The board of trustees approved a new Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability degree at its meeting Sept. 22. Classes will begin next fall.

The degree will be the first undergraduate degree housed in the Department of Urban and Public Affairs (UPA), which coordinates several master’s degrees including the new Master of Interdisciplinary Studies: Concentration in Sustainability that began enrolling students this fall.

“We have been working for several years to make this bachelor’s degree a reality,” said David Simpson, PhD, chair of UPA and of the university’s 60-member Sustainability Council. “I know that graduates of this degree will make a difference in their own communities and the world.”

UofL is leading the way in programs and education in sustainability, he said, adding that creating the degree “positions graduates to be thought leaders and solution seekers in the many facets of sustainability, from the environment to health, conservation and community quality of life, among many others.”

Simpson noted that UofL is the only university in the state to receive the top sustainability ranking from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher ����ֱ��, earning a gold STARS ranking earlier this year. In addition, The Sierra Club ranked UofL in the Top 50 of its 2016 “” (No. 43).

The new bachelor’s degree program will train students to research, identify, implement and monitor sustainable processes and systems. It is designed to prepare students for future careers in sustainability-related endeavors, including the environment, energy, climate change, public policy, transportation, and urban and regional planning. It will also serve as a well-rounded base to allow students to pursue graduate training in affiliated fields of study. The degree is designed as an interdisciplinary program and will require a minimum of 124 hours to complete.

The degree program proposal was based on models from other university programs, several years of discussion at the university among interested departments, and through the Sustainability Council. The Faculty Senate recommended the creation of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Sustainability during its May meeting, and the Council on Postsecondary ����ֱ�� 45-day review of the preproposal was completed on July 22.

The college and the Liberal Studies Project offer the Meet the Professor series each semester to highlight the college’s research and cultural offerings. Here is the fall 2016 schedule:

Sept. 1 – “Recognizing Quality and Value in Handmade Glass,” Che Rhodes, head of studio glass, fine arts. He will discuss the practical aspects of determining quality as well as the personal sensibilities that combine with quality to assign value to crafted glass artwork.

Oct. 6 – “Can Species Conservation and Urban Development Co-exist?” Margaret Carreiro, biology professor. She will dispute the common misperception that true urban nature can only be sustained in parks and reserves and discuss how people in cities and suburbs can create species-friendly habitats where they live and work.

Nov. 3 – “Smokin’ Hot Issues and Smoldering Concerns: Appalachian Youth and Tobacco,” Joy Hart and Kandi Walker, communication professors. They will discuss youth perceptions of tobacco use and products and will report on research from Appalachian regions of Kentucky, North Carolina and New York.

Dec. 1 – “Capital Sentencing in Kentucky,” Gennaro Vito, criminal justice chair. He will talk about research into the state’s capital sentences from 1976 to 2010, how capital punishment operates and why influencing factors at the jury and prosecutorial levels have changed over time.

The Thursday luncheon talks begin at noon in the University Club. Reservations are required, with $15 payment in cash or check. To reserve a spot, contact Janna Tajibaeva at 502-852-2247 or janna@louisville.edu no later than the Monday before each event.

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