Babson College
EN-2: Co-Curricular Activities

The Babson Sustainability and Energy Club (BSEC):

https://www.bseclub.org/ 

The Undergraduate Sustainability Club:

Babson Sustainability Club student-run environmental advocacy organization that engages and empowers students to be responsible leaders in sustainability through community initiatives and events.

https://belong.babson.edu/bsc/home/ 

Social Impact Club:

The Babson Social Impact Club is a dynamic community dedicated to integrating social impact into the business landscape at Babson College. The club empowers students to lead and participate in socially impactful projects, offering a range of opportunities from speaker panels with industry leaders to hands-on initiatives like the Cohort Program. Members collaborate on projects across areas such as sustainability, education, and social justice, fostering connections with professionals and organizations in the greater Boston area. Through events, workshops, and networking opportunities, the club provides students with the skills and resources to drive meaningful change, all while highlighting the synergy between business and social impact.​

 https://belong.babson.edu/bsig/home/ 

For more than 15 years, the graduate Babson Sustainability and Energy Club has hosted an annual conference, engaging the community in important conversations and workshops with a variety of leaders in the sustainability, green finance, and ESG space.

At the undergraduate level, Sustainability Interns host an annual Sustainability Fair to bring awareness to the multiple undergraduate student clubs, organizations, and co-curricular activities at Babson that focus on environmental sustainability and social justice.

https://www.bseclub.org/general-info 

Good Business Index: 

The Good Business Index has been integrated into the required yearlong undergraduate experiential course called Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship (FME). Students learn hands-on how to develop, launch, and manage a venture with their FME team.

The Good Business Index for FME is a companion tool, allowing FME students to practice not only how to create a profitable venture but also what considerations they can make as values-driven entrepreneurial leaders.

Key to its success and adoption, we assign a Sustainability Intern to work with each FME section as a near-peer mentor. The Sustainability Interns help FME teams better understand how they might create a venture that is environmentally, socially, and ethically impactful.

The Institute for Social Innovation hires several student interns every year. This group of interns evaluates the priorities of the campus and designs projects that use SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) goals to drive towards a more sustainable campus.

Sustainability Interns work on a combination of:

• Managing events and programs, such as the annual Sustainability Fair
• Marketing and Outreach, such as presenting to classes
• Connecting with Babson staff members and faculty to partner on common sustainability goals
• Individual or group campus sustainability projects
• Track key performance metrics and progress, reporting to external evaluations

Each intern is expected to actively promote Sustainability at Babson through outreach, engagement, and near-peer mentorship.

https://www.babson.edu/social-innovation-institute/experiential-learning/sustainability-interns/ 

Several of Babson’s most successful student entrepreneurs are the ones who are considering how to create sustainable economic, environmental, and social value simultaneously. For example, all three of the winning ventures of Babson’s prestigious B.E.T.A. Challenge (where early-stage companies compete for cash and prizes) focused on sustainability. Amelia Thomas (alumni track) of River Otter Renewables Inc. detailed a process that turns nearly any waste—plastic, plant, or sewage—into usable biocrude oil. Jennifer Calhoun (graduate track) of G.I. Junk Removal removes and restores unwanted junk while providing veterans with work and comradery. And, Dylan Zajac (undergraduate track) of Computers 4 People refurbishes old computers, keeping them out of landfills and into the hands of individuals and organizations in under-resourced communities.

https://www.babson.edu/social-innovation-institute/experiential-learning/sustainability-interns/ 

Programs and activities are at the bottom of the link.

Sustainability Fair: The Sustainability Fair serves as a platform to highlight various sustainability programs, clubs and local vendors dedicated to eco-friendly practices. This engaging event presents an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to explore innovative initiatives aimed at promoting environmental stewardship. However, because it cultivates a culture of sustainability on campus, participants are encouraged to engage actively. Through interactive exhibits and informative presentations, attendees acquire invaluable insights into sustainable practices and are motivated to undertake significant action toward realizing a greener campus. Although some individuals might perceive the concepts as challenging, the fair functions as a catalyst for meaningful change.

Slash the Trash: Slash the Trash signifies more than just a week-long initiative; it acts as a call (directed at our student body) to reevaluate their consumption patterns and embrace responsible waste management strategies. Throughout this challenge, participants are urged to monitor—and record—items they would typically dispose of. This initiative heightens awareness regarding the environmental ramifications of waste generation. Ultimately, this event not only promotes thoughtful consumption but also fosters a deeper comprehension of our collective environmental footprint.

 Dark Dorm Challenge:The Dark Dorm Challenge (1) represents a dynamic initiative aimed at raising awareness of energy consumption. It seeks to empower students to adopt energy-saving habits in their daily lives. Participants are challenged (2) to reduce their energy usage within their dormitories over a designated period. This fosters a culture of conservation and sustainability on campus. Through education and engagement, as well as friendly competition, the Dark Dorm Challenge encourages students to take proactive steps toward reducing their environmental footprint. However, promoting energy efficiency within their living spaces can be difficult; it requires commitment. Although the initiative is effective, it also highlights the need for ongoing awareness, because change does not happen overnight.

Clothing Swap: The Clothing Swap initiative (which is quite innovative) provides students with a sustainable solution for clothing disposal: it creates a platform for recycling garments. Instead of simply discarding unwanted clothing items, students can choose to donate them to be either repurposed or exchanged at the Clothing Swap events. This approach promotes circular fashion practices and encourages the reuse and recycling of clothing. However, the program not only diverts textiles from landfills; it also cultivates a culture of sustainability (and conscious consumption) within the campus community. Although some may still prefer to throw things away, the benefits of participation in this initiative are clear.

Earth Day Planting: Earth Day Planting is a celebratory event that commemorates Earth Day by engaging the campus community in hands-on environmental stewardship activities. Participants come together to flowers, and other native vegetation, beautifying community garden space.

Sudeeksha’s Secret Community Garden: Managed by the Sustainability at Babson team, this communal green space provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to cultivate organic produce, connect with nature, and foster a sense of belonging.

End-of-Year Recycling Program with Re-Stream in partnership with Facilities: This program represents an innovative initiative: it is designed to divert reusable items from landfills. However, it also supports college students (during the transition) out of their dormitories at the conclusion of the academic year. Many students, because they are preparing to vacate their dorm rooms, may find that they possess perfectly usable items. Although some might consider discarding these belongings, this program offers a convenient and sustainable alternative for students to donate their gently used items. This approach not only benefits the environment, but it also assists those in need within the community.

Sustainable Food Programming in Partnership with Chartwells: This new program in partnership with Chartwells will bring in local and sustainable food vendors to enlighten students about the intricate workings of our food system. Explore organic eating and delve into the realms of sustainable food systems. We hope that students will embark on a journey towards a healthier, more conscious way of nourishing ourselves and our planet.

To gauge the effectiveness of our outreach efforts and participation in sustainability initiatives, we utilize Microsoft Forms, CVENT, Belong and Canvas. These platforms allows us to collect and analyze data from the campus community regarding their engagement with our outreach sustainability programs. By regularly gathering feedback and tracking participation, we can make informed decisions to improve our strategies and enhance the overall sustainability of our campus.