undergraduate certificate in sustainability...undergraduate certificate in sustainability, effective...

AAC New Degree and Certificate Program Proposal

Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability

November 26, 2018

Program Director: Angela Orebaugh, Ph.D.

Program Director/Assistant Professor, SCPS [email protected]; 434-243-8362

Liaison to Provost Office:

Alena Herklotz, J.D. Program Administration Manager, SCPS

[email protected]; 434-982-4890

SCPS New Certificate Proposal: Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability of 30

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................................3 2. PROGRAM MISSION .................................................................................................................................4 3. INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT – MODE OF DELIVERY – ADMISSIONS CRITERIA ................................5

INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT ...................................................................................................................................... 5 MODE OF DELIVERY .......................................................................................................................................... 5 ADMISSIONS CRITERIA ...................................................................................................................................... 5

4. DETAILED PROGRAM DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................5 REQUIRED COURSE .......................................................................................................................................... 6 CURRENT ELECTIVES ....................................................................................................................................... 6 PROPOSED ELECTIVES...................................................................................................................................... 6 PROGRAM FLEXIBILITY ...................................................................................................................................... 6 LEARNING OUTCOMES ...................................................................................................................................... 7 STUDENT ADVISING STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................................... 7 FACULTY ........................................................................................................................................................... 7

5. MARKET PROFILE ....................................................................................................................................7 6. REVIEW OF COMPETING PROGRAMS .................................................................................................9

WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY ................................................................................................................................... 9 WITHIN THE STATE ...........................................................................................................................................11 BEYOND THE STATE .........................................................................................................................................13

7. PROGRAM EVALUATION ...................................................................................................................... 16 COURSE EVALUATIONS ....................................................................................................................................16 ADMISSIONS BENCHMARKS ..............................................................................................................................16 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ..................................................................................................................................17 STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING FOUR POSSIBLE ENROLLMENT SCENARIOS ........................................................17

APPENDIX A – SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS ......................................... 18 APPENDIX A – SAMPLE SYLLABUS ............................................................................................................ 22 APPENDIX B – SAMPLE SEMESTER BY SEMESTER PATHWAYS TO DEGREE ................................. 30


1. Introduction The School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) proposes to launch a new undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability, effective Spring 2020. The proposed program aims to provide students with a professionally-focused certificate to include the foundational knowledge and skills in the field of sustainability. The certificate will prepare adult learners for entry-level sustainability and environmental careers. The certificate program approach, plan of study, and coursework was informed by student and faculty input, the Teaching and Research (T&R) subcommittee of the Committee on Sustainability, market analysis of industry needs, and comparable programs at other universities. Feedback and analysis identified the undergraduate level as the appropriate level for this type of program, based on student, job market, and competitor data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the role of Environmental Specialists to grow 11% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average 7% for all occupations.1 The growth is attributed to increased public interest in “hazards facing the environment, as well as increasing demands placed on the environment by populations growth”. BLS also projects growth in the following job roles: Environmental Analysts, Urban and Regional Planners, Environmental Auditors, Environmental Communications Specialists, and Environmental Technicians.2 Additionally, sustainability jobs span a wide variety of industry sectors including agriculture, energy, hospitality, healthcare, retail, industrial, technology, construction, transportation, consumer goods, non-profit, and utilities.3 Given the growing broad need for sustainability professionals, the program expects to attract a diverse population including career changers, professionals who are assuming new sustainability responsibilities within their current role, professionals seeking career advancement and promotion, and other professionals targeting entry-level opportunities in sustainability. The proposed Certificate in Sustainability will:

• Provide new educational and employment opportunities for adult learners with an interest in sustainability;

• Prepare students for the 21st century to address complex problems, adapt to changing conditions, and envision and implement sustainable solutions;

• Provide a pipeline of diverse professionals to address the wide-ranging sustainability needs across industry sectors; and

• Provide a stackable credential to develop students’ basic sustainability knowledge and competencies, as well as soft skills including communication, writing, and professionalism.

The certificate advantages include the following:

ü 100% online: All courses will be delivered online using both synchronous and asynchronous formats to maximize flexibility and convenience for adult learners.

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), (2018), Occupational Outlook Handbook: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, accessed at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm, on October 12, 2018. 2 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), (2018), Occupational Outlook Handbook: A-Z Index, accessed at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm, on October 12, 2018. 3 GreenBiz, (2018), State of the Profession 2018, accessed at https://www.greenbiz.com/article/state-sustainability-profession-2018 on October 12, 2018.


ü Serves a diverse student population: Student diversity adds to the richness of learning, whether it be the diverse individual backgrounds, experiences, and professional pursuits, or the geographic diversity enabled by online learning.

ü Provides a unique, customized curriculum: With 1 required course and 3 electives, students benefit from a customized plan of study that meets their individual needs and career goals.

SCPS is well-positioned to serve as an educational provider for the increased and projected demand for sustainability professionals. The School has a strong history of supporting non-traditional students, students from underserved populations, veterans and military personnel, and students seeking a career change or encore career; and many years of experience in delivering transformative online education.

2. Program Mission The mission of SCPS’ undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability is to: Enable students to become effective agents of change for sustainability to create a world

that “meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”4

Students gain cross-disciplinary knowledge to reduce environmental harm and to create positive impacts across the three pillars of sustainability: environment, economic, and social equity. The program mission aligns closely with the University’s purpose of “developing responsible citizen leaders and professionals, and advancing, preserving, and disseminating knowledge.”5 Additionally, the program mission aligns closely with the UVA Sustainability Plan 2016 – 2020, specifically the following goals:

• Increase the number of sustainability-focused courses • Increase the number of students in sustainability classes • Offer more courses or expand existing programs, including non-traditional courses and

programs

The program serves SCPS’ core mission to provide adult learners with access to educational experiences that blend academic scholarship with workplace relevance. The undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability consists of four 3-credit courses: 1 required course and 3 electives. The curriculum includes course selections from a variety of areas including humanities, science, technology, and business. The curricular design provides students the flexibility to design a plan of study best aligned with his or her professional goals. To broaden the impact of the program and reach students globally, the courses will be offered online using UVaCollab, the online collaboration and learning environment currently utilized by many School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) programs. The courses will be available to all university students but may be most attractive to those pursuing Global Studies – Global Environments + Sustainability (GSVS), Urban and Environmental Planning, Environmental Sciences, and Public Policy and Leadership. The courses will also be open to students in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies program.

4 Brundtland, G., et al., (1987), Our Common Future. World Commission on Environment and Development. 5 University of Virginia, (2018), University Code of Ethics and Mission Statement, accessed at http://www.virginia.edu/statementofpurpose on October 15, 2018.


