| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 79.37 |
| Liaison | Jillian Leach |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
California State University, Chico
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Nani
Teves Sustainability Coordinator Associated Students |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Their are a number of student groups on campus that work on sustainability-related or -focused issues:
--Chico State's Green Campus students work under the direction and advisement of the Campus Director of Energy & Sustainability and in collaboration with all campus partners to further our sustainability goals and commitment of carbon neutrality by 2030. Green Campus leaders and interns are key catalysts in building a campus community and culture of sustainability through peer education and awareness building, program and project development and implementation, and sustainability related research. Green Campus interns gain real world experience in being a sustainability change agent and are given the opportunity to put creative solutions to work. Interns work with stakeholders from across the campus to advance our goals.
--The AS Sustainability Center exists to ignite a passion in the campus community to be active in protecting and restoring the earth. We do this by researching, imagining, and creating solutions that address environmental and cultural problems. We offer internships, paid staff positions, and volunteer opportunities; promote eco-awareness on campus and in the community through education and outreach on sustainability-related issues; implement sustainable practices in the AS departments; provide funding opportunities for student-driven sustainability projects; and offer a supportive and fun social environment where peers actively engage in each other’s knowledge and participate in educational outings in the local community.
--CLIC is a legal information to students and community members for over 40 years. CLIC also provides paralegal internship opportunities, with students working directly under CLIC’s four supervising attorneys, in 11 different areas, including Environmental Advocacy. http://www.as.csuchico.edu/index.php/legal-assistance-clic/about-legal-assistance-clic/
--The Associated Students Sustainability Affairs Council consists of students, staff, faculty and community members who all work to increase the Associated Students (AS), university and community commitment to sustainability. The group aims to educate, empower and advocate on behalf of students about sustainability-related issues.
http://www.aschico.com/gac/sustainabilityaffairscouncil/
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:
Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems: The Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems (CRARS) aims to investigate, develop, demonstrate, and educate about comprehensive, regenerative practices that both restore and enhance the resiliency of living systems and communities. (https://www.csuchico.edu/regenerativeagriculture/about-us/about.shtml)
CSU, Chico’s Organic Vegetable Project is a 10-acre certified organic plot in production currently. The collaboration brings together students, faculty, local farmers, and other community members who intend to promote the wise use of resources and preservation of local food production. Its goals are to support local farmers with information, the community with educational workshops, students with valuable management and research skills, and the university campus with fresh produce. (https://www.csuchico.edu/ag/university-farm/ovp.shtml)
AS Sustainability runs a small educational compost garden on campus where students can drop their food waste 24/7 for composting. Students come to learn different compost techniques and organic gardening.
https://as.csuchico.edu/sustainability/compost-garden
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:
The Associated Students (AS) is a student-led nonprofit auxiliary of CSU, Chico that enriches the quality of campus life through programs and services created for students by students.
(Associated Students mission statement: https://as.csuchico.edu/about-us).
The AS supports several student-run enterprises, including the Bike Hub is well known for providing students affordable, reliable and friendly service by students for students. The AS Bike Hub is a non-profit operation run by student managers who focus on repairing bikes for students. They offer used bikes for sale to the community and promote alternative transportation. The Bike Hub hosts a bike auction where the proceeds go to scholarships for students to go on Adventure Outing trips. (https://as.csuchico.edu/adventure-outings/bike-hub)
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:
The Sustainability Fund was started by students in 2006 to help tackle two of the most pressing issues of our time; climate change and environmental justice. Approximately $100,000 is set aside each year to empower students and the AS to identify needs, implement solutions and make a positive difference on campus and in the world. Funds are awarded once each semester by the Sustainability Fund Allocation Committee (SFAC) - of which a majority of the voting members are students. (https://as.csuchico.edu/sustainability/sfac)
About 10% of AS activity fees and allocations are earmarked for sustainability. (Information about AS activity fees and allocations of funds: https://as.csuchico.edu/about-us).
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:
Chico State annually hosts the This Way To Sustainability Conference (TWTS). It is a nationally recognized, student-run conference focusing on challenges, ideas, solutions and resiliency in planning our sustainable future. The conference hosts 1,400 participants each year with a variety of respected students and professionals speaking on the many aspects of sustainability. The goal of the conference is to educate students, staff, faculty, and community members; providing attendees an opportunity to network, discuss, and become more aware of pertinent environmental and social issues we all face. (https://www.csuchico.edu/twts/)
The campus hosts an annual Campus Sustainability Day. Campus Sustainability Day is devoted to the achievements of - and challenges for - the students, faculty, and staff who are integrating sustainability principles and practices into their institutions and surrounding communities. Campus Sustainability Day at Chico State is a time to reflect - on campus sustainability programs and initiatives you knew about and many you didn’t, and a time to connect - to like-minded people and all kinds of great opportunities for involvement on campus. A campus sustainability open house includes displays highlighting sustainability programs and practices from across the campus.
