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When it came to meeting the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) requirements to become a “Center for Sustainability Across the Curriculum,” Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was already in motion. 

Some of AASHE’s conditions included: increase sustainability content in college curriculum and expand faculty development opportunities related to sustainability in the region, according to Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies.  

The University’s position was “check and check.” 

“They wanted to open curriculum transformation workshops, like SIUE’s Mississippi Project, to include educators from the region. SIUE has been doing that since 2012 by inviting St. Louis Higher Education Sustainability Consortium members to participate.” added Frey Spurlock. 

Denise Cobb, PhD, interim provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Gregory Budzban, PhD, College of Arts and Sciences Dean, supported Frey Spurlock in her efforts for AASHE’s recognizing the University as an official Sustainability Across the Curriculum program designation. AASHE accepted Frey Spurlock’s proposal, effective December 2016. With AASHE’s recognition will come advertising support and resource sharing. 

SIUE sponsors the annual Mississippi Project workshop that facilitates a process whereby educators in the region identify ways they can incorporate sustainability into their course work and into their classrooms. The seventh annual Mississippi Project workshop is scheduled for August on SIUE’s campus. 

“We have been a leader in sustainability, and I hope we will continue to head in the right direction,” Frey Spurlock said. “The work we’re doing in sustainability, including our Mississippi Project workshop, is a service to the people in our region.” 

Photo: Connie Frey Spurlock, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies.