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Working professionals from across the region will learn how to make their organizations more sustainable through “Implementing Sustainability”— a professional certificate program from Portland State University. The program provides an understanding of how sustainability strategies are successfully applied in business, government and non-profit organizations.

This is the third year that the course—the first of its kind in the country—has been offered to professionals from across the Pacific Northwest. “Implementing Sustainability” is taught by faculty from Portland State in business administration, environmental sciences, public administration, economics, urban studies and planning, as well as practicing experts from companies and other organizations implementing innovative sustainability programs: Zero Waste Alliance, CH2M Hill, Coates-Kokes, AXIS Performance Advisors and Rifer International.

The six-session course will be taught over ten weeks during the 2005 fall term and covers diverse subjects, including: building a business case for sustainability; marketing for sustainable organizations; product ecology and sustainability in government. Students take four “core” courses and then choose two electives in order to receive the certificate.

Past students give the program high marks for its rigor and relevance.

“I now have a better understanding of the level of detail required to look at issues concerning the environmental, economic and social benefits of an initiative,” said Tri-Met engineer Kevin Considine, who took the class in 2004. “The class provided real life examples of how others have successfully navigated through this process and found wins for their organization—something I was able to take back and apply at my job.”

“This course was a powerful enrichment to my learning about sustainability. Every course was rigorous as well as engaging,” said Jeanne Longley, Ph.D., program manager for the Zero Waste Alliance and a 2003 participant.

Throughout the course, the emphasis is placed on learning to solve real-world problems with sustainable solutions. The benefits of sustainability strategies—saving money, establishing marketplace distinction, treating customers and constituents responsibly—are emphasized, and the challenges are confronted head-on.

Participants can also connect with vital community resources for continued learning as they gain critical insights into developing a successful sustainability program at their own organization. As part of the program, professional facilitators work closely with each student to help them apply “leading edge” concepts to their own organizations.

“As more consumers and investors turn to sustainable products, competition becomes more fierce, and regulatory and interest group pressures grow, the organizations that are more likely to succeed are those that learn how to build sustainability into their business model,” said David Ervin, Portland State University Academic Sustainability Coordinator. “Indeed, one of the advantages of holding this course at Portland State University is that Portland is a living laboratory of successful sustainable organizations.”

In addition to drawing from a wide range of experts on and off campus, two other features make for a unique sustainability educational experience. First, students are drawn from the work world outside the university and contribute diverse perspectives. Second, the principles of sustainability are taught across disciplines and programs like business, economics, environmental sciences, and public administration, among others.

For more information on the course, please visit www.sustain.pdx.edu or e-mail Ashley Myrick, Research Assistant, at myricka@pdx.edu.

Portland State University, Oregon's only urban university, is the largest and most diverse in the state system. The University's position in Oregon's economic and cultural center allows for deep community engagement and the creation of partnerships with hundreds of organizations throughout the region — partnerships that give PSU students valuable learning opportunities as they solve real-world problems of business and community. Portland State offers more than 100 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees, as well as graduate certificates and continuing education programs. PSU serves more students and confers more master's degrees annually than any other Oregon university.

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Source: Dave Ervin (503-725-3935)
PSU Academic Sustainability Coordinator

For Immediate Release (#05-106)