University of Denver
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

The University of Denver recognizes that the mission of a university is to prepare students today for a future characterized by change, uncertainty, wide disparities in quality of life and hope, and yet, tremendous opportunity. As such, the University is committed to refining existing curriculum and creating new curriculum consistent with the ideals of sustainability. Research shows that today, maybe more than ever before, students want to be able to make a living and make a difference in the world. For DU, this means a close interaction between faculty and students, “a partnership that lies at the heart of teaching and learning” (Coombe, Summer 2008) that encompasses both relevant experiential opportunity with rigor in the classroom and collaboration in research. Particular emphasis is placed on development of skills and abilities to interpret data, information, and experiences. The goal is to graduate “capable, well-informed men and women whose lives can influence the future and by using our intellectual assets to develop new ideas that can have a direct impact” (Coombe, University of Denver Magazine, Summer 2008).

In Spring 2011, the Sustainability Council visited academic units to train deans and administrators on sustainability definitions and reporting. Shortly thereafter, the Council sent a list of courses for the 2010-2011 academic year to the units and asked them to indicate which ones met the definition of a sustainability-related or sustainability-focused course offering. The Office of Institutional Research and Analysis collected the responses from units and compiled an institutional inventory of sustainability courses at the University.