The campus also hosts an annual Earth Day Fair. The Earth Day Fair is held outside (weather permitting) and features interactive booths encouraging attendees to get their hands dirty and have fun in the name of the environment.
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:
The Janet Turner Museum hosted a virtual 2021 Earth Day event, highlighting art and artists engaging the public on critical issues facing the environment. (https://www.csuchico.edu/turner/earth-day.shtml)
Each year, the TWTS Conference hosted at CSU, Chico has an "Arts and Sustainability" track and "A Visual Art Gallery. Examples can be found online at:
https://media.csuchico.edu/media/Art%20and%20Sustainability%20Panel%20-%20TWTS%202021/1_pn90ms3v
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yztdyy9Zxij5khtO00AK2eydyBG4KeFc9O6RHS8LMDQ/edit#slide=id.p1
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:
CSU, Chico's outdoor adventure program, Adventure Outings, provides trips throughout northern California. All trips are lead by student trip leaders. We offer 50 trips a year. Trips offered include, backpacking, rafting, rock climbing, caving and day hiking. All trips emphasize minimum impact outdoor ethics. Leave No Trace principles are taught and followed on every trip. (https://as.csuchico.edu/adventure-outings)
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:
The founders of Sense of Place (SOP) wanted a public sphere event that would have students from different courses and different class standings come together with faculty, staff, and community members to share projects and ideas around making our college and community more sustainable. Today, SOP continues its mission towards a more sustainable Chico. As the event grows, so does its purpose. Students not only present on sustainable actions, they also share narratives of their identities rooted in place. Sustainability is our ability to preserve our identities by sharing solutions and taking actions that are Environmentally Sound, Socially Equitable, and Economically Feasible. (https://www.csuchico.edu/fye/events/sense-of-place.shtml)
The 2019-20 Book in Common has had a sustainability-focus. In Search of the Canary Tree, by Lauren E. Oakes, is an "award-winning and surprisingly hopeful story of one woman's search for resiliency in a warming world." (https://www.csuchico.edu/bic/)
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:
AS Sustainability Education & Outreach Team seeks to connect with all members of Chico State (as well as the greater Chico community) in order to spread the word of sustainability. Through presentations, workshops, weekly tabling, and events, our team strives to make eco-friendly habits and lifestyles accessible to all. Our goal is to teach others how to live a greener lifestyle, provide eco-tips and tricks, and make it known that living sustainably can be easy and is for all members of the human family, regardless of race, religion, gender identity or expression, economic background, age, or ability. It can be adapted to meet the needs of everyone.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
--The Associated Students' Sustainability Program offers a number of paid student positions each semester that are focused on a range of strategies for advancing sustainability within the AS and across campus. These include positions focused on Real Food and Dining Services, managing the Compost Display Area, working on the Green Events Consulting Team, working for the Recycling Program and working on general outreach and education related to sustainability.
--Green Campus Chico State's Green Campus paid student interns work under the direction and advisement of the Campus Director of Energy & Sustainability and in collaboration with all campus partners to further our sustainability goals and commitment of carbon neutrality by 2030. Green Campus leaders and interns are key catalysts in building a campus community and culture of sustainability through peer education and awareness building, program and project development and implementation, and sustainability related research. Green Campus interns gain real world experience in being a sustainability change agent and are given the opportunity to put creative solutions to work. Interns work with stakeholders from across the campus to advance our goals.
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):
Green Campus runs a Green Graduation project, wherein students of all majors participate in a Green Graduate Pledge; a program of the Graduation Pledge Alliance organization. Graduates take a pledge promising sustainable practices in both their future professional careers and personal lives. Participants must attend at least one sustainability focused event in order to receive a green cord to wear at graduation. (https://www.csuchico.edu/sustainability/green-grad.shtml)
In addition to the pledge, this program will mitigate the exposure to littering of microplastics on campus. The use of conventional glitter is recognized widely as an issue by the CSU system; universities such as Monterey Bay have similar efforts. During the period up to graduation day, a significant number of students utilize glitter products, affecting wildlife and entering the campus riparian corridor. We promote the option of compostable paper confetti in lieu of plastic glitter.
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:
URL's were provided for all the categories, and is the source of data provided.
URL's were provided for all the categories, and is the source of data provided.
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