Sustainability Education & the SUS Attribute
WHY Teach Sustainability?
In an effort to make both the present and the future just, vibrant, equitable, safe, and sustainable, we need to foster a culture of sustainability on our campus and, by extension, in our wider communities, so that it becomes a lens of habit in the way we live our lives. A “culture of sustainability” implies a recognition of the interconnections and interdependencies of human and natural systems. Our health, economy and society need healthy ecosystems in order to thrive.
It is vital that sustainability education be included in courses found across the curriculum so our students are aware that the decisions we make in our daily lives at school, work, home and at play all have impacts on our household, local, regional and global contexts (environmental, social, and economic). And, similarly, that we are all affected by our climate, the quality of our air, food, and water, as well as the infrastructure and amenities available to us (e.g., mass transit, housing), and the policies that govern and regulate our society.
Teaching sustainability in an array of courses will increase students’ awareness and comprehension that healthy human societies are fostered and supported through a complex web of interconnections between their physical, social and economic dimensions. Sustainability-inclusive courses will equip students to recognize their own position of power and better enable them to apply their skills and understanding to address the sustainability challenges we face both at home and in the global arena.
Teaching sustainability and using the SUS attribute will provide additional benefits for students, faculty, the institution and our wider community.
"At Weber State, we are committed to sustainability education across the curriculum to foster the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary for our students to contribute to just, healthy, and sustainable communities now and in the future. As an institution, we are committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 and reducing the environmental impact of all operations. We work with our partners on many projects each year, and we invite even more individuals, communities, and organizations across all sectors to join us in these efforts." - Brad Mortensen, WSU President