SCPS offers specialized programs for community members and seniors to register for SCPS courses including Community Scholars and Senior Citizen Waiver.

3. Institutional Impact – Mode of Delivery – Admissions Criteria Institutional Impact The main resource impacts for creating the undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability are within the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (marketing, faculty recruitment, course development, and career services). Within the university, SCPS students have direct access to librarians who are available to assist them with library services such as borrowing books and finding information for research projects. SCPS students with disabilities may also access services in the Student Disability Access Center. Mode of Delivery The undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability will be delivered entirely online using UVaCollab, the online collaboration and learning environment currently utilized by many School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) programs. Online delivery consists of asynchronous and synchronous modes to provide maximum flexibility for students. Admissions Criteria In accordance with SCPS policy regarding the admissions criteria for undergraduate-level programs, the Certificate in Sustainability will be open to individuals with a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent. A completed admission application will include the following:

• TOEFL or IELTS scores (if applicable); • Resume • Letter of recommendation from an individual who can attest to the applicant's academic,

volunteer, and/or professional abilities; • Statement of purpose describing motivation, interests and goals (250-500 words); and • Application fee.

4. Detailed Program Description The proposed undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability will be designed with the intellectual rigor expected of undergraduate level education at UVA. The course content will incorporate applied concepts and practices, critical thinking, problem solving, and communications to engage and build students’ knowledge and skills in sustainability. The certificate will consist of 12 credits: 1 required courses (3 credits); and 3 electives (9 credits) chosen from 18 courses. The required course provides a strong sustainability foundation and the electives enable students to further explore their interests and chosen theme. The curriculum includes course selections from a variety of areas including humanities, science, technology, and business. The curricular design provides students the flexibility to design a plan of study best aligned with his or her professional goals. The certificate is not part of any degree program, but may become a concentration in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in the future. In this case, the certificate will still be offered independent of the BIS degree.


Required Course (3 credits)

• ISSS 3xxx Creating a Sustainable World

Current Electives (3 credits each)

• ISSS 3401 Smart Cities Enabling Sustainability • ISSS 3600 Economics and the Environment • ISSS 3611 Cheap Eats: The Economics of the American Food Industry • ISSS 4610 Economics of Climate Change • ISHU 3193 Writing about the Environment • ISHU 4830 A Philosophic History of American Environmentalism • ISHU 4850 The Ethics of Sustainability • ISHU 4890 America and the Ethics of Food and Energy in the 21st Century • PSPA 5050 Environmental Policies and Practices

Proposed Electives (3 credits each)

• ISBU 4xxx Eco-Entrepreneurship • ISSS 3xxx Change Agency and Sustainability • ISSS 3xxx Corporate Social Responsibility • ISSS 4xxx Sustainability Reporting • ISSS 4xxx Environmental Science • ISSS 4xxx Energy and the Environment • ISSS 4xxx Environmental Law • IT 3xxx Environmental Data Literacy • PSHM 3xxx Healthcare Sustainability

Please see Appendix A for Course Descriptions and Sample Syllabus. Please see Appendix B for Sample Semester by Semester Pathways to Degree. Program Flexibility The ratio of required courses to electives is 1:3. The curricular design provides students the flexibility to design a plan of study best aligned with his or her professional goals. Students are required to maintain a portfolio for the duration of the program to demonstrate how their chosen electives meet their personal, professional, and plan of study goals. The curriculum pathway is quite flexible, with no stipulated course sequence apart from course prerequisites. All coursework is provided online, utilizing both synchronous and asynchronous modes of delivery to maximize flexibility. Students also enjoy a great deal of flexibility in setting their pace through the program. SCPS policy allows students up to three years to complete a 12-credit certificate, enabling students to


accelerate or slow down the pace of the program, as needed, in accordance with their personal and professional commitments each semester. Learning Outcomes The learning outcomes for the undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability will be:

• Demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding of sustainability within the environmental, economic, and social equity framework.

• Think critically about problems of improving the human condition equitably in this and future generations, while conserving environmental systems necessary to support healthy and vibrant societies.

• Develop awareness of the interrelationship and effect of humans on the environment.

• Identify and analyze real world sustainability challenges and solutions.

• Identify sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact and increase benefits to society.

• Communicate effectively to raise awareness, increase understanding, and motivate action for sustainability.

Student Advising Structure The Sustainability Program Director serves as the primary student advisor. The Program Director provides curricular advising for all students, with a focus on the selection of elective coursework and portfolio review. In addition, the Program Director serves as the primary resource for career advising. Students receive additional guidance and mentoring from program faculty. Faculty

The proposed undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability will move forward with existing faculty, supported by additional wage faculty. SCPS currently has four faculty members with related subject matter expertise. They are teaching currently offered sustainability courses and may or may not be able to teach additional courses. Additional wage faculty support is needed to create and teach the proposed elective courses. A faculty recruiting strategy includes leveraging UVA faculty from other schools who are teaching similar subjects and opening a hiring requisition to attract faculty and industry practitioners outside of UVA.

Preference will be given to faculty with terminal degrees in the areas of environmental science, environmental management, sustainability, or related field. A master’s degree with 18 hours of graduate work in the certificate field and extraordinary practitioner qualifications may be considered in lieu of a terminal degree. Required experience will include a minimum of one-year relevant subject matter teaching experience. Preferred experience will include working with adult learners, online teaching, extensive industry practitioner experience, and certification in the subject matter area.

5. Market Profile The undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability aims to provide students with a professionally-focused certificate to include the foundational knowledge and skills in the field of sustainability. The certificate will prepare adult learners for entry-level sustainability and environmental


careers. The certificate is ideal for career changers, professionals who are assuming new sustainability responsibilities within their current role, professionals seeking career advancement and promotion, and other professionals targeting entry-level opportunities in sustainability. Sustainability is becoming integrated into a number of existing job roles and new job roles are being created. Students with interest in a sustainability certificate may come from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions including: business development managers, urban planners, facilities managers, political strategies, corporate and product sustainability managers, sales professionals, and land developers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the role of Environmental Specialists to grow 11% from 2016 to 2026, faster than average for occupations.6 The growth is attributed to increased public interest in “hazards facing the environment, as well as increasing demands placed on the environment by populations growth”. BLS also projects growth in the following job roles: Environmental Analysts, Urban and Regional Planners, Environmental Auditors, Environmental Communications Specialists, and Environmental Technicians.7 Additionally, sustainability jobs span a wide variety of industry sectors including agriculture, energy, hospitality, healthcare, retail, industrial, technology, construction, transportation, consumer goods, non-profit, and utilities.8 Recent job search data shows over 35,000 sustainability related jobs.9 Employers include Nike, Amazon, Siemens, Arup, Ferguson Enterprises, Eastern Research Group, Global Environment & Technology Foundation, and a variety of colleges, universities, and local and state governments. As shown in Figure 1, 59% of the positions are entry level. Job seekers also performed searches for environmental, conservation, energy, and corporate social responsibility. Upon completion of the program, expected occupations or job titles include:

• Sustainability outreach specialist • Sustainability consultant • Sustainability coordinator • Sustainability specialist • Energy analyst • Environmental control specialist • Sustainability associate • Sustainability data analyst • Social responsibility analyst • Environmental analyst

The program title, “Sustainability”, is a broad concept that can cover many topics within the environmental, economic, and social equity dimensions. Students will have the flexibility to focus their studies by creating a plan of study that meets their individual needs and career goals. While the program title “Certificate in Sustainability” will paint a broad picture on the student’s resume, the student may provide detail of his or her focus area within the description 6 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), (2018), Occupational Outlook Handbook: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, accessed at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/environmental-scientists-and-specialists.htm, on October 12, 2018. 7 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), (2018), Occupational Outlook Handbook: A-Z Index, accessed at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/a-z-index.htm, on October 12, 2018. 8 GreenBiz, (2018), State of the Profession 2018, accessed at https://www.greenbiz.com/article/state-sustainability-profession-2018 on October 12, 2018. 9 Indeed. (n.d.) Retrieved October 17, 2018, https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=sustainability&l=

59%

33%

8%

Sustainability Job Experience Level

Entry Level Mid Level Senior Level

Figure 1. Sustainability Job Experience Level


and cover letter. The program title, along with additional detail in the student’s focus area will provide valuable keywords for recruiters and online job search engines. Employers are looking for sustainability practitioners in a wide range of areas. When researching employer skillset demand the themes of passion, creativity, writing, presenting, and relationship building occurred most often. Technical skills sets in assessments, compliance, reporting, and sustainable development occurred frequently.

• Eastern Research Group, an environmental consulting firm, looks for candidates with “enthusiasm, creativity, and fresh perspectives” who are “passionate about conservation and sustainable resource management”. Consultants use their interdisciplinary training to conduct research on environmental issues, perform data analysis, author reports, and conduct presentations. They have knowledge in areas such as environmental statutes and regulations, natural resource management, environmental impact statements, and sustainable development.

• ERM, a worldwide sustainability consultancy, is looking for entry level candidates with a

wide variety of backgrounds. Consultant assignments include performing sustainability regulatory compliance audits; sustainability strategy and program development; supply chain assessments; air, soil, and water quality monitoring; environmental site assessments, social impact assessments; and sustainability reporting. Most importantly, ERM is looking for candidates with a passion in their area of expertise, interest in serving clients, and the ability to build relationships.

• GreenBlue Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to the sustainable use of materials, is looking

for candidates that “possess a demonstrated passion or commitment to sustainability or related environmental issues”. Their ideal candidates are continuous learners who can conduct packaging recyclability assessments, build relationships, generate digital content, conduct presentations, and develop improvement recommendations.

• Ferguson Enterprises, a leading building supply company, looks for candidates with

“strong analytical abilities and attention to detail” to perform sustainability data analysis and modeling. Candidates perform life cycle assessments and return on investment calculations to model projected improvements from energy, fuel, and waste initiatives. Candidates assist with environmental audits and preparing quarterly reports in support of the company’s sustainability targets.

With strong student and employer demand, the program expects to attract students eager to enter and excel in this rewarding field.

6. Review of Competing Programs Within the University The proposed Certificate in Sustainability complements the three primary University of Virginia sustainability programs as shown in Table 1. The McIntire Business Institute offers a non-credit certificate, while the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the School of Architecture offer a major and minor respectively. The proposed SCPS undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability enhances the educational opportunities available to students by offering an online, cross-disciplinary sustainability learning opportunity for adult learners. The McIntire Certificate in Sustainable Business is non-credit and business focused, while the proposed SCPS certificate is for-credit and cross-disciplinary focused. The College of Arts and Sciences and School of Architecture programs serve on-grounds undergraduate students, while the proposed SCPS


certificate will primarily serve off-grounds, non-traditional students. The proposed SCPS certificate is also open to on-grounds students. Table 1 shows the similarities and differences between the current programs and the proposed SCPS undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability.

Table 1. Sustainability Programs within the University

School Type of Program Program Description SCPS Proposed

Certificate in Sustainability

McIntire Business Institute

Certificate in Sustainable Business10

Curricular Design • Non-credit certificate for

undergraduates or graduates delivered online over 13-weeks.

• Undergraduate certificate.

• Four online courses include 1 required and 3 elective courses.

Curricular Content • Business focused with

strategy, marketing, finance, and management themes taught through the lens of social, environmental, and fiscal responsibility.

• Cross-disciplinary topics across the three pillars of sustainability: environment, economic, and social equity.

• General sustainability topics, not business focused.

Applicant Type and Prerequisites • Applicants are students

who have completed, or are working towards, an undergraduate degree in liberal arts, science, or business.

• Applicants are individuals with a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Open to students within other UVA schools

College of Arts and Sciences

Major in Global Studies – Environments + Sustainability track11

Curricular Design

• Undergraduate major delivered in person.



Curricular Content

• Addresses problems associated with human transformations of the earth through the triple lens of environment, equity, and economy.


Applicant Type and Prerequisites

10 Certificate in Sustainable Business. (n.d.) Retrieved October 17, 2018 from McIntire Business Institute’s website, https://www.commerce.virginia.edu/mbi/certificate-sustainable 11 Global Studies Major – Environments + Sustainability Track. (n.d.) Retrieved October 22, 2018 from http://www.globalsustainability.virginia.edu/major/


• Open to CAS undergraduate students and double major option for students in other UVA schools.


• Open to students within other UVA schools.

School of Architecture

Undergraduate Minor in Global Sustainability12

Curricular Design • Undergraduate minor

delivered in person. • Undergraduate

certificate. • Four online courses

include 1 required and 3 elective courses.

Curricular Content • Interdisciplinary courses

with a focus on research and community engagement with sustainable projects.


Applicant Type and Prerequisites • Open to students of all

majors. • Applicants are

individuals with a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Open to students within other UVA schools.

Within the State Three comparable sustainability certificate programs were identified within the state of Virginia as shown in Table 2. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Radford University offer similar undergraduate sustainability-focused certificates. Both programs are only offered in-person to current university baccalaureate students. The broad, cross-disciplinary sustainability content of the VCU and Radford certificates is similar to the proposed SCPS certificate topics. VCU offers courses in environmental data visualization and environmental data literacy, which have been incorporated into the proposed SCPS certificate. The VCU certificate also requires students to maintain a portfolio for the duration of the program, which has been included in the proposed SCPS certificate. The portfolio will demonstrate how students’ electives meet their personal, professional, and plan of study goals. Virginia Tech offers an online graduate level certificate that is focused on sustainability politics and policy. Similar to the VT program, the proposed SCPS certificate will be four courses and offered online to degree and non-degree seeking students. Table 2 shows the similarities and differences between the identified Virginia programs and the proposed SCPS undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability.

