
Yes

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

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


Does the institution make its sustainability course inventory publicly available online?:
Yes

The website URL where the sustainability course inventory is posted:
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.