Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 55.86
Liaison Aldo Pierini
Submission Date Sept. 16, 2021

STARS v2.2

Villanova University
AC-2: Learning Outcomes

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.27 / 8.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Institutional sustainability learning outcomes

Has the institution adopted one or more sustainability learning outcomes that apply to the entire student body or, at minimum, to the institution's predominant student body?:
No

Which of the following best describes the sustainability learning outcomes?:
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A list of the institution level sustainability learning outcomes:
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Part 2. Program-level sustainability learning outcomes

Total number of graduates from degree programs:
3,267

Number of graduates from degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
517

A brief description of how the figure above was determined:
Working with the provosts office to calculate the 2019-2020 graduation numbers for each of the below programs

A list of degree programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
1) BA, Environmental Studies, Dept of Geography and Environment
This multidisciplinary program focuses on the interface between environmental science and the social sciences, including public policy, political science, law, economics, sociology, geography, and planning.
Learning Outcome: To have fundamental understanding of the scientific processes that underline the composition of the natural landscape, coupled with a foundation in the social sciences that underline the diversity and composition of human landscape. The program is founded on the principle that the social sciences – both as bodies of knowledge and as the basis for structuring human societal norms – must be applied to assess the direct and indirect influences of human activities on the integrity og the Earth’s systems. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication necessary to construct, evaluate, and present sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

2) BS, Environmental Science, Dept of Geography and Environment
This science program provides the technical background necessary for understanding biological, chemical, and physical aspects of the environment. It focuses on the application of biological, chemical, and physical principles to understanding natural and physical environments.
Learning Outcome: To have understanding of, and appreciation for the processes and interactions that occur both within and between the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere. The program is founded on the principle that science - both as bodies of knowledge and as process that is grounded in intellectual inquiry – must be applied to assess and address the direct and indirect influences of human activities on the integrity of Earth’s systems. Demonstrate effective oral and written communication necessary to construct, evaluate, and present sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

3) BS, Center for Real Estate, Co-Major
Learning Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge of sustainability topics related to Real Estate Development. Students are required to demonstrate knowledge, perform research, and present capstone projects related to sustainable neighborhood development, land use planning, workplace management, automotive trends, and other sustainability related topics.

4.) MS, Enviromental Science, Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: This degree, emphasizes integrated thinking and learning at the nexus of science, policy, and human behavior. Our graduates will see beyond linear and fragmented approaches to solving environmental problems to understand the complex interactions between people and the environment.

5) BSN, College of Nursing
Learning Outcome: The American Nurses Association has a scope & standards of practice that influences our curriculum. Standard 16 of the Scope & Standards is the environmental health standard, it includes environmentally sustainable practices in nursing practice

6) Minor, Sustainability Studies, Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: Describe the technical and social aspects of a commitment to sustainability; describe the ethical and philosophical underpinnings of a commitment to sustainability; evaluate environmental processes and their nexus with human activity to examine sustainable (or un-sustainable) practices; examine and describe the human dimension of global environmental change; describe the links between the global economic environment, resource availability, and distribution, and their effects on sustainable practices; and define the linkages between non-sustainable practices, resource shortages, and regional conflict.

7) Minor, Environmental Studies Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: Demonstrate effective oral and written communication necessary to construct, evaluate, and present sustainable solutions to environmental problems.

8) Minor, Geography, Dept of Geography and Environment
Learning Outcome: Geography focuses on the relationships between people and the natural world, the choices people make, the effects of past actions on people today, and the effects of today’s choices on future generations.

9) Minor, Global Health, College of Nursing
Learning: The health of peoples of the world is influenced and determined by factors as diverse as gender, race, ethnicity, political priorities, socioeconomic status, climate, geography, accessibility and acceptability of care, and cultural and religious traditions. The College of Nursing recognizes this and as such created the Global Health Minor aimed at educating students about these factors and the inter-disciplinary response to addressing global health challenges.

10) MSN, College of Nursing
Learning Outcomes: The American Nurses Association has a scope & standards of practice that influences our curriculum. Standard 16 of the Scope & Standards is the environmental health standard, it includes environmentally sustainable practices in nursing practice

11) MS, Sustainable Engineering, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcome: One of just a few programs in the country and one of only two currently available entirely online, Villanova’s MSSE program employs an in depth whole-systems approach to problem-solving through a life-cycle lens. The program’s practical approach is based on current and future real-life situations, and students work in small teams to evaluate and solve problems that companies are facing worldwide.

12) MS, Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcomes: An in depth understanding of the theories and concepts within the water resources and environmental engineering fields.

13) Certificate, Sustainable Engineering, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcome: Students in this certificate program demonstrate knowledge of a whole systems thinking approach to problem-solving through a life-cycle lens.

14) Certificate, Urban Water Resources Design, Dept of Engineering
Learning Outcome: An understanding of the theories and concepts within the water resources and environmental engineering fields.

15) MBA, specialization in Real Estate Development
Learning Outcome: Students are expected to demonstrate knowledge about sustainability related Real Estate topics. Students are exposed to experts in sustainability fields and perform case study research.

16) JD, specialization in Environmental Law
Learning Outcome - An understanding of the law that impacts environmental issues to ensure compliance with regulations and to protect natural resources

17) Minor, Peace and Justice
Learning Outcome: The interdisciplinary curriculum of the Center for Peace and Justice Education is rooted in Villanova’s Augustinian tradition of education in the service of peace and social justice, with particular emphasis on the poor and marginalized in society. Students are prepared to understand the essential elements of a moral and just society, reflect on models for socially responsible resolution of injustice and conflict, and learn the necessary skills to be advocates for a just and peaceful world.

18) BA, Peace and Justice
Learning Outcome: The interdisciplinary curriculum of the Center for Peace and Justice Education is rooted in Villanova’s Augustinian tradition of education in the service of peace and social justice, with particular emphasis on the poor and marginalized in society. Students are prepared to understand the essential elements of a moral and just society, reflect on models for socially responsible resolution of injustice and conflict, and learn the necessary skills to be advocates for a just and peaceful world.

Documentation supporting the figure reported above (upload):
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Do the figures reported above cover one, two, or three academic years?:
One

Percentage of students who graduate from programs that require an understanding of the concept of sustainability:
15.82

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the sustainability learning outcomes is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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