Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.20
Liaison Gary Cocke
Submission Date March 1, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Baylor University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Smith Getterman
Assistant Director of Sustainability and Special Projects
Office of Sustainability
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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:
Campus Kitchen- Baylor's Campus Kitchen rescues food from residence hall cafeterias and redistributes it to organizations like Salvation Army for them to then give those in need. As a result of their actions, we save thousands of pounds of food from being wasted and sent to the landfill. Sustainability Student Advisory Board- The SSAB is comprised of students from every classification on campus (Freshmen to doctoral candidates) and open to all majors. It reports directly to the Assistant Director of Sustainability and Special Projects and has an open seat on the University Sustainability Committee. The SSAB hosts events, educational expos, and advocates for sustainable lifestyle changes for the campus community.

The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
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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:
The garden is organic and overseen by several departments including Environmental Science, Campus Kitchen, and the Office of Sustainability. Classes are held in the garden; graduate students are offered a plot for their own personal gardening efforts, and local schools and other community groups are regularly hosted in the garden for outreach and education events.

The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
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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

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
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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?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
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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:
The University hosts the campus wide event Creation Week, celebrating and highlighting our need to care for God's Creation. Campus and community groups that are sustainability focused or related host tables outside of the student union building to recruit and educate the campus community about sustainability. The Office of Sustainability and Sustainability Student Advisory Board are also featured speakers during one session of required freshman chapel every April, which has an audience as large as the Freshman class (around 2,500-3,000 students).

The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
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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:
The Martin Museum of Art regularly hosts exhibits focusing on art and nature, including this season's Confluence of Earth and Mind sculpture exhibition. The museum is free to students, faculty, and staff and located in our fine arts complex.

The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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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:
The university has an entire department focused on outdoor recreation and adventure. They take Spring Break camping and adventure trips and have outdoor programs throughout the academic year which incorporate the Leave No Trace principles. Its purpose is to utilize the inherent benefits of outdoor adventure pursuits to enhance the college life of the student through opportunities that meet personal recreation needs and interests while enhancing the developmental and educational initiatives of the University.

The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):

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

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
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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:
Students in all residence halls engage in a 6 week long sustainability education program themed to energy conservation. Students learn best practices, skills to improve the energy efficiency of their living spaces, and other sustainability related life style tweaks.

The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
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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:
The Office of Sustainability employs three part-time student workers. These workers are involved in every level of the operation and have a significant impact on the success of university sustainability initiatives. The Office of Sustainability also offers internships through two departments: Public Relations and Environmental Science. Students in those departments can apply to be an intern through a specific class and serve as a student intern for one semester, usually in the spring.

The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
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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 Texas Hunger Initiative (THI) is a capacity-building and collaborative project. It seeks to develop and implement strategies to end hunger through policy, education, community organizing, and community development. Students from a variety of disciplines work with, and for, THI in a variety of capacities including but not limited to research and communications.

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