Overall Rating | Gold |
---|---|
Overall Score | 69.24 |
Liaison | Rob Andrejewski |
Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
University of Richmond
EN-3: Student Life
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kelsey
Fastabend Sustainability Program Coordinator Office for Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Outdoors Club is an organization which focuses on creating a sense of community for outdoors enthusiasts by hosting events on-campus, weekend hikes in Virginia, and extended trips across the country over fall and/or spring break.
The Environmental Law Society is a student organization dedicated to learning about and raising awareness of legal issues in the environment. This organization is devoted to fostering sustainable lifestyles and being mindful of our impact on the environment. Annual events include national lobbying opportunities, partnering and volunteering with an environmental non-profit, outdoor social activities, and events with environmental speakers.
SEEDS (Students Engaging & Enacting Dialogue on Service) Project is a student-run organization that focuses on engaging students in meaningful and sustainable service projects as well as dialogue centered around the social justice and environmental issues in specific communities. SEEDS offers three alternative spring break trips each year to the Gulf Region of Louisiana, the Appalachian Region of West Virginia, and the Detroit area of Michigan to learn about environmental and social issues in those areas and complete service projects.
University of Richmond Sustainability Advocates (URSA) is a program dedicated to promoting sustainability and environmentally responsible behavior on campus. URSA educates students, supports Office for Sustainability efforts, and hosts events.
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?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
There are 28 beds available to any member of the University of Richmond campus community, including faculty, staff, and students. Basic tools for gardeners, including hand tools, gloves, rakes, and shovels, are all available for shared use and are stored in our newly constructed tool shed. A committee of faculty, staff, and students oversee the garden and facilitate the lottery process each spring.
Students also have the opportunity through the campus's Bonner Center for Civic Engagement to volunteer with urban agriculture and community garden projects throughout the city. Organizations that students have volunteered with include Shalom Farms and the Peter Paul Development Center's community garden. Through volunteering, students learn about growing food, urban agriculture, and food access throughout the city of Richmond.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Monetary savings that result from the completion of each project are transferred from general funds to the GRF on an annual basis until the cost of the project is paid in full. An additional 10 percent of the savings from the project are transferred into the GRF after the project cost has been repaid. There are two students on the Green Revolving Fund selection team.
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?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
The Bonner Center for Civic Engagement also hosts a weekly Perspectives Discussion Series (formerly called Brown Bag Discussion Series), consisting of speakers focused on provocative social issues. Recent Perspectives sessions focused on sustainability include "Beyond Bees: All About Pollinators", "Climate Activism in Chile & Virginia", and "All We Can Save".
Additionally, there are weekly presentations as part of a Biology Seminar series. Some presentations are focused on sustainability.
The School of Arts and Sciences hosts a symposium each year where student researchers exhibit their scholarly work, including sustainability-focused work. Three sustainability research awards are given out.
Lastly, the Office for Sustainability hosts multiple Introduction to Sustainability presentations every semester to give students an overview of sustainability efforts at the University and how they can get involved.
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?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
One of our on-campus museums, the Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, features environmentally- and sustainability-themed installations. The museum is open to students and partners with various UR classes throughout the year.
"Alterations: Tailored Solutions for Climate Change" is a semester-long art exhbit at University of Richmond's Harnett Museum of Art. The exhibition features sculptural pieces that examine topics like the ecological and social cost of the fashion industry, agriculture, pollinator significance, waste, and human connections to the land and sea.
Small Island Big Song features eight indigenous musicians who are sharing stories of climate change and cultural awareness through song. The University is hosting a concert in March 2022.
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Earth Lodge Living Learning Community participates in outdoor activities that include hiking and camping in state and national parks.
There is also a student Rock Climbing Club at the University. All of these groups make their best efforts to plan ahead and travel by trail, concentrate their activity, clean up after themselves, and leave what they find behind. The University Recreation and Wellness center also provides camping and kayaking equipment for rental to students as well as information about outdoor recreation opportunities.
A student-run Outdoors Club focuses on nature-based recreation, including hiking, biking, surfing, climbing, and backpacking.
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The University also has other themed communities in which students live and take classes together, as well as have opportunities to travel, become engaged in the community, and do research together. Earth Lodge is a Living Learning Community focused on sustainability and outdoor education that gives participating students the chance to learn about sustainability and wellness, experience with outdoor adventure, and opportunities to get involved with environmental conservation in the city of Richmond.
First-year students can also participate in sustainability-themed "Roadmap" experiences designed to help them make the most of their time at college including "What's Hot in the City?".
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Office for Sustainability also has a virtually accessible sustainable living guide called the "Spiders Guide to Sustainable Living". The guide includes information about how to be sustainable on and off campus, along with resources for getting involved in sustainability. https://sustainability.richmond.edu/involved/students/spiders-guide-to-sustainable-living.html
Well 100, Introduction to College Life at UR, includes a module on sustainability for all first-year and transfer students.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
There are also internship positions offered through the department of Geography and the Environment for Environmental Justice Research & Policy interns and Renewable Energy Education Project interns. Those internships give students the opportunity to support the work of the work of the Virginia Advisory Council on Environmental Justice and the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative, and document and communicate progress towards on-campus renewable energy options at UR and other institutions of higher education, respectively.
The UR Rethink Waste office employs 10-15 students called Rethink Waste Representatives every semester. Rethink Waste Representatives provide waste education and run a free store concept, Spider Exchange. They also provide support with waste management assessment.
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
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:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://as.richmond.edu/student-research/symposium/index.html https://sustainability.richmond.edu/involved/students/ursa.html
https://museums.richmond.edu/visit/index.html
https://livinglearning.richmond.edu/endeavor/index.html
https://sustainability.richmond.edu/involved/students/green-room.html
https://studentjobs.richmond.edu/job-openings/index.html
https://sustainability.richmond.edu/involved/students/spiders-guide-to-sustainable-living.html
Other url's to support this submission:
https://as.richmond.edu/student-research/symposium/index.html https://sustainability.richmond.edu/involved/students/ursa.html
https://museums.richmond.edu/visit/index.html
https://livinglearning.richmond.edu/endeavor/index.html
https://sustainability.richmond.edu/involved/students/green-room.html
https://studentjobs.richmond.edu/job-openings/index.html
https://sustainability.richmond.edu/involved/students/spiders-guide-to-sustainable-living.html
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.