12 Minor in Global Sustainability. (n.d.) Retrieved October 22, 2018 from http://www.globalsustainability.virginia.edu/minor/


Table 2. Sustainability Certificate Programs within Virginia

Institution Type of Program Program Description SCPS Proposed


VCU Sustainable Innovation Certificate13

Curricular Design • Undergraduate certificate. • Six in-person courses

include 1 required, 4 electives, and 1 project course.

• Undergraduate certificate


Curricular Content • Uses a systems thinking

approach to problems of sustainability across all of the academic disciplines.

• Includes a directed research project/independent study or internship.


Applicant Type and Prerequisites • Open only to students in a

VCU baccalaureate program.


Radford Sustainability and Environmental Studies Certificate14

Curricular Design

• Undergraduate certificate. • Five in-person courses

include 1 required, 3 electives, and 1 capstone course.



Curricular Content

• Courses in physical systems and the environment, policy and economics, and human dimensions, culminating in a Capstone course with field applications.


Applicant Type and Prerequisites • Open only to students in a

Radford baccalaureate program.


Virginia Tech Curricular Design

13 Sustainable Innovation Certificate. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from http://bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/vcu-life-sciences/sustainable-innovation-certificate/ 14 Sustainability and Environmental Studies Certificate. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from http://catalog.radford.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=35&poid=3967


Environmental Politics and Policy Certificate15

• Graduate certificate. • Delivered in-person or

online. • Four courses include 3

required and 1 elective.



Curricular Content • Focus in environmental

politics and policy including public ecology, industrial democracies, and politics of developing areas.


Applicant Type and Prerequisites • Open to students in a

Virginia Tech graduate program and non-degree seeking students.


Beyond the State Five comparable sustainability certificate programs were identified beyond the state of Virginia as shown in Table 3. Penn State, UCLA, Illinois, and APU offer similar online, undergraduate sustainability-focused certificates. The broad, cross-disciplinary sustainability content of each of the certificates is similar to the proposed SCPS certificate topics. The Penn State certificate program is 4 courses, which is the size adopted by the proposed SCPS certificate. However the Penn State certificate is 4 required courses, which does not offer the flexibility of the proposed SCPS certificate. The UCLA, Illinois, and APU certificate are 5, 5, and 6 courses respectively, which is a larger program than the proposed SCPS certificate. The University of Illinois allows certificate credits to be applied towards the Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability BS degree. SCPS is leveraging this idea by allowing the Certificate in Sustainability credits to be applied towards the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. The Harvard Extension School Sustainability certificate is a 5-course graduate level certificate. Although it is not an undergraduate certificate, it was included due to its flexibility in electives and its vast array of sustainability courses. The proposed SCPS certificate program leveraged many course topics and ideas for its proposed list of courses. Table 3 shows the similarities and differences between the identified programs beyond Virginia and the proposed SCPS undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability.

Table 3. Sustainability Certificate Programs Beyond Virginia

Institution Type of Program Program Description SCPS Proposed


Curricular Design

15 Environmental Politics and Policy Certificate. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from https://liberalarts.vt.edu/academics/graduate-programs/graduate-certificates/graduate-certificate-environmental-politics-and-policy.html


Penn State World Campus

Earth Sustainability Certificate16

• Undergraduate certificate. • Four required online

courses.



Curricular Content

• Focus on geoscience literacy, addresses key sustainability issues, including the impact of climate change on Earth and its inhabitants, access to clean drinking water, sustainable energy, and the hazards posed by our overpopulated coastal regions.



• Applicants must be a high school graduate, or have completed the GED.


UCLA Extension Sustainability Certificate17

Curricular Design

• Professional certificate. • Delivered in-person or

online. • Five courses include 3

required and 2 electives. • Course are at the

undergraduate level.



Curricular Content

• Focus on environmental systems, the interrelationship and effect of humans on the environment, business aspects of sustainability, and roles and collaboration.



• Open to students with or without an undergraduate degree.


Curricular Design

16 Certificate in Earth Sustainability. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/penn-state-online-earth-sustainability-certificate/overview 17 Sustainability Certificate. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from https://www.uclaextension.edu/environmental-studies-public-policy/sustainability-environmental-studies/certificate/sustainability


University of Illinois

Environmental Sustainability Certificate18

• Undergraduate certificate. • Five courses delivered

online. • Credits can be applied

towards the Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability BS degree.



Curricular Content • Focus on

interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social systems of the world.


Applicant Type and Prerequisites • Open to students with or

without an undergraduate degree.


American Public University

Sustainability Certificate19

Curricular Design

• Undergraduate certificate. • Six required online

courses.



Curricular Content

• Focus on energy, land use, GIS, infrastructure, renewable technologies, and water.



• Applicants must be a high school graduate, or have completed the GED.


Harvard Extension School

Curricular Design • Graduate certificate. • Delivered in-person or

online. • Five courses include 1

required, 2 core, and 2 electives (or an additional 2 core).



18 Certificate in Environmental Sustainability. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from https://www.earth.illinois.edu/students/online_cert_overview 19 Certificate in Earth Sustainability. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from https://www.apu.apus.edu/academic/schools/science-technology-engineering-and-math/certificate-ug/sustainability.html


Sustainability Certificate20

Curricular Content • Cross-disciplinary topics

including science, technology, architecture, business, health, and policy and law.


Applicant Type and Prerequisites • No application process. • Open to students with or

without an undergraduate degree.


7. Program Evaluation The Certificate in Sustainability program evaluation plan provides program assessment reports to the University’s Associate Director of Assessment. Selected Certificate in Sustainability courses will be used to assess the achievement of program learning outcomes over a two-year period. The program learning outcomes assessment will be repeated annually to continually improve program content and mastery of learning objectives. The Program Director, working with the Project Manager for Program Research, designs and conducts on-going program evaluation procedures every 5 years, which include:

• Anonymous electronic surveys administered to students regarding the value and impact of the courses they have taken in the Certificate in Sustainability; and

• Anonymous electronic surveys administered to Certificate graduates regarding the value and impact of certificate courses on the lives and careers.

