Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 51.71
Liaison Jeffrey Severin
Submission Date July 17, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Kansas
AC-7: Incentives for Developing Courses

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Kim Criner
Education & Outreach Coordinator
Center for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have an ongoing incentives program or programs that meet the criteria for this credit?:
Yes

A brief description of the program(s), including positive outcomes during the previous three years:

The University of Kansas launched The Oread Project in spring 2013, a new program to help faculty from across campus redesign an existing course – or create a new course – to incorporate sustainability content. As of the second workshop in May 2014, 30 faculty from 8 schools and 21 departments had participated in the program. The workshop has been sponsored by the Office of the Provost, and led by Stacey White, Chair of the Urban Planning Department and Director of Academic Programs for the Center for Sustainability with the help of several guest speakers.

The workshop allowed participants to explore sustainability concepts and pedagogical approaches through presentations, activities, and group discussions. Activities included: presentations from campus and community resources on using the Campus Sustainability Plan, Building Sustainable Traditions, as a starting point for course projects; connecting with community sustainability initiatives; and integrating “flipped learning,” a practice that involves putting lecture materials online to allow more time in the classroom for hand-on learning, problem solving and discussion. Participants also spent time exploring outdoor spaces on campus, including a walk to the Prairie Acre led by Professor and Kansas Biological Services Senior Scientist Kelly Kindscher.


A brief description of the incentives that faculty members who participate in the program(s) receive:

Oread Project participants spend the summer after the workshop to revise an existing syllabus or create a syllabus for a new course offering. Upon completion, submission and review of their revised syllabus and course materials, faculty received a $1000 stipend that could be used for academic purposes, including conference travel, books, and other resources that support development of the course.


The website URL where information about the incentive program(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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