The Integrating Sustainability Across the Curriculum (ISAC) Program helps course instructors at Penn introduce environmental sustainability into new and existing courses. The program, run by the Environmental Innovations Initiative with support from the Penn Sustainability Office, provides full funding for graduate or undergraduate summer research assistants, who work directly with faculty and lecturers to update or create new syllabi, lectures, assignments, texts, and/or tests that incorporate environmental themes.
During the summer, faculty and lecturers selected as part of the program supervise student research and, before the fall semester begins, attend a wrap-up presentation where students present their completed research.
Since 2012, ISAC has supported more than 80 courses in a diverse array of disciplines, including architecture, law, biology, engineering, urban planning, and Germanic languages. Faculty and lecturer participants have reported extremely high-quality work and have been delighted by students' productivity and enthusiasm.
The 2025 ISAC program offers support for instructors to incorporate sustainability into a new or existing course scheduled for the 2025-26 academic year by fully funding a paid undergraduate or graduate research assistant for the academic summer term (May 27 to August 8).
Research assistants will be selected in March and matched with instructors based on experience, knowledge, and interests. Students will work both independently and with faculty for the duration of the program. Each student devotes 15 hours a week to two different faculty or lecturers, for a total of 30 working hours a week. Research assistants’ responsibilities can include updating course material, developing new teaching methods, evaluating current course topics, and/or reviewing new assignments.
Faculty and Lecturers: To apply, submit a one-page proposal that includes:
- Description of the existing or new course
- Purpose for integrating sustainability in an existing or new course
- Brief work plan for student research assistant
The call for proposals from faculty and lecturers is open as of December 5. Proposals should be submitted by Wednesday, January 29, 2025 to contact@environment.upenn.edu, using the email subject, “ISAC Faculty Proposal 2025”.
Students accepted into the ISAC program will serve as Research Fellows for 11 weeks over the summer. Each student will work with two faculty members to integrate sustainability into their courses, which may involve researching material for the courses, developing new assignments, contributing to lectures, and compiling course reading lists.
The Environmental Innovations Initiative will help students outline goals for the summer fellowship, and students will also provide periodic progress updates to EII. At the end of the program, students will present their work.
Throughout the summer, each research assistant will be expected to:
- Work closely with the assigned faculty on the development of their courses
- Participate in workshops and sustainability-themed field trips with other students
- and Present their course development in an event at the end of the summer.
ISAC internships are considered part-time jobs (30 hours a week); interns will be paid for 11 weeks, starting May 27, 2025.
Details
- $15-18.00 per hour / 30 hours per week
- Dates: May 27 – August 8 (Academic Summer Term)
- Applications will open Monday, February 10, 2025, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis
- Preference will be given to work-study eligible applicants
Undergraduate and Graduate Students, to apply: Send a resume/CV and a cover letter to contact@environment.upenn.edu, using the email subject, “ISAC Application 2025.” The cover letter can indicate if there are particular subject areas that would be of interest to the student. Application submission for students must be received by March 3, 2025.
For more on the ISAC Program
- YouTube - Sustainability Coursework Created by Students at Penn
- Penn Today - “Senior Michael Steele Helps Integrate Sustainability into the Classroom at Penn”
Selected course listings from past ISAC programs
ISAC courses in 2024
- ARCH3010: Design I
- COMM3450: Adolescence and Media
- DSGN 3250: MATTERS: Connecting Arts + Design to Materials, and Materials to Labor + Land
- INTS 5120: The City Paradox: Design, Innovation, and Leadership
- LALS 3020: Diplomacy in the Americas - the Penn Model OAS Program
- VSCN 6570: One Health and Global Food Security
ISAC courses in 2023
- ENVS 1665: Air Pollution: Sources & Effects in Urban Environments
- ENVS: Environmental Fluid Dynamics: Learning about Inland Water Systems
- ENVS: Learning about Oceans and Climate with Models
- MGMT 6910: Negotiations
- NURS 3270/5270: Foundation to Global Health
- NURS 3520: Case Study: A Community-based Approach to Mitigating Climate Change and Food Insecurity