Welcome to the undergraduate Sustainability Specialization

at Michigan State University

Launched Fall 2010

Announcing Graduate Research Assistantships (2) in

Experiential Sustainability Education Assessment June 2011- December 2013

Contacts	About Sustainability
Program Description	Course Offerings
Sustainability Competencies
On Campus Sustainability Resources Search Tool	Facebook
In the News	Conference Presentations

Contacts

Geoffrey Habron, Ph.D., Director. habrong@msu.edu, 517-432-0073

Laurie Thorp, Ph.D., Assistant Director, thorpl@msu.edu, 517-432-4944

Virgene Rector, Administrative Assistant

Office: Farrall Agricultural Engineering room 230 (at the end of the hall by the elevator). 517-432-0073.

About Sustainability

The idea of sustainability has evolved from the pursuit of ‘sustainable development’. The most visible roots of sustainable development emerge from the 1987 Brundtland Report, “Our Common Future,” which summarized the outcome of the World Commission on Environment and Development formed in 1983. The commission sought to address growing concern "about the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources and the consequences of that deterioration for economic and social development." Sustainability addresses wholeness and balance among a) social equity, b) economic vitality, and c) ecological integrity in order to “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987).

In the two decades since the report the idea of sustainability has evolved, deepened, and engaged civil society, the business sector, and government from local to global levels. The emergence of employment web sites dedicated to jobs in sustainability mark the rapid growth of career opportunities. Programs of study around sustainability continue to emerge with European universities initiating efforts to transcend disciplinary focus and develop programs and degrees that address this more holistic approach of study. Throughout the U.S. a number of colleges and universities offer programs and degrees in sustainability (University of Michigan, Colorado State, Aquinas College, Duke, Portland State University, University of Massachusetts, University of Minnesota, University of New Mexico, University of Texas etc.). In fact, Arizona State opened the first ‘school’ of sustainability in the fall of 2007 providing undergraduate, masters, and doctorate degrees in sustainability.

MSU holds a membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a membership-based association of colleges and universities working to advance sustainability in higher education in the US and Canada. The growth in sustainability across campuses led to the development of the Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC). Interest in sustainability also led to development of a peer-reviewed publication, the International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Program Description

· Academic Programs Catalog https://www.reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/ProgramDetail.asp?Program=5333

· Brochure http://sustainabilityspecialization.msu.edu/sustainability%20brochure%20final%20Print.pdf

· Visual Graphic

· Required Program Plan Document (Word document)

· Program Completion Steps

Course Offerings

ACR 187 Introduction to Sustainability

· Fall 2010, Tues and Thurs 10:20-11:40 Anthony Hall 1255 (30 student limit)

· Spring 2011, Tues and Thurs 10:20-11:40 Holden Hall  C135 (30 student limit)

NSC 491 Final Student Projects (Spring 2009 Pilot Course)

On Campus Sustainability Specialization Resources Search Tool (keywords: sustainability, ecological, social, economic, civic, aesthetic, personal, systems)

Follow Us on Facebook: MSU Sustainability Specialization

In the News

· October 13, 2010. MSU receives sustainability grant. MSU The State News. By Lauren McKown. http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/10/msu_receives_sustainability_grant

· Habron, Geoffrey and Thorp, Laurie. 2010. Competency-based Assessment of Liberal Learning Goals through Institutional Experiential Education for Global Sustainability. Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education. Submitted July 29, Approved September 30. $628,415

· September 23, 2010. Professor combines interests to create new specialization. MSU The State News. By Megan Choi. http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/09/professor_combines_interests_to_create_new_specialization

· July 30, 2010. Greening of the Great Lakes WJR 760 Radio interview

o http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/07/msu_unleashes_new_sustainabili.html

o Hear the interview

· May 25, 2010. Impact Radio Interview http://sustainabilityspecialization.msu.edu/msu%20impact%20radio%20interview%20may%2025%202010.mp3

· May 23, 2010. MSU launches sustainability specialization. The State News. Published 05/23  By Meagan Choi. http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/05/msu_launches_sustainability_specialization

· May 19, 2010. MSU News press release on the sustainability specialization. http://news.msu.edu/story/7879/

Conference Presentations

Geoffrey Habron, Lissy Goralnik, and Laurie Thorp. Adopting and Adapting Suitable Program Level Sustainability Competencies. AASHE 2010 Conference "Campus Initiatives to Catalyze a Just and Sustainable World" October 10 - 12, 2010 Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado

Geoffrey Habron, Lissy Goralnik, and Laurie Thorp. Blending Boundaries: Competency Based Evidence of Sustainability Learning 10th Annual Lilly–Traverse City Conference on College & University Teaching. Conference Theme: Evidence-Based Learning and Teaching Sub-theme: Promoting Social Responsibility. Traverse City, MI September 23-26, 2010.

Habron, G. 2010. Developing Sustainability Competencies: Building Capacity to Get Beyond the Tyranny of ‘Or.’ 16th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management Tyranny of ‘Or’: Conservation or Development? Preservation or Utilization? June 6 - 10, 2010 Corpus Christi, Texas USA http://www.issrm2010.iasnr.org/

Habron, G., Lissy Goralnik, Laurie Thorp, and Terry Link. Developing and assessing sustainability competencies across the curriculum. The 8^th Greening of the Campus Conference. Ball State University and American Association for Sustainability in Higher Education. Indianapolis, IN, 20-23 September 2009.