| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.50 |
| Liaison | Amanda Kohn |
| Submission Date | Feb. 13, 2024 |
University of Minnesota, Crookston
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.75 / 2.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD) is a team of students and faculty working to create a healthy, welcoming and sustainable campus community. https://crk.umn.edu/student-activities/cssd
Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD) is committed to working with the faculty, staff, and students at the University of Minnesota Crookston to inspire our community to conduct its business in ways that conserve its resources and are good for all people and good for the planet while engaging our community in an ongoing dialogue and discovery of more sustainable practices that lead to individual and institutional actions towards sustainability.
Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD) is committed to working with the faculty, staff, and students at the University of Minnesota Crookston to inspire our community to conduct its business in ways that conserve its resources and are good for all people and good for the planet while engaging our community in an ongoing dialogue and discovery of more sustainable practices that lead to individual and institutional actions towards sustainability.
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The vegetable and flower garden at the Crookston campus is a result of the generosity of Allen Pedersen. The collaboration by Sodexo Dining Services, Valley Technology Park, and the U of M Crookston Center for Sustainability helped make the garden a reality. The garden is managed by Theresa Helgerson with the help of a student intern. The produce from the garden is used in the campus dining hall.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
Yes
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Professors Craig Miller and Rachel Lundbohm provide guidance and logistical help to all students interested in participating in the e-fest competition. https://efest.biz/ The opportunity is advertised through several campus community engagement channels.
University of Minnesota Crookston business students, Ben Goelz and Matt Thielen, along with their friend, Matt Gendreau, from the University of St. Thomas, recently participated in e-Fest and took third place at the competition. The team received $20,000 to advance their business, "Greenscapes."
Goelz, Thielen, and Gendreau created Greenscapes which takes recycled glass bottles, crushes them, and turns them into fine sand that can be used on golf courses. The students submitted their idea and pitch online in February, along with 110 other teams in the initial round, and were announced as one of the top 25 teams. They were invited to attend the in-person competition April 27-29, and emerged in third place. The team was advised by Assistant Professor Rachel Lundbohm and Senior Lecturer Craig Miller. https://crk.umn.edu/news/umn-crookston-business-students-placed-efest-and-earned-20000-toward-their-business-idea
University of Minnesota Crookston business students, Ben Goelz and Matt Thielen, along with their friend, Matt Gendreau, from the University of St. Thomas, recently participated in e-Fest and took third place at the competition. The team received $20,000 to advance their business, "Greenscapes."
Goelz, Thielen, and Gendreau created Greenscapes which takes recycled glass bottles, crushes them, and turns them into fine sand that can be used on golf courses. The students submitted their idea and pitch online in February, along with 110 other teams in the initial round, and were announced as one of the top 25 teams. They were invited to attend the in-person competition April 27-29, and emerged in third place. The team was advised by Assistant Professor Rachel Lundbohm and Senior Lecturer Craig Miller. https://crk.umn.edu/news/umn-crookston-business-students-placed-efest-and-earned-20000-toward-their-business-idea
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
No
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
The SELF (Student-Engaged Leadership Forum) sustain Conference is a two-day event for students from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Crookston, Morris, Duluth and Rochester campuses. https://environment.umn.edu/leadership/susted/conferences-events/selfsustain-conference/
International Dinners and SDGs (public facing event where international students talk about their country; for the last 2 years the Sustainability director has given an introduction to the SDGs and the students have highlighted the SDGs in their country as they talk about the culture and government of their home countries.
Other events:
https://events.crk.umn.edu/department/center_for_sustainability
https://events.crk.umn.edu/event/sdg_webinar_series_biodiversity_and_the_interconnectedness_of_life_on_land
International Dinners and SDGs (public facing event where international students talk about their country; for the last 2 years the Sustainability director has given an introduction to the SDGs and the students have highlighted the SDGs in their country as they talk about the culture and government of their home countries.
Other events:
https://events.crk.umn.edu/department/center_for_sustainability
https://events.crk.umn.edu/event/sdg_webinar_series_biodiversity_and_the_interconnectedness_of_life_on_land
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Crookston Students for Sustainable Development (CSSD) hosted a workshop to learn how to create and make your own sustainable art co-hosted with a local artist.
https://events.crk.umn.edu/event/artist_workshop
Chats and Crafts-weekly event where peole come together to discuss gender issues while learning/practicing a craft (writing/drawing/painting/crocheting/knitting/spinning, etc...)
https://events.crk.umn.edu/event/artist_workshop
Chats and Crafts-weekly event where peole come together to discuss gender issues while learning/practicing a craft (writing/drawing/painting/crocheting/knitting/spinning, etc...)
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
No
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
---
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
No
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
---
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Continued Sustainable Life Series (1x/month event showing people across campus how sustainability can be incorporated into their lives. The purpose is to show everyone on campus regardless of major, discipline, etc. that they have a role to play in sustainability. Topics that have been covered include canning, grafting, fair trade, natural dyeing, solar energy tours, sustainable building design and more.
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/252777/crk_umn_edu_news_umcsustainability.pdf?sequence=1
https://events.crk.umn.edu/group/crookston_students_for_sustainable_development
https://events.crk.umn.edu/department/center_for_sustainability
https://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/252777/crk_umn_edu_news_umcsustainability.pdf?sequence=1
https://events.crk.umn.edu/group/crookston_students_for_sustainable_development
https://events.crk.umn.edu/department/center_for_sustainability
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Interns have worked in Sustainability in Sports (Green Team goes to athletic events and does things like recycle relays; diverts waste from big events like Cinco de Mayo); as an Events Coordinator (working on our social media/education); and a recycling/composting intern is working with dining services and safety to get back of house composting going in Crookston.
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
---
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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