Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.49
Liaison Ezra Small
Submission Date July 29, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.0

University of Massachusetts Amherst
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Craig Nicolson
Director of Sustainability Programs
Environmental Conservation
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution developed a definition of sustainability in the curriculum?:
Yes

A copy of the institution's definition of sustainability in the curriculum?:

We begin with the widely accepted definition of one aspect of sustainability given by the 1987 Brundland Commission. The Commission defined sustainable development as "forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

Building on this, we use the American Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) definition, which incorporates the economic, social and environmental elements of sustainability into its definition; the so-called “three-legged stool.”. The relationship between these three elements must be properly managed to ensure the long-term viability of our communities and, by extension, the planet.

Sustainability-focused courses explore a broad range of sustainability topics, or select one area to investigate in depth; they may also “approach an issue or topic using sustainability as a lens.” On the other hand, sustainability-related courses include one or more elements from this list as a discrete element in the course. Courses do not have to meet all the criteria established above in order to be classified as either sustainability-related or sustainability-focused.

Using the definitions provided above as a guide, we offer the following criteria for assaying sustainable curricula.

Courses designated as sustainability-related or sustainability-focused may contain the following elements:

 Integration of basic and applied knowledge from multiple disciplines, including the natural and social sciences, to analyze human-environment interactions;
 Analysis of the tradeoffs or co-benefits involved in managing resources for the social, economic, and environmental welfare of current and future generations;
 Development of alternative strategies for the use of natural, human, and fiscal resources that are compatible with the constraints on these resources;
 Implementation of practical solutions to socioeconomic and environmental challenges, including those that relate to energy, technology, ecosystems, social transformations, food systems, policy, and governance.

Students that successfully complete sustainability-related or sustainability-focused courses develop the ability to:

 Use and integrate knowledge and skills drawn from several disciplines;
 Understand how sustainability applies to their major, chosen career path, and everyday life;
 Apply scientific expertise to create sustainable solutions, technology, and applications;
 Communicate sustainability’s essential elements;
 Promote sustainable communities on and beyond the University's campus.

Due to the shifting nature of sustainability issues, those linked to sustainability should be prepared to adapt continually. Thus, a curriculum that integrates sustainability also demands periodic reassessment.


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:

We developed language (see definition of sustainability above) to decide which courses at the University counted as sustainability-focused or sustainability-related. We canvassed every department head of the university and asked them to identify the courses in their programs that fit these definitions. The results from all the departments with sustainability courses were then compiled into a master database.


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.