| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.45 |
| Liaison | Benjamin Newton |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2023 |
Central Community College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
https://www.cccneb.edu/s4s
The Students 4 Sustainability (S4S) empowers students to make sustainable changes in their lives through campus projects, local community efforts, and peer education.
The organization is open to any current CCC student who has an interest in sustainability and the environment. S4S members have the ability to participate in projects they find interesting, but past projects have included highway cleanups, seed sales, pollinator garden planting, and creating sustainability projects to showcase at the Nebraska State Fair.
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:
All CCC campuses and centers have more than 11,000ft² of native gardens combined. Additionally, the Hastings campus continues to maintain a student led herb and vegetable garden, adjacent to the newly added pollinator garden extension. The Ord center community pollinator garden was further expanded with supplementary plants in Spring of 2022.
CCC Columbus has a greenhouse that was built and managed by students with the guidance of faculty. Produce is available to all students and faculty/staff on campus at no cost.
The pollinator garden at the Columbus Campus is approximately 7,200 square feet and has about 1,460 flowers, grasses, shrubs, and nesting boxes. The garden is utilized as a learning lab for community education, environmental sustainability, agriculture and entomology.
In October 2017, the CCC Grand Island Campus 6,000-square-foot pollinator garden was completed. The project involved interdisciplinary collaboration from the campus green team consisting of administration, grants, facilities, extended learning services, and faculty. The pollinator garden was planted with more than 25 different types of native flowers, perennials, and deciduous shrubs that provide nectar and pollen for a wide range of pollinators, including monarch butterflies, bees, moths, birds and many more. Diverse plants were selected to survive the wind, cold, and drought and to provide food and shelter resources for pollinators in three seasons.
In Fall of 2019 a mini pollinator garden was planted for the Ord CCC Center. We received our bloom box of plants and planting instructions from the Nebraska State wide Arboretum. There is additional room to plant more pollinators if we decide to expand the 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 Degrees food truck was created to support students enrolled in the Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts program. Outside the bounds of traditional classrooms or kitchen settings, the food truck is utilized to teach students applied event and hospitality management techniques. Sustainable practices are heavily emphasized in associated coursework and program requirements.
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:
Students and community members can apply for the Capital Loan Fund where Entrepreneurs who may require financial help with startup costs or cash infusion for growth, may apply for low-interest loan at the Entrepreneurship Center through the Capital Loan Fund. A client may receive up to $20,000 through the loan fund. Loans are reviewed and approved by a board of directors. The Capital Loan Fund is housed within the Central Community College Foundation. Contact the Entrepreneurship Center Team to learn how to apply.
https://www.cccneb.edu/entrepreneurship-center
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:
Earth Month in April at 3 separate campuses and the Kearney Center. The Sustainability Leadership Presentation Series (SLPS) hosted monthly and more information can be found at www.cccneb.edu/slps . Sustainability staff host Earth Month activities at Kearney Center, Columbus, Hastings and Grand Island campuses. Each event includes activities, sustainable vendor or partner tables, documentary showings to celebrate. Last years’ events also included participation from the culinary and hospitality students where they catered the event utilizing the Degrees Food Truck. More information about these events can be found at www.cccneb.edu/earthmonth
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:
Sustainability staff and Students 4 Sustainability continued to partner with the FOCUS club for the annual Dia De Los Muertos celebration. We assisted in event planning, sourcing craft materials, display creation, and waste reduction efforts. Students and community members were invited to participate.
In February of 2022, ESO celebrated Kindness Day by asking students and staff to nominate someone they felt embodied kindness. Winners of the drawing were randomly selected and given small gift baskets.
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:
Bee Atlas instructors included Leave No Trace Principles in the training provided to ESO staffers. Merit Badge University and Ground Water Fest participants are expected to uphold a strict adherence to Leave No Trace principles which are reinforced in our demonstrations and activities. These principles can be seen in action through our bi-annual waste clean-ups, and additional clean-ups of local natural habitats. These principles are also touched upon at each of our Pollinator Garden Tours.
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:
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:
Students are offered the ability to showcase their sustainable projects at the Nebraska State Fair Sustainability Pavilion. Through the development of solution-oriented projects, students gain sustainable life skills through applied learning. Students involved in Students 4 Sustainability are also invited to partake in practicing small business practices and life skills through our Native Seed Sale Initiative. Sustainable craft opportunities are also provided to students throughout each semester at multiple events. The Sustainable Leadership Presentation Series further afford students and community members forum/lecture- based opportunities to attain sustainable life skills.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Environmental Sustainability office provides paid internships to students on all campuses.
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):
An ebadge is an award learners can share with potential employers, on their resume and with their social media networks. Earned e-badges also appear on your co-curricular transcript at CCC. e-Badge earners will learn knowledge and skills in environmental stewardship, for their field of study or personal endeavors. Students that participate in this program make commitments to continue on their path of professional or personal stewardship.
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.