Carleton College
EN-3: Student Life

Environmental Carls Organized (ECO). This student group is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and activism on campus and in the community by providing opportunities for environment volunteering. The group is student-governed and was instrumental in establishing trayless dining in one of Carleton's two student dining halls, implementing drying racks in dorms, and implementing reusable dishware in our grab and go cafe. Members also participate in organizing community events such as Carleton's annual Climate Action Week and Earth Week activities.

The Carleton Association of Nature and Outdoor Enthusiast (CANOE) focuses on outdoor appreciation, outdoor skills, and Leave No Trace principles. The organization is student-governed and organizes student-led trips for hiking, camping, snow shoeing, skiing, dog sledding, canoeing, climbing, etc. offering at least one trip every weekend. http://apps.carleton.edu/student/orgs/canoe/


The Carleton Farm Club members assist farm interns with maintenance of the Carleton Student Organic Farm, which posted record profits during the 2014 season. The student-governed group is based out of Farm House, a student residence with the theme of sustainable living. Farm House regularly organizes events such as candle-making, canning and dinners with faculty and staff. Website: http://carletonfarm.tumblr.com/

Food Truth is a student-governed Carleton College organization dedicated to raising food consciousness by examining the environmental, political, social and ethical impacts of what we eat. Food Truth organizes events, speakers, community dinners, films, workshops, and field trips to encourage discussion and advocacy around food-related issues. They spearheaded Real Food Calculator reporting and Real Food Challenge efforts on the Carleton campus. Website: http://carletonfoodtruth.blogspot.com/

Kids for Conservation (KFC) was initiated to give elementary school children the knowledge about environmental issues that they will need in order to make responsible decisions. The group is housed in Carleton's Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE).

Divest Carleton is a student organization that pushes the administration to divest its endowment from fossil-fuel based companies.

Food Recovery Network is a volunteer-run student program that donates leftover food from the dining hall to community partners. The Carleton program was the first in the state and now collects food during six dinner times at two locations to 8 community partners. In FY17, FRN recovered over 6,000 pounds to local organizations.

Energy Club is a student org that works with physics faculty and the energy conservation manager to conduct lighting and other energy-related audits across campus. In F17, stairwells and bathrooms were audited and the maintenance department worked to install dimming LED occupancy sensors in those areas. The project took one academic term to audit and is expected to have an ROI of four years.

Carls for the Boundary Waters is a student group that advocates for protection of the boundary waters in northern Minnesota that is theratened by copper-nickle mining.

Swipe Out Hunger works to reduce food insecurity on campus by having students donate "meal swipes" to other students in need.

The Environmental Alliance collaborates with all the above groups to coordinate efforts in a bi-weekly lunch and hosted by the Center for Community and Civic Engagement.

Carleton students operate a 1.5 acre farm that uses organic farming techniques under the guidance of a faculty advisor. It boasts drip irrigation and a hoop house, among other innovations. All produce is sold to our food service provider, Bon Appetit, and the profits pay for the three summer farm intern positions and farm operations expenses.

Carleton does not at this time have any student-run sustainable enterprises except the Student Organic Farm (which is already mentioned above).

Students, faculty members and staff can propose projects for The Sustainable Revolving Fund (SRF) for sustainability related initiatives on campus. Proposals include a financial assessment of the cost of supplies and expected ROI. Each project last six years, and all savings during that period are returned into the fund.

The Carleton Responsible Investment Committee (CRIC) is a committee of faculty, staff, and students that makes recommendations about the management of the endowment to the Board of Trustees that embody Carleton's Values, which worked on divestment research in 2015-16 year with the student group, Divest Carleton. https://apps.carleton.edu/governance/cric/divest/

Every Friday Carleton hosts a convocation speaker which - on multiple occasions - has focused on a sustainability theme. The Environmental Studies department also hosts various speakers and events each term. Carleton's sustainability office in collaboration with various student-governed campus organizations facilitates a series of sustainability-related events during the annual Climate Action Week (February) and Earth Week (April) series. These events include movie screenings, speakers, discussion panels and dorm energy/water conservation competitions.

There have been art displays in the past, but for the past two years, Carleton has partnered with the Cannon River Watershed Partnership to host a film festival on campus as part of Climate Action Week.

Carleton Association of Nature and Outdoor Enthusiasts (CANOE) is a student group that organizes a variety of student-led outdoor field trips and activities as well as lend outdoor equipment to the campus population to promote outdoor activities. Website: http://orgs.carleton.edu/canoe/

The Carleton Arboretum offers numerous outdoor education and nature programs throughout the year. Website: http://apps.carleton.edu/campus/arb/

A biology professor offered a bio-mimicry book and discussion group once a week in the fall term of 2019. About 20 students participated.

Carleton currently does not offer a program of this type.

The Sustainability Assistant (STA) position employs 10-13 students each year in the college's sustainability office implementing various projects related to procurement, energy efficiency, waste, transportation, and food. STAs also organize numerous education and outreach activities and maintain the college's sustainability website and Facebook page.
Student waste monitors, employed by Custodial Services, not only collect trash but also audit and report on contamination between landfill, compost and recycling streams. The students also facilitate multiple waste-related education and awareness programs throughout the year.
Student farm interns- each year two interns manage the 1.5 acre student organic farm. They work through the spring fall and summer, harvesting managing and seeding.
The Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) employs students in both its Food and Energy & Environment track to assist with facilitating sustainability-related academic civic engagement and student volunteer programs.
Carleton's dining services provide recently established a student sustainability liaison to facilitate sustainable dining and food purchasing initiatives.

Carleton currently does not facilitate a social / environmental responsibility graduation pledge.

Carleton's Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) provides opportunities for students to teach students in the greater Northfield area about sustainability through the "kids for conservation program". The Farm Mentorship program also provides support for students to learn organic farming techniques that complement classwork tied to food production and access. Furthermore, Carleton students can engage in multiple student organizations as described above.

Carleton's Pathways website illustrates ways for students to integrate their curricular, co-curricular, and employment experiences into a cohesive narrative. The Pathways site includes sections specific to environmental areas including Energy, Food Systems and Conservation. Website: https://apps.carleton.edu/pathways/