Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.58
Liaison Tom Twist
Submission Date June 12, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Bates College
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Tom Twist
Sustainability Manager
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student Groups 

Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The Environmental Coalition is entirely student run and focuses on activism, outreach, and raising the student body's awareness of sustainability issues, both on the campus and off.

The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
https://www.bates.edu/sustainability/culture/

Gardens and Farms 

Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects 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:
We have gardens measuring approx 4000 sq ft which the students are engaged in managing as a Garden Club. We also have farm partners, such as Whiting Farm, where students work on issues such as composting, waste and recycling management, and alternative energy sources for the farm.

The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
http://www.bates.edu/food/what-is-bates-doing/victory-gardening/

Student-Run Enterprises 

Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
No
+ Date Revised: Oct. 5, 2021

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Mug Club and CHEWS are two other sustainability enterprises - one tries to cut down on paper cup use (successful - we have no more disposable cups), and the other helps promote sustainability messaging in our dining hall.

The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
https://www.facebook.com/bateschews/

Sustainable Investment and Finance 

Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
We have a microgrants program where we can crowd-source sustainability projects from our faculty and students - these are called Green Innovation Grants, and give out grants of up to $2,000 each to students, staff and faculty for their good ideas. The recipients then become project managers for that grant.

The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
http://www.bates.edu/sustainability/bates-green-innovation-grant/

Events 

Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
We have a monthly EnviroLunch speaker series, where we bring in guest speakers from the outside sustainability world - everything from solar to composting to electric vehicles. We also have an Otis Lecture series, which brings in sustainability themed speakers on a wider scale. Our Committee for Environmental Responsibility brings in lecturers and host book events as well.

The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
https://www.bates.edu/alumni/events/twenty-second-annual-otis-lecture/

Cultural Arts 

Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
We host a Trashion Show, where we partner with the art department to make fashion out of recycled goods. We also currently have an art exhibit at our Olin Museum on the Anthropocene - all sustainability and environmental-awareness raising works of art.

The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
http://www.bates.edu/sustainability/events/trashion-show/

Wilderness and Outdoors Programs 

Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Bates Outing Club incorporate Leave No Trace principles into their excursions, and have more focused events where they work with the EcoReps to do concerted cleanups of our wilderness campus areas like Mt. David.

The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
https://www.bates.edu/news/2016/06/13/mount-david-cleanup-students/

Sustainability-Related Themes 

Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
No
+ Date Revised: Oct. 5, 2021

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Bates EcoRep interns have one particular project that they work on for a semester, which helps focus their efforts. This current semester is a push towards our 2020 carbon neutrality goal.

The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
https://www.bates.edu/sustainability/

Sustainable Life Skills 

Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
We have a bike share program, and events where the students can learn how to repair their bikes to be used in lieu of their car. We also have training for the EcoReps in how to understand energy systems, write an effective email, insulate your home, etc. Last year, we enabled the students to install 6kW of solar on our research building themselves.

The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
http://www.bates.edu/sustainability/green-bike-program/

Student Employment Opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
We hire and pay students to be EcoReps here on campus, as well as helping them to find jobs and internships for summer work or post-graduation. We hire 24 students totaling $16k annually. The Student Employment Office helps to match the students with sustainability-themed jobs in their field of interest.

The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
http://www.bates.edu/sustainability/get-involved/get-involved-for-students/ecorep-program-2/

Graduation Pledge

Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledges:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Other Programs and Initiatives 

Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
Yes

A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The students installed a solar array in tandem with a solar company on one of our research buildings this year. The panels will be enough to cover 100% of the building's load throughout the year. This was for our Shortridge Research Facility.

The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
https://www.bates.edu/sustainability/

Optional Fields 

Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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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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