Agnes Scott College
EN-3: Student Life

The Environmental Residents are the Center for Sustainability’s liaisons to the student body. They are also the main environmental interest group on campus and function as a club that promotes sustainability and environmental awareness to the greater campus community.

The Bee Society is a student organization that was created with the purpose of educating the school and local community about bees, their importance, maintaining and caring for our on-campus hives, and preserving one of humanity’s most important symbiotic relationships. Agnes Scott’s Bee Society maintains a relationship with the City of Decatur, a designated Bee City USA. They partner on educational activities and resources to raise awareness about the important roles bees play in the ecosystem.

Students for Equitable and Sustainable Cities is an organization that focuses on understanding city planning and development through an intersectional lens. The goal of this student organization is to educate the Agnes Scott community on the environmental and social issues that arise from development. This organization held its first event in Spring 2021 in collaboration with UNICEF focuses on water access, water quality, and inequity.

Through the Center for Sustainability, the college has an organic demonstration garden where students can volunteer. They are welcome to take home any vegetables and herbs harvested. Additionally, the Center manages the greenhouse that is part of the Bullock Science Center, which allows the organic gardening efforts to continue through the winter months. The college’s part-time gardener maintains a contact list of all interested students and she contacts them on a regular basis for work days and other learning activities. The garden has become a recognized educator for the campus community.

Agnes Scott’s Green Revolving Fund is overseen by a committee of faculty, staff, consultants, and students. Through their participation on the Green Revolving Fund committee, students are directly involved in energy efficiency and retrofitting projects on campus, and gain first-hand experience on green investments.
Students also have the opportunity to engage in investing in new initiatives through our Student Green Fee Fund (SGFF), which allows students to manage and allocate funds for sustainability related projects proposed by students. The SGFF has supported a number of projects, including the installation of water bottle refill stations and the purchase of six outdoor recycling units. The SGFF also aids student organizations in being more sustainable in their events by paying the difference in funding where the student organization may not have the funds. Students have also received grants from the SGFF for campus sustainability research and education activities.

Students also have the opportunity to engage in investing in new initiatives through our Student Green Fee Fund (SGFF), which allows students to manage and allocate funds for sustainability related projects proposed by students. The SGFF has supported a number of projects, including the installation of water bottle refill stations and the purchase of six outdoor recycling units. SGFF also aids student organizations in being more sustainable in their events by paying the difference in funding where the stud. org may not have the funds. Students have also received grants from the SGFF for campus sustainability research and education activities.

Every school year the Center for Sustainability co-hosts at least one major national speaker.

Engage, Connect, Protect Book Event (Spring 2020): A conversation with Engage, Connect, Project author Angelou Ezelio. Engage, Connect, Protect highlights the need to recognize the work of environmental champions in communities of color, and create opportunities for businesses, educators, and policymakers to engage with diverse youth as the next generation of environmental stewards through culturally relevant learning and career opportunities. Agnes Scott hosted Ezeilo for a book event and reception/book signing.

Southface Sustainability in Action Roundtable (Spring 2020): The Southface Institute hosted leaders from Agnes Scott College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Kennesaw State University, and the University of Georgia to talk about incorporating green initiatives on campus through student engagement, sustainable building practices, teaching, and research. This event was held at Agnes Scott and included a sustainability campus tour.

Global Warming Demystified - How You Can Make Sense of the Media Debate (Spring 2020): Astrophysicist and educator Dr. Jeffrey Bennett was hosted by the Center for Sustainability for a talk on climate change communications. The goal of the event was to give participants the foundation they need to speak intelligently about the science behind global warming, and show them why the solutions to this problem are ones that people of all political persuasions can agree on.

Transformers: Artistic Alchemy Art Exhibit (Fall 2018): The transformers in this art exhibition were artists who began with a recognizable object as the raw material for their act of transformation. The enhancement or subversion of the original object involved adding layers of meaning or complexity to the object or reverse the original intent of that object, whether it be as tangible or indestructible as a massive rubber tire or ephemeral as a virtual image. This event has hosted by the Dalton Gallery.
https://www.agnesscott.edu/featured-events/2018/09/transformers-dalton-gallery-2018.html?mc_cid=b99b0a87c0&mc_eid=6abd2aca95)

The primary goal of both the Environmental Residents and the Green Team is to promote sustainable life skills and practices. Included below are events these groups held specific to sustainable life skills.
- Can You Sort It? Recycling Game (Fall 2019)
- Facilities Waste Audit (Spring 2020)
- Clothing Swaps (Spring 2019, Fall 2019, and Spring 2020)- Zero Waste Video Series: The Environmental Residents filmed themselves attempting a zero waste lifestyle for one week in order to report to the campus community about their biggest sources of waste, the challenges they had along the way, and whether or not it is possible at ASC.

From Spring 2016-Spring 2019, Agnes Scott hosted a week-long life skills conference, Peak Week, that provided students with practical life skills that are not taught in a traditional academic environment. The Center for Sustainability served on the planning committee for this event. In Spring 2019 the Peak Week sustainability events included Beekeeping 101 and Farmers Market tour.

Students have the option to either work in the Center through work-study, for-credit internships, or volunteer positions. Through their work in the Center, students are able to complete projects that foster their individual interests in sustainability and fit the needs of the Center. Each semester, the Center hosts between 4-7 working students.

Every senior is given the opportunity to sign a sustainability graduation pledge that reads: “I pledge to continue my role as a global citizen by carrying on the Agnes Scott College mission of thinking deeply, living honorably, and engaging the intellectual and social challenges of my time. In doing this, I will explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of my actions and will try to improve these aspects in organizations for which I work and communities within which I live.”
These signatures received a ribbon to wear on their robes and are recognized during the commencement ceremony.
These signatories receive a ribbon to wear on their robes and recognized during the commencement ceremony. In 2018, 132 seniors committed themselves to this sustainability pledge.