College of Fine and Applied Arts

Sustainability - a tradition, not a trend

Creative practice, visionary scholarship, innovative design and community engagement are the inspiration for sustainability efforts across the College of Fine and Applied Arts. The college recognizes that preserving ecological integrity, creating shared economic prosperity and supporting equitable and just societies involves re-thinking and re-imagining how we live at all levels. Faculty in departments across the college share the common purpose of transformative learning, where students are encouraged to think critically and creatively, to practice collaborative decision-making and responsible citizenship, to see themselves as part of the global community and to imagine their part in creating future scenarios that will enliven our human capacity to endure. The University's strategic plan and the College of Fine and Applied Arts' strategic vision motivate students, staff and faculty in our college to take sustainability seriously. We challenge ourselves to deepen our understanding of sustainability to include not only minimizing environmental, social and economic harm, but also to foster long-term thinking that supports life-affirming relationships of interdependence among people and the environment.