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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 

WHAT is the SUS Attribute?

The SUS attribution on courses stands for “sustainability” and formally indicates that a course involves some sustainability components (as outlined below), which aim to both further students’ understanding of and ability to address real world sustainability challenges. Defined in a pluralistic and inclusive way, sustainability encompasses human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations. Often depicted as a three-legged stool, this multidimensional concept includes social, economic, and environmental components with each representing one of the stool’s legs.

The SUS attribute was approved by the WSU Faculty Senate January 17, 2019.

 

HOW to Apply

The Application Process - three easy steps

To apply for a SUS Attribute for your class or all sections of a course you will need to:

  1. Review the criteria and prepare your syllabus.
  2. Complete the simple SUS Attribute Request Form (upon completion of this form, download a PDF of your responses).
  3. Create and launch a "1.7 Course Attribute Request" in Curriculog (under "New Proposal").
    • You will need to attach your syllabus and your SUS Attribute Request Form.

The application will require an explicit explanation of how sustainability is tied to the existing course (whether as the focus of the course or a component(s) of the course), the sustainability-related learning outcomes, and a description of how you plan to assess those learning outcomes. Please note that new courses need to go through the regular College and University Curriculum process for approval as courses, prior to or while simultaneously seeking the SUS attribution.

Application Due Dates:

  • October 1st for upcoming spring courses 
  • March 1st for upcoming summer and fall courses   

 Have questions or need help preparing for the March 1, 2022 deadline?  Drop in to an online help session via Zoom:

Join via Zoom, Meeting ID: 980 1516 2974
Passcode: 543191 

  • Thursday, Feb. 10, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 25, 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Attribute Term

Once a course is approved for the SUS attribution, the attribution will be valid for 5 years, at which point the faculty member will be prompted to apply for renewal, if s/he wishes.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact the SUS Attribute Committee Chair, Alice Mulder, amulder@weber.edu

 

Criteria and Application Process

SUS Criteria

Include these three Sustainability criteria in your syllabus.

See Full Criteria

SUS Attribution Rubric

Applications will be assessed by the SUS Attribute Rubric.

See the Rubric

Application Review Process

The SUS Attribute Committee will review completed applications using the SUS Attribute Rubric.

View the Full Process