Anticipated outcome

• By connecting existing initiatives across disciplines and welcoming new participants, this conference will establish a cohesive community committed to integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it one of the defining features of a Penn State education.

Conference goals

• Present the case for environmental sustainability as a university/institutional core value
• Promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education, but particularly the scholarly/academic arena
• Showcase Penn State experts who are national leaders in the ethics and science of sustainability
• Design a plan for infusing sustainable development concepts and good practices throughout the curriculum
• Publicize the need for inclusion of educational experiences addressing the urgency of climate change and provide opportunities for students to consider related career choices
• Provide avenues for taking action, such as opportunities to endorse statements by disciplinary communities, Freshman pledge and graduation pledge
• Offer tracked sessions for administrators, faculty, staff, and students