FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For almost two decades, Colorado State University’s School of Global Environmental Sustainability has served as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting research, education, and engagement to address society’s most pressing sustainability challenges at the nexus of environmental and human systems.
Today, we are excited to announce the School’s new name: the School of Sustainable Futures.
The new name emerged through a collaborative process that included input and feedback from our internal and external advisory councils, students, and other experts and stakeholders. TheSchool sought a name that both honors its strong foundation in sustainability and reflects its growing focus on future-oriented, interdisciplinary impact.
“Sustainable Futures reflects our belief that addressing climate and sustainability challenges requires more than understanding problems — it requires creativity, collaboration, and the ability to imagine and build better futures together,” said Director Courtney Schultz. “The new name captures the interdisciplinary and forward-looking nature of our work and creates space for new partnerships, programs, and opportunities.”
Sustainability across human and natural systems remains at the core of our mission, with climate change continuing to shape and define much of the work we do. At the same time, the new name signals a growing focus on expanding understanding of sustainability challenges, but also imagining possibilities and pathways toward more resilient, equitable, and sustainable futures.
The School’s work connects knowledge, imagination, and action through:
- Education and training: Interdisciplinary courses, workshops, credentials, and experiential learning opportunities to prepare students and professionals to lead on climate and sustainability challenges;
- Research and collaboration: Seed funding, faculty collaboratories, and partnerships that accelerate solutions-focused interdisciplinary research and innovation;
- Engagement and storytelling: Public events, communications, and convenings that connect research, communities, decision-makers, and partners to inform and drive action; and
- Future-focused thinking: Expanding the School’s work with a Futures Program to help students and partners imagine, prepare for, and shape more sustainable futures.
The new identity also aligns with Colorado State University’s land-grant mission by emphasizing applied, partner-driven impact that serves communities in Colorado and beyond.
Importantly, this change is not a departure from environmental sustainability or our Climate Initiative work—it’s an expansion of how we communicate and engage the work ahead. The newname offers clearer, more flexible messaging while inviting curiosity, collaboration, and broader participation in shaping sustainable futures. The names of our course, certificates, and minors, including those connected to the Global Environmental Sustainability (GES) course prefix, will remain unchanged.
By linking knowledge, imagination, and action, the School aims to expand what futures are possible and help people choose and build them.
Additional events and opportunities to learn more about the School of Sustainable Futures will take place starting in the fall semester, and we look forward to ongoing engagement with our partners on and off campus.
Learn more about the School of Sustainable Futures at sustainability.colostate.edu
Media contact
Laura Shaver, Communications and Events Manager, School of Sustainable Futures, Colorado State University
