Sterling College in Craftsbury has received a $1.5 million grant from an anonymous donor to launch EcoGather, an online education platform designed to advance ecological thinking and community regeneration. The grant covers the first three years of the project.
EcoGather will co-design courses with communities in Vermont, Bhutan, India, Puerto Rico, and England, tailoring content to local environmental and economic challenges. Unlike traditional distance learning, the platform emphasizes place-based, community-focused education.
The inaugural course, "Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time," launched April 6 and has drawn over 240 participants globally. One student in Australia reportedly wakes at 4 a.m. to attend webinars. "I've been blown away by the diverse backgrounds and demographics of the participants," said Philip Ackerman-Leist, Sterling's dean of professional education and course co-leader.
EcoGather staff are being hired, and eight additional core courses will be added in the first year. By year three, the platform plans to host 24 courses, which will be freely adapted by partner communities. Courses will be accessible and affordable to the public worldwide.
Originally reported by Newport Dispatch.
Photo: David Yu via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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