What is Sustainable Development?
"Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs."
-1987 Brundtland Commission
Mission
The Sustainable Development Department emerges from the United Nations mandate to engender "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Our mission is to prepare students to engage in the social, economic, and environmental transformations necessary to create thriving, equitable, and sustainable communities within an ecologically healthy world.
This mission is achieved through:
- integrative teaching and mentoring;
- applied research, experiential education, and restorative creative endeavors; and
- effective and ethical community engagement, both locally and globally.
These efforts enable students to think critically and constructively as they work to build a sustainable future.
Vision
We envision a world where sustainability and sustainable development are integrated into all human endeavors. We imagine a world based on a deep appreciation for life, with lasting natural and cultural wealth, where well-being, social justice, and ecological integrity are valued and guarded with the same rigor as economic prosperity. Graduates of the Sustainable Development Program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively and ethically address sustainability challenges in public, private, and non-profit sectors through informed, engaged, and hopeful work.
Our Work Around the World