Course Evaluations Students are given the option to complete an anonymous evaluation for each course. Course evaluations offer valuable feedback for continuous instructional improvement. Students provide Likert scale feedback on course materials, requirements, goals, instructor feedback, instructor classroom time management, instructor preparation, and instructor teaching ability. Additionally students may provide freeform feedback regarding what they liked about the course and suggestions to strengthen the course. The evaluation also captures metrics such as number of hours per week students spend preparing for the course. Admissions Benchmarks SCPS maintains a database to track certificate admissions, including the size of the applicant pool, transfer credentials, the provenance of transfer credits, and acceptance rate; as well as student profiles, enrollment trends, and completion rates. Working collaboratively with SCPS Admissions and the program faculty, the Program Director reviews and evaluates these various data points to make needed improvements to the certificate, as appropriate.

20 Sustainability Certificate. (n.d.) Retrieved October 23, 2018 from https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academics/professional-graduate-certificates/sustainability-certificate


Student Achievement The Certificate in Sustainability program has a variety of processes in place to support student success. A dedicated SCPS Director of Student Success provides focus to ensure that part-time students progress through their education in a timely fashion. The Program Director serves as the primary advisor for all certificate students. The Program Director is responsible for coordinating the assessment of student learning outcomes. At the course level, learning outcomes are developed in accordance with the overall certificate outcomes, and are clearly stated in each course syllabus. The minimum grade policy for SCPS certificates is tied to the certificate level. Undergraduate certificates require students to earn a grade of C or better in all certificate coursework. Program faculty utilize accepted methods (i.e., tests, papers, grading rubrics, etc.) to optimize standardized evaluation of all student work in the same class, and to ensure that the skills and knowledge set forth in the course objectives are delivered to and received by students. Course instruction and grading consider oral, written, and analytical skills, as well as critical thinking skills. The SCPS grading system is as follows: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F. Strategies for Managing Four Possible Enrollment Scenarios SCPS has an enrollment management process that systematically reviews applications and course enrollments each term. This process includes regular Enrollment Meetings in which current and future enrollment status is reviewed. If there is over-demand, additional sections may be added. If there is under-demand, SCPS marketing, outreach, recruitment, and partnerships will be reviewed to analyze the causes in order to improve enrollment. If there is significant fluctuation, methods for demand leveling will be determined. Finally, if there is an initial enrollment bulge followed by a decline or leveling, resources will be adjusted to match the program’s maturity level where enrollment settles.


APPENDIX A – Sustainability Certificate Course Descriptions21

The undergraduate Sustainability Certificate will consist of 12 credits: 1 required course and 3 electives. Required Courses (3 credits) ISSS 3xxx Creating a Sustainable World (proposed) This course provides an introduction to sustainability concepts within the framework of environment, economics, and equity. Foundational principles of sustainability are covered along with emerging topics. The course emphasizes the interrelationship and effect of humans on the environment. The course covers sustainability definitions, models, challenges, and solutions. Topics include population, ecosystems, human behavior, energy, food, water, ethics, technology, and policy. Elective Courses (3 credits; students select 3) Existing: ISSS 3401 Smart Cities Enabling Sustainability Introduces smart cities within the context of sustainability: economic, environmental, and equity. Provides a multidisciplinary look at innovative smart city approaches to solve complex problems on the local level with global impact; includes topics from environmental studies, information technology, data science, engineering, and social science. ISSS 3600 Economics and the Environment Establishes a framework for analyzing conflicts between economic growth and efficiency and a sustainable environment in an interdisciplinary context emphasizing the complex interrelationships among social, political, and economic goals. ISSS 3611 Cheap Eats: The Economics of the American Food Industry Examines the economic costs of food, including subsidies, production practices, ecological sustainability and health impacts; analyzes institutional factors contributing to potential market distortions in the food market system; evaluates the factors that characterize the current system such as the reliance on chemical pesticides and organic alternatives. ISSS 4610 Economics of Climate Change Examines all aspects of global warming, emphasizing appropriate government policies such as carbon taxes, cap and trade systems, and clean technologies to limit future carbon emissions. Provides students with economic background and tools to address the public policy issues related to climate change. ISHU 3193 Writing about the Environment Focuses on classic, contemporary, and non-traditional literature about the environment. The course is divided into three sections: nature writing, place-based writing, and environmental writing. Readings focus on issues beyond landscape as gender, race, politics, ethics, and culture all play a part in environmental writing. ISHU 4830 A Philosophic History of American Environmentalism The course gives a philosophic history of American environmentalism by examining some of the 'classic' works within this tradition which have had world-wide influence, such as Henry David

21 The proposed course numbers listed are temporary and need to be approved by UREG.


Thoreau's Walden, Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, and Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. It will also look at how some contemporary American environmental thinkers have critically appropriated the ideas defended in these 'classics'. Finally, we shall see how these 'classic' ideas connect to current American cultural values and to such current social issues as consumerism, global warming, preserving endangered species, animal liberation and achieving sustainable food production. ISHU 4850 The Ethics of Sustainability The idea of sustainable development first gained currency with the release of the 1987 UN report on the environment and economic development, Our Common Future. Today many writers speak of a 21st century 'sustainability revolution' which aims at: 1) 'correcting' the negative environmental consequences of the industrial revolution, 2) continuing with but redefining 'economic growth', and 3) moving beyond the relatively narrow concerns of late 20th century 'environmentalism' by integrating environmental issues into issues of social and economic justice. All this means addressing not only such traditional 'environmental' problems as preserving biodiversity, upgrading air and water quality, and countering global warming, but also addressing such 'non-environmental' questions as how best to defend human rights, create an alternative to 'consumerism', restructure the contemporary corporation, combat pandemics like HIV/AIDS, alleviate 'world hunger', reform energy policies, and assess the welcome and unwelcome consequences of both globalization and nationalism. Indeed, some type of long term 'social revolution' is being contemplated under the banner of 'Sustainability'. What would be the ethical justification for such dramatic change? Is it really necessary for human survival or the quality of human life? Is it politically feasible even in the long term? Such broad questions will be examined. ISHU 4890 America and the Ethics of Food and Energy in the 21st Century Examines deep and complex ethical issues within the United States regarding the production of food and energy, corporate social responsibility, duties to future generations, and national interest versus obligations to other peoples. PSPA 5050 America and the Ethics of Food and Energy in the 21st Century Provides an overview of current environmental policies and practices at the federal, state, and local level as well as global environmental issues. Covers such topics as environmental justice, sustainable development, resiliency; environmental risk, economic environmental issues; and the distributed effects of environmental pollution across ethnic, racial, income and occupational groups. Proposed: ISBU 4xxx Eco-Entrepreneurship Introduces the concepts and practices of sustainable product and service development. It presents the challenges, opportunities, and processes of design, development, and commercialization of sustainable products, services, and technologies. Topics include systems thinking, cradle to cradle design, and triple bottom line. ISSS 3xxx Change Agency and Sustainability Change agents are needed to create a sustainable future. To address today’s complex sustainability challenges, change agents must understand and navigate participatory planning processes to engage people in profound change. Sustainability change agency often includes a shift in people’s values and behaviors and the ability to inspire and enable people to lead effective change. This course introduces the methods to develop mindsets and lead change efforts to shift behavior and decision-making so that it integrates social, environmental and economic values. The course addresses the personal, interpersonal, and organizations concepts of change agency for sustainability. Topics include strategy development, stakeholder


engagement, team engagement, advocacy, activism, communication, collaboration, and diversity. ISSS 3xxx Corporate Social Responsibility Introduces corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a global context including theory and practical concepts for balancing profits and good corporate citizenship. Students will learn how businesses manage the triple bottom line of People, Profit, and Planet to participate in the caring economy. Case studies provide real world examples of company successes and failures when implementing CSR. Topics include developing a CSR business case and strategy, stakeholder engagement, supply chain management, employee and consumer engagement, sustainability marketing, and reporting and auditing. ISSS 4xxx Sustainability Reporting Introduces the various methods and frameworks for reporting and measuring sustainability activities. Understand the role and value of sustainability reporting and the importance of materiality and stakeholder engagement in the reporting process. Learn how to create a well-structured, credible report. Topics include Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), UN Guiding Principles Framework, Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), key performance indicators (KPIs), Greenhouse Gas Protocol Standards, and Integrated Reporting. Examine reports from leading companies across a variety of industries. ISSS 4xxx Environmental Science This course introduces the physical, biological, and chemical concepts of ecosystems of the Earth’s environment. It addresses the patterns and processed in the natural world and the impact of human activity. Students will learn environmental problems both natural and human-made, the risk associated with these problems, and solutions for mitigating or preventing them. Topics include ecology, natural resources, biodiversity, air, water, energy, fossil fuels, and pollution. ISSS 4xxx Energy and the Environment Introduces the key challenges and technologies in energy resources and energy use and their impact on the environment. Examines a variety of energy uses including buildings, transportation, industrial, and district heating systems. Topics include production methods, transmission, distribution, consumption, thermal energy, conversion, measurement, storage, and methods for calculating environmental impacts. ISSS 4xxx Environmental Law Provides an overview of relevant environmental law and regulations in the fields of sustainability planning, management, and policy. Learn major environmental statues and common and constitutional law relevant to sustainability. Topics include green building, sustainable development, green labeling, corporate operations, renewable fuels and alternative energy, sustainability-related subsidies, tax credits and abatements, and sustainability contracting. Students will learn how to use law to create a cleaner, safer, more sustainable world. IT 3xxx Environmental Data Literacy Introduces technology and data concepts for acquiring, manipulating, analyzing, visualizing, interpreting, and communicating environmental data. Students develop qualitative skills to explore a variety of environmental datasets in various formats and manage big data. Explore univariate, bivariate, and spatial data. Learn how to visualize and model data using a variety of techniques. Includes using databases, spreadsheets, and statistical analysis environments.


PSHM 3xxx Healthcare Sustainability Examines the environmental, economic, and social impact of healthcare services and the interrelationship between sustainability and public health. Analyze the sustainability challenges faced by healthcare organizations. Learn about solutions and institutional practices to create sustainable healthcare environments and to response to health issues resulting from environmental change. Topics include accountability, chemicals, waste, energy use, supply chain, behavioral change, and innovation.


APPENDIX A – Sample Syllabus

ISSS 3401 – Smart Cities Enabling Sustainability DRAFT 11/06/2018

General Course Information Instructor: Dr. Angela Orebaugh, [email protected]

Year and Term: Spring 2019, January 15 – April 23, 2019 Level: Undergraduate Credit Type: 3 credits Class Meeting: Tuesdays at 7pm ET, using UVACollab Live Online Meetings

Course Overview: Cities currently consume 75% of the world’s natural resources and 80% of the global energy supply.22 They produce 50% of global waste and 75% of global carbon emissions.23 Today, over half of the world’s population lives in cities and this number is expected to increase to over two-thirds by 2050.24 Cities face complex challenges due to the increase in urbanization and its impact on the environment. Smart cities are intelligently designed cities with the potential to improve the lives of half the planet’s people by integrating sustainable use of local and global systems.25 This course discusses smart cities within the context of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social. The course provides a multidisciplinary look at innovative smart city approaches to solve complex problems on the local level, with global impact.

Multidisciplinary: The course includes topics from environmental studies, information technology, data science, engineering, and social science. Topics include greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, alternative energy, waste management, green buildings, transportation, food systems, and open data. The course leverages guest speakers from across UVA, Charlottesville city, and beyond, to provide a multidisciplinary look at how smart cities are enabling sustainability with broad reaching economic, environmental, and social impacts.

22 UNEP. (2016). Cities and Buildings. p.1 http://www.unep.org/SBCI/pdfs/Cities_and_Buildings-UNEP_DTIE_Initiatives_and_projects_hd.pdf 23 UNEP. (2016). Cities and Buildings. p.1 http://www.unep.org/SBCI/pdfs/Cities_and_Buildings-UNEP_DTIE_Initiatives_and_projects_hd.pdf 24 United Nations. (2014). World’s population increasingly urban with more than half living in urban areas. http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/world-urbanization-prospects-2014.html 25 UNEP. (2016). Cities and Buildings. p.1 http://www.unep.org/SBCI/pdfs/Cities_and_Buildings-UNEP_DTIE_Initiatives_and_projects_hd.pdf


Innovative approaches: Students develop an understanding of how sensor technology, data analytics, and the Internet of Things integrate within the smart city implementation to solve complex problems. It focuses on the convergence of cyber and physical technologies that provide efficiencies in areas such as energy, water, and resource use. Local: The course includes a local look at smart, sustainable efforts at the University of Virginia and the city of Charlottesville. The final student project incorporates student research and recommendations to advance sustainability on Grounds at UVA and/or in the city of Charlottesville or their local community. Global: The course looks at the global sustainability impact of smart cities in areas such as climate change, air, oceans, and wildlife. The course takes a global approach by including a variety of case studies from leading smart cities.

