AASHE Centers aim to accelerate the infusion of sustainability content into curriculum by partnering with institutions of higher education to offer workshops and other professional development opportunities on sustainability in the curriculum.

"Sustainability" encompasses a bold framework of goals aimed at ending poverty and hunger, fostering peace and equity, and ensuring that all people can lead fulfilling, prosperous lives. It prioritizes a healthy planet, safeguarded from degradation, requires us to address climate change, and honor the needs of future generations.

The Swift Waters Workshop prepares faculty to design new assignments, units, or courses that incorporate sustainability through the lens of their primary academic discipline. The workshop welcomes faculty from all colleges and universities, supporting a community of practice beyond the boundaries of one institution that expands student access to sustainability concepts and skills in their coursework.

This workshop promotes curricular innovation through exposure to the interdisciplinary themes inherent to sustainability. Hear from faculty how they have integrated these complex issues into their courses, and why they feel this work is important. “Wicked Problems” align with high impact practices including Collaborative Assignments, Community-based Learning, Diversity/Global Learning, and Research.

Application Details

Who Should Apply?

The Swift Waters Workshop is an interdisciplinary development workshop for those wishing to incorporate sustainability concepts, problems or solutions into new or existing courses. Participants from all academic departments are encouraged. We will welcome faculty from Eastern and from other institutions (space is limited) and the workshop will be held in-person on Eastern's campus. 

Registration Fee for Non-Eastern Faculty is $100

How to Apply? - Online Form

Deadline to Apply: Priority Deadline for Applications: April 15, 2025

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Center Vision: All students at Eastern will engage with sustainability concepts, develop sustainability competencies aligned with the liberal arts learning outcomes, and have opportunities to apply their learning focused on building a just and sustainable future.

Center Mission: To advance faculty competency, confidence, and creativity in teaching sustainability concepts, develop community-engaged learning opportunities, and become a trusted sustainability curriculum resource for regional education institutions.

Patricia Szczys, Professor & Director, Center for Sustainability Studies

Center Advisory Board:

Bryan Connolly, Associate Professor, Biology

Julia Delapp, Director, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

Sukeshini Grandhi, Professor, Business Administration and Assessment Coordinator

Kristen Morgan, Professor, Communication, Film, and Theater

Steve Nathan, Associate Professor, Environmental Earth Science

Niti Pandey, Dean, School of Education and Professional Studies and Graduate Division

Emily Todd, Dean School of Arts and Sciences

Sarah Walters, Assistant Professor, Health Science and Nursing

Sustainability and UNSDG Resources for Curriculum Development

• UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives [PDF]
• Global Council for Science and the Environment: Key Competencies
• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education - AASHE offers many free Workshops and Webinars , a Curriculum Hub, and resources for campus sustainability. Create a free account, Eastern is an AASHE member.
• Teaching Sustainability Competencies Across the Disciplines: A Guide for Instructors. Support instructors to integrate sustainability competencies into their courses by identifying and developing curricular and pedagogical resources, resources for assessing student learning, and relevant examples of the scholarship of teaching and learning in this field.
• Sustainable Foundations: A Guide for Teaching the Sustainable Development Goals

Connecticut-Specific Resources

• GC3 Governors Council on Climate Change
• DEEP Climate Change Resources
• Save the Sound
• History of Climate Action in CT

Data/Databases

• Eastern’s Energy Dashboard
• Good Energy Stories
• Climate Opinion Fact Sheets – by state, county, or congressional district
• Climate Emissions by neighborhood

Additional Substantive Resources

• MIT Climate-Primer: Climate Knowledge for Everyone
• What Can I Do About the Climate Emergency? Or What Can I Do
• Project Drawdown, the leading source of climate solutions. Our scientific analysis shows that the world can reach drawdown—the point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline—by mid-century if we make the best use of all existing climate solutions. Each solution presented here reduces greenhouse gases by avoiding emissions and/or by sequestering carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere.
• All We Can Save Project is an extension of the acclaimed anthology of the same name. The project nurtures leaders, trains discussion leaders, provides resources for educators, and resources for acknowledging climate emotions and burnout.
• Open Access Books indexed by SDG