Sustainability Studies

The Center for Sustainability Studies empowers students, faculty, and staff to tackle urgent environmental challenges—like climate change and environmental justice—through research experiences, interdisciplinary learning, and using campus as a living lab. We prepare future leaders with the scientific, economic, political, and social tools needed to drive sustainable solutions and advocate for communities most impacted by environmental crises.

As a nationally designated AASHE Center the Center for Sustainability Studies works 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.

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.

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.

Goals and Objectives:

1. Support sustainability research and promote student participation in such research activities.
2. Lead curriculum development to educate students in sustainability studies.
3. Seek grants, contracts, donations, and endowments from a variety of sources in accordance with university policies and procedures.
4. Operate within the Department of Environmental Earth Science at Eastern Connecticut State University in cooperation with affiliated faculty representing most disciplines in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Professional Studies.

The Center’s work is coordinated by the Director of Sustainability Studies and supported by the endowment originally set up by the Energy Conservation Management Board with funds from the Northeast Utilities and United Illuminating.