The United States government is investing over $160 million in the “Smart Cities” initiative to advance federal research and provide technology collaborations to help local communities address complex problems in areas such as transportation, climate change, and sustainable growth.26 Investments and the growing commitment to sustainability have increased the demand for a diverse range of professionals in the 21st century workforce. Smart city development requires a variety of professionals including urban and city planners, business managers, scientists, engineers, sustainability managers, environmental scientists, procurement officials, lawyers, economists, and compliance auditors.27 This course helps educate both traditional and non-traditional students across a variety of fields who are interested in smart cities, technology, the Internet of Things, and sustainability. This course is delivered remotely through UVACollab, an online collaboration and learning environment. Students will participate in both asynchronous lessons and synchronous lectures and discussions with UVA faculty and guest lecturers. The format of the course will include case studies, guest lectures, class discussion, homework assignments, quizzes, and a final research project to apply concepts learned through critical thinking and problem solving. The final student project will incorporate student research and recommendations to advance sustainability on Grounds at UVA and/or in the city of Charlottesville or their local community. SIS Course Description: This course introduces smart cities within the context of sustainability: economic, environmental, and equity. The course provides a multidisciplinary look at innovative smart city approaches to solve complex problems on the local level, with global impact. The course includes topics from environmental studies, information technology, data science, engineering, and social science. Topics include greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, alternative energy, waste management, green buildings, transportation, food systems, and open data. 26 The White House. (2015). Fact Sheet: Administration Announces New “Smart Cities” Initiative to Help Communities Tackle Local Challenges and Improve City Services. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/09/14/fact-sheet-administration-announces-new-smart-cities-initiative-help 27 Hamilton, James. (2016). Is a Sustainability Career on Your Green Horizon? Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/green/sustainability/sustainability.htm


Required Text: Smart Green Cities: Toward a Carbon Neutral World, Woodrow Clark and Grant Cooke, 2016, ISBN-10: 1472455541. Additional readings are assigned from relevant, current articles and papers accessible via the Internet or distributed via PDF. Course Objectives: Smart Cities Enabling Sustainability will help students:

• Understand the sustainability impact of smart cities • Understand smart city technology • Engage with local and global smart city experts • Develop and apply skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and analysis • Develop and apply skills in oral and written communication.

Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

• Describe the drivers of urbanization and the challenges cities face • Identify the sustainability efforts of smart cities locally and globally • Describe how technology integrates within the smart city implementation to solve

complex problems • Describe the various types of sustainable technology solutions implemented in

smart cities • Conduct independent research and compose a final research paper with

recommendations to advance sustainability on Grounds at UVA and/or in the city of Charlottesville or their local community.

Assessment Components: Students will be evaluated by course participation in weekly online discussions, quizzes, assignments, and a final project. Delivery Mode Expectations: This course is delivered fully online, using synchronous lectures and guest speakers and asynchronous forum discussions. Asynchronous access in UVACollab allows students anytime, anywhere access to prepared course materials and recordings. A variety of teaching and learning tools may be employed including readings, videos, discussion, and simulations. Course Materials will be available in UVACollab. (http://collab.itc.virginia.edu/portal). Required Technical Resources and Technical Components: Computer with web browser and high speed Internet connection with the capability to view multimedia clips, read prepared content, submit answers to interactive surveys, and discuss topics using text chat. Course Specific Information Course Instruction and Activities: The course delivery format is as follows:

1. Synchronous Online Sessions


There will be one 90-minute synchronous online session per week for lecture, group discussions, and guest speakers delivered in the Live Online Meetings area of UVACollab.

2. Asynchronous Online Forum Discussions Students are required to participate in the asynchronous online forum discussions each week in the Forum area of UVACollab, which is the equivalent of two class sessions.

Course Requirements:

Students should be prepared to spend several hours per week on reading assignments, project assignments, and contributing to online forum discussions on UVACollab: • Read all assigned readings each week, • Actively participate in weekly online forum discussions with timely initial posts

and responses, • Completion of assignments, quizzes, and final project by due dates. Late

contributions will only be accepted with instructor approval and may be subject to a reduced grade.

Evaluation Standards and Assessments:

Students will be evaluated by course participation in weekly online discussion forums, assignments, quizzes, and a final project. • Weekly discussion forums (11%): Weekly discussion forums are for students

to discuss relevant topics in smart cities and sustainability. Every week each student will be expected to submit a minimum of two postings per the assigned reading and discussion question posted on the UVACollab Forum discussion board. The two postings include an initial post per the discussion question and a response post to another student’s forum post. The postings and topics discussed will reflect the students’ individual response and opinions. The weekly discussion forums help students develop critical thinking, analysis, and written communications.

o Evaluation Standard – Students’ level of participation and engagement will be evaluated using a forum discussion rubric, which will include timeliness, number of responses posted, content of the postings, and associated discussion forum responses. The forum rubric will be posted at the start of class in the Resources section of UVACollab. Forum posts are due by class time, 7pm, on Tuesdays.

• Assignments (42%): Each student will be responsible for completing 3

assignments that will be posted by the instructor. Each assignment will have an exact due date and time that it shall be submitted on the UVACollab site for


grading. These assignments help students develop critical thinking, problem solving, analysis, and written communications.

o Evaluation Standard – Students’ will be evaluated using an assignment rubric, which will include completeness, applying concepts learned in class, and writing clarity and succinctness. The assignment rubric will be posted at the start of class in the Resources section of UVACollab.

• Quizzes (30%): Each student will be expected to complete 3 quizzes. Each

quiz will be based on posted reading assignments and class discussion and have an exact due date and time that it shall be completed for grading. Quizzes help assess students’ level of knowledge and understanding of smart city and sustainability topics.

o Evaluation Standard – The quizzes will be available under the Tests and Quizzes area on UVACollab. Quizzes will be 20 multiple choice questions in length and will be evaluated using the appropriate quiz answer key.

• Final Project (17%): Each student will be responsible for completing a final

project that will be posted by the instructor. The project will have an exact due date and time that it shall be submitted on the UVACollab site for grading. The project will be used to assess the student’s ability to describe problems and solutions learned in class, apply critical thinking skills and analysis to articulate solutions to problems, and to write with clarity and succinctness.

o Evaluation Standard – The final project will be evaluated using the final project rubric which will assess the following: project’s overall organization and content, inclusion of all format requirements as described in the project guidelines, sequence and flow of the project, application of course topic concepts, and reflection of critical thinking skills. The project rubric will be posted at the start of class in the Resources section of UVACollab.

