University of Louisville
AC-7: Incentives for Developing Courses

Green Threads: Sustainability across the Curriculum is a faculty development workshop, sponsored by UofL’s Sustainability Council and the Office of the Provost which has been run annually since 2009. The intention is to infuse themes of sustainability across the curriculum and is open to full- & part-time faculty as well as Graduate Teaching Assistant Academy participants from all disciplines. Participants receive inspiration, resources, and mutual support. Incentives also include an honorarium of $500, a series of workshops and tours with local food meals, and resource materials on sustainability. In return, Green Threads participants are required to revise an existing course or create a new course with sustainability content and must agree to: (1) Participate in the day-long workshop; (2) Read materials prior to the workshop; (3) Submit a syllabus for the revised or new course and a paragraph on the intellectual process involved; and (4) Report back to the group on progress during a Fall gathering of all Green Threads alumni. A 2015 survey of Green Threads faculty alumni documented the following positive outcomes: Total number of Green Threads program participants: 47 Departmental Breakdown of Participants: Communication 2 Economics and Business 2 Psychological & Brain Sciences 2 Anthropology 3 Education 2 Social Work 1 Health & Sports Sciences 3 Law 3 Other Social Sciences 3 Biology 4 Geography & Geosciences 4 Math and Engineering 5 Humanities 6 Political Science / Urban & Public Affairs 7 Number of survey participants: 18 Number of Sustainability-Focused or Related courses taught prior to GT participation: 21 Number of Sustainability-Focused or Related courses taught after to GT participation: 36

Participants receive an honorarium of $500, a series of workshops and tours with local food meals, and resource materials on sustainability.