Four ways to make your course more sustainable

Facilities & Services is working hard to transform the St. George campus’s energy and utility infrastructure—but we also need your help to create sustainable change in our community.

In the past, we’ve shared ways to make your events, labs, and offices more sustainable by reducing waste and energy consumption.

Courses, however, present a unique opportunity for educators to help students understand the impact we have on the world and the importance and purpose of sustainable practices.

Here are four ways you can inspire and motivate the students you teach to take sustainable action.

1. Incorporate sustainability into the curriculum

Incorporating sustainability into the course curriculum will help students understand its importance and place within the arts, engineering, sciences, technology, and other disciplines. Instead of presenting it in a vacuum, integrate the sustainability perspective into your existing course topics.

This will help students relate what they’re learning in the classroom to the real world. You could also consider inviting a guest speaker with in-depth experience in the course topics and sustainability.

2. Start a dialogue

Solving problems associated with sustainability in the classroom goes beyond changing behaviours. It’s about facilitating discussions that will help students imagine a more sustainable future in a complex world.

To do this, we need to help students understand the impact each of us has on the world and the importance of sustainable practices and give them opportunities to think critically about the choices they make to encourage a more sustainable world.

Take things a step further by encouraging your students to attend and ask questions at sustainability initiatives and campus events.

3. Promote sustainable practices outside of the classroom

It’s hard to practice what you preach. Instructors play a critical role in preparing students to meet future challenges. But actions speak louder than words. Leading a sustainable lifestyle and sharing your journey with your students is one of the most powerful ways you can inspire a new generation of leaders.

Encourage students to get to class using sustainable modes of transportation, such as by bike or public transit. Shopping locally and eating a plant-based diet are other strategies that will help you be more sustainable outside the classroom.

4. Ask for feedback

Engage students by asking for their input on how to make the course more sustainable. Asking for feedback at the end of each class will only lead to improvements in the curriculum each year.

Students are future leaders. Let’s create a sustainable curriculum that fits their needs.

Looking for more sustainability best practices?

For a guide on integrating sustainable best practices in classrooms, download the Sustainable Courses slide deck to present to students in class.

Get certified

Ready to get your course certified as sustainable? Complete the form!