STARS assessment Self Reflection

March 6, 2020 by jmastLeave a Comment | Edit

Process for STARS

For STARS we were evaluating the university’s sustainability practices in its curriculum. First, we collected and reviewed all of the classes the school offers for undergraduates. We read the class descriptions and followed the STARS guidelines in classifying sustainable teaching. The work was split up using ASANA each of us was encharged of different sections in each of the credits which were 7.

From our evaluation of the school’s curriculum, many of our courses do not have sustainability-focused learning outcomes or involvement in the course. We found that our school’s sustainability-focused/inclusive classes and majors were from the environmental and Marine department. However, we did find that if you are a CAS student you will end up graduating with taking sustainability inclusive classes because students in the College of Arts and Science have to take intro to environmental science which has sustainability inclusive and focused teaching. As well as the chemistry department which has sustainability inclusive curriculum with green chemistry.

Ah-ha moment

STARS is an important tool to use because it covers all aspects of University life. Having all aspects of a school available to evaluate is useful because the only way for us to be able to have a good practice that will allow our land to be used for generations is if all sectors are following sustainable practices and tools. For curriculum, it is important because we need to have everyone understanding sustainability if our campus is going to practice it. Which is why I was so surprised UNE does not have as much sustainability curriculum included in our core teaching, as well as life on campus. As well that we don’t have incentives for creating more sustainability classes and curriculum. However, there is a lot of great opportunities available and areas where the school can expand on our ideals, for example with the GLC there are opportunities to create a program with more of a sustainability focus.