| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.27 |
| Liaison | Mark Klapatch-Mathias |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2024 |
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Mark
Klapatch-Mathias Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
"---"
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:
Resource Management Club (RMC) provides training and volunteer opportunities in conservation work. Past events have included Leave No Trace trainings, river and pond cleanups, assisting in local prairie restoration and maintenance, and volunteering with the US Fish and Wildlife Service's education days.
The UWRF Bee Club is a group of students interested in learning about beekeeping and the impact bees have on the environment. Club activities focus on ways to help pollinators and find ways to counter the global decrease of bees. The Bee Club coordinates and works to maintain the Bee Campus designation.
The Green Team focuses on sustainability in a broad sense but has a particular interest in moving towards zero waste.
There is also the Environmental Sustainability Club and the Horticulture Society.
The UWRF Bee Club is a group of students interested in learning about beekeeping and the impact bees have on the environment. Club activities focus on ways to help pollinators and find ways to counter the global decrease of bees. The Bee Club coordinates and works to maintain the Bee Campus designation.
The Green Team focuses on sustainability in a broad sense but has a particular interest in moving towards zero waste.
There is also the Environmental Sustainability Club and the Horticulture Society.
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 College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science has provided training in the agricultural sciences since 1912. We have earned an outstanding reputation for quality education and service to the people of Wisconsin. UW-River Falls operates two laboratory farms which are an integral part of our students' education. Many classes in animal sciences, food science, horticulture, crop and soil science, environmental science and agricultural engineering technology meet on the farms for the laboratory portions of the course. Students help operate the farms and our sustainable agriculture program continues to grow.
In addition to the production of crops, the laboratory farms support horse, beef and dairy cattle herds, a swine herd and a sheep flock. Demonstrations and experimental plots are also provided for student use. Cropland and livestock production facilities are used for classroom and hands-on educational purposes. Modern facilities house the animals and are used to demonstrate the relationships between management, nutrition, breeding and the environment.
In addition to the production of crops, the laboratory farms support horse, beef and dairy cattle herds, a swine herd and a sheep flock. Demonstrations and experimental plots are also provided for student use. Cropland and livestock production facilities are used for classroom and hands-on educational purposes. Modern facilities house the animals and are used to demonstrate the relationships between management, nutrition, breeding and the environment.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
No
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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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:
UWRF partners with the River Falls Public Library for a sustainability speakers series each academic year. Topics during the last three years have included climate change, tree health and tree care, edible landscapes, the mental health impacts of our changing climate, sustainability in the fashion industry, seed starting, responsible investing, sustainable landscaping, sustainable living, local healthy pesticide-free food, and more.
UWRF also hosts a sustainability film series each academic year.
UWRF also hosts a sustainability film series each academic year.
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:
UWRF Stage and Screen Arts department ran the play "The Tempest" with a sustainability focus on waste. All materials used for the set were from campus waste and/or recycling collections.
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The University is an Educational Partner with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. UWRF Outdoor Education students enrolled in PED 301 - Foundations of Outdoor Leadership will become Certified Leave No Trace Trainers.
The University has outlets to connect students with nature, heightening their appreciation for the natural world, including the services and spiritual connections it can provide. Falcon Outdoor Adventures provides free-of-charge rental items such as camping gear, cross-country skis, rock climbing gear, snow shoes, golf clubs, and fishing poles and leads trips and excursions that range from afternoon and day-long kayaking hiking to skiing outings. The Falcon Outdoor Adventure staff is trained in Leave No Trace principles during staff training and is expected to follow these principles during all Falcon Outdoor Adventures trips. In addition, trip leaders are expected to demonstrate these principles and expose our participants to them in the hopes that ethical outdoor adventuring becomes contagious.
https://www.uwrf.edu/CampusRec/FalconOutdoorAdventures/Index.cfm
The University has outlets to connect students with nature, heightening their appreciation for the natural world, including the services and spiritual connections it can provide. Falcon Outdoor Adventures provides free-of-charge rental items such as camping gear, cross-country skis, rock climbing gear, snow shoes, golf clubs, and fishing poles and leads trips and excursions that range from afternoon and day-long kayaking hiking to skiing outings. The Falcon Outdoor Adventure staff is trained in Leave No Trace principles during staff training and is expected to follow these principles during all Falcon Outdoor Adventures trips. In addition, trip leaders are expected to demonstrate these principles and expose our participants to them in the hopes that ethical outdoor adventuring becomes contagious.
https://www.uwrf.edu/CampusRec/FalconOutdoorAdventures/Index.cfm
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:
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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:
UWRF Sustainability Representatives engaged students in learning sustainable life- skills with events such as DIY Up-Cycle Craft Event to promote relaxation with upcycling goods and relieving stress around finals week, local food events to inform students of our in-season produce and delectable, simple ways to use them (i.e., handing out pumpkin energy balls during the fall to provide healthy sustainable snacks during midterms, with nutrition label and recipe attached.). The sustainability speakers series focuses on educating people to lead more sustainable practices. Over the past few years, relevant topics in that series have included sustainable living and local, healthy, pesticide-free food.
"Sustain Your Brain" is an event held the week before finals week each fall semester. It focuses on mental health, well-being, and sustaining ourselves. It is a partnership with several other campus departments and student organizations. A Mindfulness in the Garden series was also offered in 2023.
"Sustain Your Brain" is an event held the week before finals week each fall semester. It focuses on mental health, well-being, and sustaining ourselves. It is a partnership with several other campus departments and student organizations. A Mindfulness in the Garden series was also offered in 2023.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Sustainability Office employs students in sustainability roles. These are general sustainability and coordinator positions focused on waste, water and energy efficiency, reporting and planning, grounds, diversity and inclusivity, communication, food, health, wellbeing, waste minimization, city liaison, etc.
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
Yes
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
UWRF launched a sustainability pledge in 2023. Students who are about to graduate receive an email with more information and have the option to sign the pledge, which states, "As a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, I pledge to consider the social and environmental impacts of my personal and professional choices. Within any organization I am a part of, I will apply ethical principles to my decisions because they can shape the future of our global community. I commit to being a life-long learner concerned with honoring and upholding the dignity of others and leaving the world better than I found it."
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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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.