Fleming College selected as a “Center for Sustainability Across the Curriculum”
Fleming is the only Canadian post-secondary institution chosen to be part of the program
Peterborough ON – (Dec. 20, 2016) – The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has selected Fleming College as the only post-secondary institution in Canada to be one of 13 Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum.
The Centers will partner with AASHE to offer workshops and other professional development opportunities on sustainability in the curriculum beginning in 2017. The Centers were selected through a competitive application process held earlier this year.
As stated by AASHE, the goal of the Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum program, which is in its first year, is to accelerate the infusion of sustainability content into curriculum by increasing the availability and accessibility of faculty development opportunities related to sustainability. The professional development offerings from these Centers will be available to faculty from other institutions in the region.
Other Centers include the University of California, the University of Southern California – Columbia, the Washington Center for Sustainability at Seattle University and Western Washington University, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
“I am confident that this pilot program will help faculty from a wide range of disciplines include sustainability content in their courses. As a result of this program, more students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to help solve sustainability challenges,” said AASHE Executive Director Meghan Fay Zahniser.
“Most of Fleming College’s programs feature a ‘greening’ of the curriculum, a pioneering effort to ensure an educational foundation in sustainability across academic areas,” said Judith Limkilde, Fleming College Vice-President Academic. “For example, in 2015 we introduced a Sustainability Learning Outcome for all of our diploma programs at the College. Faculty in our Schools of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Business, Justice and Community Development, Health and Wellness, Art and Design and Trades and Technology have been leading the way in bringing sustainability into classrooms and communities. They will play a key role in the Center by sharing their sustainability expertise with a wider academic community. ”
In September 2016, Fleming’s efforts toward sustainability were recognized by AASHE through the receipt of a STARS Silver Rating. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. With more than 650 participants on six continents, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely-recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance.
About AASHE
AASHE empowers higher education administrators, faculty, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. AASHE enables members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. We work with and for higher education to ensure that our world’s future leaders are motivated and equipped to solve sustainability challenges. For more information, visit www.aashe.org. Follow AASHE on Facebook and Twitter.
About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 71,000 alumni.
-30-
Media, for more information please contact:
Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1370