I think we should be open to the idea that it is not just the Presidents and Deans who need to be convinced about the importance of sustainability. From the other side, it is quite apparent that Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Dean are often on board and eager to integrate and develop sustainable program in the university. It is often a harder sell for the faculty members. Individual faculty members are focused on their individual research and teaching that usually does not include sustainability. They are reluctant to make any changes to courses and curriculums. I have had similar feedback from at least 5 deans (I guess that is a very large percentage of the "sustainable deans" universe). Nevertheless, we are making steady progress but not as fast as we would (or the university Presidents) would like.
Sanjay
Sanjay Sharma, Ph.D.
Dean/Doyen
John Molson School of Business/Ecole de Gestion John-Molson
1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West
Concordia University/Universite Concordia
Montreal, QC, H3G 1M8
Phone: 1-514-848-2424 (x2703)
For those looking for things to try to help your deans, provosts or presidents "get it" on sustainability, you might want to take a look at a recent Inside Higher Ed opinion piece from the president of Colorado State. Here is the description from the AASHE Digest, a weekly bulletin related to campus sustainability. The URL for the whole article follows.
Colorado State University President Larry Edward Penley recently published an article in Inside Higher Ed that discusses the leadership role higher education institutions need to take in advancing sustainability research and solutions. He argues that research universities have an obligation and an opportunity to use their resources to educate green collar workers and create ground-breaking climate change solutions. Penley believes that universities should focus less on installing greener goods and creating climate change awareness, and focus more on preparing students for the up and coming green economy, advancing green research, and inputting new technologies into the free market. Once this research enters the marketplace, he says, it can create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve health and living conditions worldwide, and stimulate the economy.
Gordon
Gordon Rands
Western Illinois University