A week of Earth Day festivities sponsored by Cal Poly Administration and Finance concluded Friday, April 20, with a sustainability charette focused on bringing sustainability to the classroom.
The day-long event brought faculty and staff together to discuss the importance of incorporating sustainability practices and teachings into their curriculum.
Following a set of guided activities and brainstorming sessions, CSU Channel Islands Provost Geoff Chase spoke about the sustainability initiatives he had embedded into curriculum throughout his higher ed career.
Teaching the concepts of sustainability — not just as values of Cal Poly, but as solutions to real world problems. This will not only add depth to student understanding of sustainability-related challenges on campus, but encourage students to think globally about how these issues are affecting people around the world.
Practical ways to incorporate sustainability practices into curriculum include utilizing sustainable resources (electronic vs. paper), facilitating class discussions about the importance and impact of sustainability, as well as acknowledging that sustainability is a “disruptive” thought that requires change and action which can only be accomplished when we work together.
Thanks Mustangs for a great Earth Week and let’s keep the conversation going!