Bates College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Tom
Twist Sustainability Manager Facilities |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the 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.
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:
We have gardens measuring 6000 sq ft which the students are engaged in managing as a Garden Club. We also have farm partners, such as Whiting Farm and Lots to Gardens, where students work on issues such as composting, waste and recycling management, and alternative energy sources for the farm.
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:
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.
https://thebatesstudent.com/17671/forum/what-is-bates-chews/
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:
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.
https://www.bates.edu/sustainability/bates-green-innovation-grant/
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:
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 - roughly once a 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?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on 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.
https://www.bates.edu/news/2022/11/18/bates-students-model-fashion-design-from-campus-trash/
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:
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.
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:
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 to regain our high standard of recycling post-pandemic.
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:
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 offer bike barn hours twice a week.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
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 17 students totaling $30k annually. The Student Employment Office helps to match the students with sustainability-themed jobs in their field of interest. We also hire two students over the summer to manage our organic, no till garden.
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:
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.