Sustainability Across Curriculum workshop set for May 15

Radford University faculty looking to enhance teaching and engagement with environmental and sustainability issues are encouraged to participate in the sustainability across curriculum workshop, scheduled for 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. May 15 at Selu Conservancy.

Hosted by RU Sustainability, the workshop is designed to assist faculty from all disciplines to revise existing or create new curriculum to include sustainability components and outcomes.

“Through an intensive day of presentations, exercises, discussions, reflection and planning, participants will become familiar with a sustainability across curriculum model,” said RU Sustainability Manager Josh Nease.

The purpose of the workshop is to capitalize on the expertise of participating faculty by facilitating activities that spark creativity and provide space for conversation and collaboration.

Activities and discussions, many of which will be led by Radford University faculty and staff, will provide structure and thought-provoking prompts for faculty to develop new ideas for their classrooms and possible new interdisciplinary courses.

“This one-day workshop will explore how we can meaningfully integrate sustainability –broadly defined – into the classroom,” Nease said. “We’ll start by taking a close look at Radford and the New River Valley and invite participants to engage in local and global comparisons.”

Faculty will receive a $200 stipend when they submit a progress report summarizing their curriculum revisions and plan for implementation.

The workshop will expand sustainability principles to new courses and disciplines and assist faculty in creating new curriculum that charges students to think about sustainability and their connection to earth, campus, people around the world and the environment.

Sustainability in curriculum “teaches students about sustainability – about how meeting current needs does not sacrifice future well-being as it pertains to natural systems, human communities and economic welfare,” Nease said.

During the 2015-16 academic year, 46 percent of Radford University graduating students completed at least one course with sustainability learning outcomes.

To learn more, contact Nease at 540-831-5223 or jnease@radford.edu.