The Goodnight Family Program in Sustainable Development
Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Program Brochure
The Goodnight Family Sustainable Development Program (SD) at Appalachian State University (ASU) is a fifteen year old academic and outreach program with 26 faculty members across 11 departments and three colleges. The program is committed to academic interdisciplinary study, environmental education and awareness, and sustainable community outreach / development. SD incorporates themes from the social and natural sciences, technology, as well as the arts and humanities. We feel strongly that this holistic, interdisciplinary approach to learning strengthens our student’s overall educational experience and provides them with the multiple skills and values required for real world leadership. A generous gift from a local business family, the Goodnights, in 2001 greatly assisted SD in its academic mission and Outreach activity.
While the program is committed to blurring the boundaries between theory and practice it may be structurally viewed as two components, academics and community outreach.
On the academic side, there are major concentrations in the departments Anthropology, Biology and Interdisciplinary Studies. Since 1996, there has been an SD concentration at the masters level within the Center for Appalachian Studies. A separate Sustainable Development BA / BS degree with applied concentrations is currently under review,and is expected to be active by the fall 2008 term. SD, through IDS, also grants an 18 credit hour minor.
Concerning community and regional outreach, SD formalized Sustainable Development Outreach (SDO) as a structural component of the program in 1997. SDO fosters working and supportive relationships with the immediate community, as well as regional, national, and international organizations. We have a full time Sustainable Communities Coordinator who helps students, faculty, and area citizens move academic theory to SD practice in the NC high country area.
SD also operates a Teaching and Research Farm and Agroecology Lab in nearby Valle Crucis, NC. This farm is committed to experimenting with sustainable agricultural practice and organic / alternative farming for the immediate region. We also work closely with local and regional land restoration / conservation groups, the NC state park service, area businesses, and various governmental and non-profit organizations.
Thank you for your interest in the program. We hope you will look around the website and become a bit more acquainted with The Sustainable Development Program at ASU.
Charles L. Smith
Director, Goodnight Family Program in Sustainable Development
Interdisciplinary Studies Department
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
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