Furman University
AC-7: Incentives for Developing Courses

The Shi Center for Sustainability (an interdisciplinary center housed in Academic Affairs) provides funding, resources, and monthly faculty workshops or networking opportunities to encourage sustainability course development. Within the last three years, this has resulted in a course on the topic of food and farming in the Carolinas, a China and the Environment engaged living program, subscription to and incorporation of an ESG database into classes, and an increase in classes that utilize the Furman Farm for various teaching objectives. The Shi Center's Faculty Affiliate program is the primary point of entrée into dialogue and action on curricular enhancement around sustainability. It currently has 65 members (30-45 active), representing 22 of 24 academic departments. Recent Faculty Affiliate workshops have included the topics of campus as lab, interdisciplinary research, dining service integration, levels of integration of sustainability in curriculum (in-class, whole class, field trip, CLP, May X, whole course or major), how to use facilities data in the classroom, and teaching climate change.

Depending on the nature of faculty interest, curricular topic, and scope of the curricular development, faculty may also receive advising, guest lectures by Center staff or their contacts, collaborative time with relevant community professionals, and grant funding to support their associated research endeavors or course development. Grant funding requires that faculty from at least two different departments work together and include at least one student in their research. Faculty are incentivized to join and participate in the Affiliate program by providing a fun atmosphere and providing free refreshments. Members must attend at least one monthly meeting each semester to remain active.