Sustainability Curriculum Development: Ponderosa Project
The Ponderosa Project is a faculty development program designed to infuse environmental and social sustainability topics across the curriculum. Based on a national model approximately 25 faculty from all college departments are invited to apply and participate in a four-part program that features multi-disciplinary brainstorming sessions about sustainability issues, experiential learning opportunities about place, and pedagogical exercises to help develop new courses or course modules. The goal is to expand sustainability curriculum, awareness, and engagement among faculty and students at COCC.
Program overview:
- Faculty attend a two-day workshop during Spring term, May 16th and 17th at the Cascade Culinary Institute.
Workshop features two days of guest speakers, peer-to-peer brainstorming sessions, pedagogical exercises, field trips, and place-based experiential learning.
- Faculty develop a new course or course module that incorporates sustainability or environmental issues appropriate to their discipline.
- Faculty participate in a fieldtrip + discussion session at the end of the summer 2025 to share their experiences.
- Attend a dinner meeting the following Spring term 2026 to report on classroom experiences and outcomes.
Faculty who complete all aspects of the Ponderosa Project will be compensated $1000, paid for by the Strategic Plan fund, the Center for Academic Excellence, and the Sustainability Committee.