Executive Policy 5.232 Executive Policy 5.232

Sustainability in Curriculum, Research, and Scholarship

Executive Policy Chapter 5, Academic Affairs
Executive Policy EP 5.232, Sustainability in Curriculum, Research, and Scholarship
Effective Date:  June 2025
Prior Dates Amended:  N/A
Responsible Office: Vice President for Academic Strategy
Governing Board of Regents Policy: RP 4.208, Sustainability Policy
Review Date:  June 2028

1. To establish a mechanism through which University of Hawai‘i administrators, faculty, staff, and students implement and support sustainability goals as established by the Board of Regents (BOR) in the areas of curriculum, research and scholarship.


2. To further define goals in the areas of curriculum, research and scholarship, in particular, as they relate to campus and community engagement, and cultural connections. These goals shall serve to guide the campus strategic planning efforts for all campuses.


3. To establish a university-wide culture that integrates sustainability values in an island context with global impact.

As used in this policy, to pursue sustainability means actively fostering conditions in which we humans aloha ‘āina and live in balance with the ecosystems upon which we depend, supporting the well-being of present and future generations.

1. Curriculum
   
   The University will encourage, facilitate, and support curriculum development that advances the principles of sustainability and enables cross-campus collaborations that integrate teaching and research with solutions at the campus and community levels.
   
   Specific goals include:
   
   
   1. Supporting sustainability-centered courses, programs, and pathways.
   
   
   2. Integrating sustainability principles into existing curricula where appropriate.
   
   
   3. Supporting the inclusion of multiple knowledge systems in sustainability pedagogy, specifically in support of University goals fulfill kuleana to Native Hawaiians and Hawai‘i.
   
   
   4. Creating internship and other learning opportunities for students with sustainability-focused community partners and collaborators.
   
   
   5. Facilitating curricular pathways between campuses to both uplift individual campus strengths and support students studying sustainability.
   
   
   6. Developing campus and community-based learning opportunities in sustainability, including engagement of students in making the University’s operations more sustainable.
   
   
   7. Incorporating sustainability practices and learning into other aspects of campus student life and through co-curricular activities.
   
   
   8. Offering professional development opportunities for faculty and staff related to curriculum development and academic service delivery for sustainability courses and programs.
   
   
   9. Curricular outcomes will be accomplished through the establishment of dedicated capacity to fully support academic programming in sustainability on each campus.



2. Research and Scholarship
   
   The University will encourage, facilitate, and support research initiatives that advance the principles of sustainability and enable cross-campus collaborations that integrate teaching and research with solutions at the campus, community, and global levels.
   Specific goals include:
   
   1. Providing professional development and collaboration opportunities for faculty and students in sustainability scholarship.
   
   
   2. Establishing metrics to monitor and promote increased research and scholarship in sustainability topics.
   
   
   3. Supporting the co-creation of sustainability-focused research with community partners (e.g. non-profit organizations, private sector, government agencies, and other colleges and universities in Hawai‘i) to advance sustainability initiatives.



3. Systemwide Sustainability Curriculum Coordination Council
   
   There shall be a Systemwide Sustainability Curriculum Coordination Council (SSCCC) to lead coordination between campuses for sustainability relevant curriculum, including student pathways between campuses, scholarship opportunities, community partnerships, and student-focused campus engagement.  The Council will convene at least once a semester and will be administratively supported by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy (OVPAS); the OVPAS will also support an annual in-person convening of the Council. The Council and the OVPAS will coordinate annually to update the Board of Regents on sustainability-related curriculum, and research and scholarship across the ten UH campuses. The Council will be composed of:
   
   1. One or two representatives per campus. The representatives should have responsibility related to campus sustainability curriculum, advising, and other student-focused support. The representatives shall be selected on a campus-by-campus basis, with deference to campus governance processes.
   .
   
   2. The Director of the System Office of Sustainability, ex officio. This enables direct partnership with the UH Office of Sustainability and coordination of campus-focused learning projects.

The Vice President for Academic Strategy is delegated authority to develop specific procedures that carry out the intent of this Executive Policy. The Vice President or his/her designee may provide annual updates to the Board of Regents, as requested, on the progress in carrying out the University’s commitment to sustainability in the areas of curriculum, research, and scholarship.

Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy Telephone:  (808) 956-6897Email:  ovpas@hawaii.edu

Board of Regents Policy RP 4.201, Mission and Purpose of the University, addressing sustainability:  http://www.hawaii.edu/policy/rp4.201
Executive Policy EP 4.202, System Sustainability:  http://www.hawaii.edu/policy/ep4.202

No Exhibits and Appendices found

    President