How Western Michigan University is approaching its commitment to sustainability through sustainability-focused courses. (20th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khan, Saman; Henderson, Charles
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 253(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04-20
• Subjects: Sustainability -- Education policy -- Sustainability curriculum -- Program evaluation -- Mismatch of policy and practice; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119741
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Many Higher education institutions have committed to the integration of sustainability issues into their curriculum, but these commitments often do not result in the desired changes. Recognizing the importance of changes in the education system, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education set the goal that by the end of 2010, 10% of all courses offered in Higher education institutions in the United States will help students understand the concept of sustainability. As per requirements, Western Michigan University has created its own criteria for sustainability-focused courses and designated 53 courses as sustainability-focused. This research study investigates whether and how instructors are implementing sustainability education in these courses and the extent to which this follows the institutional sustainability education policy and its objectives. The qualitative study involved 16 instructors of 16 sustainability-focused courses. According to course syllabi none of the sustainability-focused courses fully met the Western Michigan University criteria for sustainability-focused courses. Less than half (N = 7 ) of respondents were aware of the sustainability-focused status of their course and only a third (N = 5 ) were aware of Western Michigan University sustainability education policy. All instructors indicated that their course had never been reviewed for sustainability content.