Virginia Tech
ER-5: Sustainability Course Identification

The Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment Update, Revision 1 made on May 9, 2013 states the university's definition of sustainability as: "Sustainability is the simultaneous pursuit of environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social justice and equity, through action, education, and engagement to address current needs without compromising the capacity and needs of future generations." Virginia Tech defines sustainability in the curriculum generally as sustaining natural and human systems and their related economic, social, and environmental dimensions, consequences, and opportunities. This definition was created by the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability Programs, Subcommittee on Survey of Colleges. The ad hoc committee included students, faculty, a dean, and other administrators. Virginia Tech defines sustainability-focused courses as courses which use sustainability in the course title or syllabus and/or at least 50% of course content addresses long term environmental protection, social justice, and/or the relationship of the economy to environmental and social equity. Virginia Tech defines sustainability-related courses as courses in which at least 20%, but less than 50%, of course content addresses long term environmental protection, social justice, and/or the relationship of the economy to environmental and social equity.

Virginia Tech conducted a survey of college courses and degree programs in 2010. The Associate Deans of Academic Affairs in each college took the lead in completing the survey. Survey results were edited and updated in 2011 by conducting an inventory of all college courses and degrees. The sustainability courses identified were then placed into the two categories of "sustainability-focused" and "sustainability-related". Both faculty and students were involved in conducting this inventory.