In collaboration with the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Dickinson has hosted our Valley & Ridge Faculty Development Workshop. and opened applications to educators from other colleges and universities to participate alongside the Dickinson cohort since 2017. As a regional center for excellence in sustainability across the curriculum, Dickinson is committed creating innovative and effective change in higher education sustainability curriculum development.  Each year, educators that are thinking about integrating social, economic and/or environmental sustainability into their undergraduate teaching are encouraged to apply, and about 20 participants are accepted into the 2.5 day residential program. We have now worked with over 28 other institutions from throughout the region and covered disciplines such as engineering, theatre and dance, economics, Italian, and chemistry.

See past curriculum development projects here.

For 2024, Dickinson is opening its 3-day IN PERSON Valley & Ridge Workshop to faculty from other colleges and universities as one of the AASHE regional Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum. The Valley and Ridge Project at Dickinson takes its name from the physiographic region within which the College lies, which is marked by the Allegheny Plateau to the north and west, South Mountain to the south and east, and Cumberland Valley in-between. The Valley and Ridge Project is modeled after the Piedmont Project of Emory University and the Ponderosa Project of Northern Arizona University.

Valley & Ridge Workshop Website

Apply Now: No Later than March 18, 2024

All Participants Will Benefit in the Following Ways:

• Examine the concept of sustainability, its varied interpretations, and connections with different fields of study.
• Use their local environment and community to teach a sense of place.
• Create new or modify existing courses to integrate sustainability across the curriculum.
• Connect living laboratory programs to sustainability.
• Learn how to use their campus and its sustainability programs as teaching resources.
• Explore transdisciplinary connections to other faculty and programs within their institution and beyond.
• Share resources for developing and enhancing sustainability content in courses.

The Workshop Plan:

• Seeking educators from any academic disciplines looking to incorporate sustainability into their teaching.
• In person workshop will be held May 21-23, 2024 at Dickinson.
• Space is limited. Dickinson faculty and educators from other institutions welcomed.
• Food will be provided during the workshop.
• Transportation will be provided by Dickinson during the workshop.
• Transportation to and from Dickinson is NOT provided.
• Lodging is NOT provided for non-Dickinson faculty.
• Dickinson faculty receive a stipend, and may attend at no cost.
• Non-Dickinson participants will be required to pay a $125 workshop fee.
• All applicants must APPLY HERE no later than March 18, 2024. Decisions on acceptance will be released by early-April.

More Information and Apply

Dickinson College is one of the regional AASHE Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum. Centers host workshops and other professional development opportunities throughout the year. If you aren’t able to attend this event, please consider attending one of the other upcoming events organized by a Center