ACADEMICS – AASHE RANKING
AASHE STARS
In our 2020 AASHE STARS Report (Expired), we reported for nine out of 11 subcategories within the overarching ‘Academics’ categories, and Education is one of our seven E.C.O. Wheel categories and an important part of our Sustainability Plan. In AASHE STARS, the University of Delaware scored the following for 11 Academics subcategories:
Academics – Curriculum:
- AC-1: Academics Courses: 1.74 / 14.00.
- AC-2: Learning Outcomes: 0.00 / 8.00.
- AC-3: Undergraduate Program: 3.00 / 3.00.
- AC-4: Graduate Program: 3.00 / 3.00.
- AC-5: Immersive Experience: 2.00 / 2.00.
- AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment: 0.00 / 4.00.
- AC-7: Incentives for Developing Courses: 2.00 / 2.00.
- AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory: 3.20 / 4.00.
Academics – Research:
- AC-9: Research and Scholarship: 0.00 / 12.00.
- AC-10: Support for Research: 2.00 / 4.00.
- AC-11: Open Access to Research: 0.00 / 2.00.
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN
About Curricula: Climate change and environmental activism has increased student interest in green jobs. Given the exponential growth of the renewable energy sector, the University of Delaware must offer relevant and updated sustainability courses to meet the career demands of the student body.
Current State of Curricula: UD has academic departments and certification programs that offer sustainability courses and degrees. However, the University has no central database to track these courses, and thus valuable AASHE credits were lost when we reported in 2020.
About Research: The University of Delaware conducts innovative transformative research that benefits and gives back to the Newark community and society at large. One way the University faculty staff and students do this is by producing research that leads to innovative solutions to sustainability issues. Thus, community engagement and outreach based on the knowledge that is generated by UD researchers is a way to educate and empower our community.
Current State of Research: The Sustainability Council currently awards Green Grants for sustainability projects such as the Colburn Labs Green Roof and the native meadow planted by Students 4 the Environment and the Grounds Department. Additionally, sustainability research is regularly produced by several entities on campus such as the Energy and Environmental Policy Department, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment. The University also has research institutions such as the Delaware Environmental Institute and the Water Resources Center that are dedicated to sustainability research. By leveraging the existing research activities and the Office of Sustainability, it should be possible to increase external funding for academic research at UD. In addition, the community is largely unaware of the results of the great work of UD faculty, staff and students thereby not benefiting from the work.
GOALS
- Create interdisciplinary certificates and programs in sustainability.
- Increase sustainability courses and themes across all colleges.
- Promote greater sustainability discussion in first year experience.
- Facilitate interdisciplinary research in sustainability.
- Expand Green Grants program to support sustainability research.
- Disseminate university sustainability research to surrounding communities and track possible outcomes.