Assignment Percentage of Final Grade

Due Date

Weekly Discussion Forum Posts 11% One initial post and one response post due weekly for 11 weeks, 1 point each week

Assignment #1 14% January 28 by 11:59pm Quiz #1 10% February 11 by 11:59pm Assignment #2 14% February 18 by 11:59pm Quiz #2 10% March 18 by 11:59pm Assignment #3 14% March 4 by 11:59pm Quiz #3 10% April 15 by 11:59pm Final Project 17% April 23 by 11:59pm Total 100%


Course Schedule and Assignments:

Week

Topic, Presentations, and Readings Discussion, Assignments, and Activities

1 Jan 13–19

Course Overview Cities of Today: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Readings: Chapter 1

Synchronous online session – January 15

2 Jan 20–Jan 26

Cities of Today: Challenges and Problems Readings: Chapter 2


Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due January 22 by class time 7pm

3 Jan 27–Feb 2

The Green Industrial Revolution Readings: Chapter 3


Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due January 29 by class time 7pm Assignment #1 Due January 28 by 11:59pm

4 Feb 3–9

Smart, Green, and Sustainable Cities Readings: Chapter 4

Synchronous online session – February 5

Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due February 5 by class time 7pm

5 Feb 10–16

Technologies that Make Cities Smart Part 1 Readings: Chapter 5


Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due February 12 by class time 7pm Quiz #1 Due February 11 by 11:59pm

6 Feb 17–23

Technologies that Make Cities Smart Part 2 Readings: Chapter 5


Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due February 19 by class time 7pm Assignment #2 Due February 18 by 11:59pm

7 Feb 24–Mar 2

Sustainable Transportation Readings: Chapter 6


Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due February 26 by class time 7pm

8 Mar 3–9

Global Case Studies - China Readings: Chapter 7

Synchronous online session – March 5

Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due March 5 by class time 7pm Assignment #3 Due March 4 by 11:59pm

9 Mar 10–16

No class – Spring Break Have a great Spring Break!


Week

Topic, Presentations, and Readings Discussion, Assignments, and Activities

10 Mar 17–23

Economics of Smart Cities Readings: Chapter 8


Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due March 19 by class time 7pm Quiz #2 Due March 18 by 11:59pm

11 Mar 24–30

Global Case Studies Readings: Chapter 9


Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due March 26 by class time 7pm

12 Mar 31–Apr 6

Smarter and Greener Readings: Chapter 10

Synchronous online session – April 2

Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due April 2 by class time 7pm

13 Apr 7–13

Final Project Presentations Synchronous online session – April 9

Weekly Discussion Forum Posts – Due April 9 by class time 7pm Draft Final Project due for review April 9 by 11:59pm

14 Apr 14–20

Final Project Presentations Course Conclusion

Synchronous online session – April 16

Quiz #3 Due April 15 by 11:59pm

15 Apr 21–27

Work on Completing Final Project Final Project Due April 23 by 11:59pm

Communication & Student Response Time: Students receive communication weekly on course assignments through UVACollab. Messages sent to the instructor are typically responded to within 24 hours. Resources: Course Materials are available on UVACollab. (http://collab.itc.virginia.edu/portal). Materials are included for each class session and general materials for the course. Registration: Students wishing to take this course will need to register for the course with the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Students enrolled in the course will earn 3 college credits at the University of Virginia. Grading: Percentages convert to grades as follows: A+ 100 B 83-86 C- 70-72 A 95-99 B- 80-82 D+ 67-69 A- 90-94 C+ 77-79 D 63-66 B+ 87-89 C 73-76 D- 60-62 F Below 60 (no credit)


Technical Specifications: Computer Hardware • Minimum Operating System

o Windows 7 SP1 (Professional preferred) o Mac OS X 10.8 or 10.9

• Minimum Processor Speed: Equivalent to an Intel Core 2 Duo (1.5 GHz) • Minimum RAM: 8 GB • Minimum Hard Disk Space: 150 GB of free hard disk space (after all programs are loaded) • Networking Capability: Wireless networking (802.11g or n) and an Ethernet port • Strongly Recommended Accessories:

o An Ethernet cable (Even if you will primarily use wireless, a wired connection is faster and more reliable for video-streaming, live online meetings and large file uploads and downloads.)

o A power surge protector o CD/DVD drive and/or “thumb” or flash drive(s), plus a backup storage mechanism

Technical Support Contacts • Login/Password: [email protected] • UVACollab: [email protected] • BbCollaborate Support: http://www.tinyurl.com/uvabbc UVa Policies SCPS Grading Policies: Courses carrying a School of Continuing and Professional Studies subject area use the following grading system: A+, A, A-; B+, B, B-; C+, C, C-; D+, D, D-; F. S (satisfactory) and U (unsatisfactory) are used for some course offerings. For noncredit courses, the grade notation is N (no credit). Students who audit courses receive the designation AU (audit). The symbol W is used when a student officially drops a course before its completion or if the student withdraws from an academic program of the University. Please visit www.scps.virginia.edu/audience/students/grades for more information. Attendance: Students are expected to attend all class sessions. Instructors establish attendance and participation requirements for each of their courses. Class requirements, regardless of delivery mode, are not waived due to a student's absence from class. Instructors will require students to make up any missed coursework and may deny credit to any student whose absences are excessive. Instructors must keep an attendance record for each student enrolled in the course to document attendance and participation in the class. University Email Policies: Students are expected to check their official UVa email addresses on a frequent and consistent basis to remain informed of University communications, as certain communications may be time sensitive. Students who fail to check their email on a regular basis are responsible for any resulting consequences. End-of-Class Evaluations: Students are expected to complete the online end-of-class evaluation. As the semester comes to a close, students will receive an email with instructions for completing this. Student feedback will be very valuable to the school, the instructor, and future students. We ask that all students please complete these evaluations in a timely manner. Please be assured that the information you submit online will be anonymous and kept confidential. University of Virginia Honor System: All work should be pledged in the spirit of the Honor System at the University of Virginia. The instructor will indicate which assignments and activities are to be done individually and which permit collaboration. The following pledge should be written out at the end of all quizzes, examinations, individual assignments and papers: “I pledge that I have neither given nor received help on this examination (quiz, assignment, etc.)”. The pledge must be signed by the student. For more information, visit www.virginia.edu/honor. Special Needs: It is the policy of the University of Virginia to accommodate students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state laws. Any SCPS student with a disability who needs accommodation (e.g., in arrangements for seating, extended time for examinations, or note-taking, etc.), should contact the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) and provide them with appropriate medical or psychological documentation of his/her condition. Once accommodations are approved, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the instructor about logistics and implementation of accommodations. Accommodations for test taking should be arranged at least 14 business days in advance of the date of the test(s). Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the SDAC: 434-243-5180/Voice, 434-465-6579/Video Phone, 434-243-5188/Fax. Further policies and statements are available at www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/sdac/sdac.html For further policies and statements about student rights and responsibilities, please visit www.scps.virginia.edu/audience/students


APPENDIX B – Sample Semester by Semester Pathways to Degree

Table 4. Typical Pathway to Completion

Summer Fall Spring

Year 1 ISSS 3xxx Creating a Sustainable World One Elective

Year 2 One Elective One Elective

Table 5. Accelerated Pathway to Completion

Summer Fall Spring

Year 1 ISSS 3xxx Creating a Sustainable World One Elective

Two Electives

undergraduate certificate in sustainability...undergraduate certificate in sustainability, effective...

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