Christopher Newport University
EN-2: Co-Curricular Activities

The Student Sustainability Commission at CNU aims to promote collaboration between students, faculty, staff, and the environment. Through initiatives of education and advocacy for sustainability, we hope to develop a campus of ecologically conscious students who care about the significance of environmental sustainability and strive to develop green practices at Christopher Newport University. We hope to inspire students to learn and practice sustainability in their daily lives, as well as instill them in our community.

On the CNU campus, the Food Fighters collaborate with the dining staff and other student groups to create a community effort against waste. Knowledgeable dining staff members package the food in containers that the Food Co-op organization provides. Students arrive promptly at the dining hall’s closing and act as couriers, delivering food Monday through Friday during every full academic week.

Snail Trails Garden Club:  We aim to foster friendship and collaboration while educating the student body on gardening skills, terrarium creation, snail care, and exploring the surrounding area on nature walks. This organization was created for people interested in plants, insects, small critters, etc. or interested in learning more.  This group maintains the community garden using sustainable practices. 

The Surfrider Foundation is a national organization dedicated to the preservation of the ocean. The CNU Surfrider Club is excited to continue this mission by engaging students and community members with the environment through education, social events, and local initiatives.

H.O.M.E.:  Homelessness Outreach Made Easy:  The purpose of this organization shall be to provide resources, support, and volunteers to homeless shelter community partners in order to make the unhoused community members of Newport News feel respected, supported, and safer. We aim to unite the students of CNU with the immediate members in our community who are facing homelessness, and aim to engage in a reciprocal relationship where we both aid others while receiving knowledge from the community partners.

The Social Work Association is founded around the values of the profession including: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. Our purpose at Christopher Newport University is to promote awareness about social work, and our values while also developing a sense of community on campus. The Social Work Association is made up primarily of students majoring in social work, sociology, and anthropology. However, membership is open to anyone who is interested in its values and purpose. 

Christopher Newport University has hosted an Arts and Science Festival in 2023 and 2024, featuring guest speakers and performances related to sustainability. 

For the 2023 multi-day event, topics included sea level rise, a film titled "Buzz Kill" with a focus on conservation, and a panel discussion with an emphasis on climate change and activation.

The themes for the 2024 event included sea level rise, mental well-being, spirituality in film, and social justice.

In addition to the Arts and Science Festival, various sustainability tabling events occur throughout the year during winter fest, spring fest, the wellness fair, and earth week.         

Christopher Newport University does not currently have a peer-to-peer program, but had one in the past that was put on pause for AY 24-25, with an expected revamp scheduled for AY 25-26.

Previously, the Sustainability Champions program was designed to promote peer-to-peer engagement in campus residence halls regarding sustainability initiatives.  The students chosen as sustainability champions lead by example to encourage sustainable behaviors by assisting and creating tabling informational events, leading campaigns and competitions in residence halls, designing promotional materials, and evaluating areas for improvement.

This voluntary position was posted on the University's Handshake internship page each August and lasted for the duration of the Fall and Spring semesters.  It was started in AY 22-23 with some changes in AY 23-24, but was ultimately placed on hold for AY 24-25 due to other projects.  It is planned to be resumed in AY 25-26 with a collaboration approach with students and residence life.  

The mission of the Center for Sustainability in Education (CSE) is to embed sustainability in the academic lives of students, faculty, and staff. We do this by creating and supporting opportunities to learn about sustainability through coursework, research, workshops, co-curricular activities, and civic engagement. We engage the campus as a living, learning lab model for students to explore, understand, and apply more sustainable solutions to climate issues. Our mission is to embed sustainability in the academic lives of students, faculty, and staff.

The Center for Sustainability in Education was founded in 2020 with funding from the Redekop Family Endowment. We are a hub for students, faculty, staff, and community leaders to work together to explore complex themes at the nexus of human and ecological well-being. We leverage the best of the liberal arts and science to address sustainability challenges.  Through the Center, paid internships are available for students; including sustainability project internships, marketing roles, and data analysis roles. 

Students can also apply for fellowships in which they work with a faculty member to develop a sustainability initiative on campus. 

More information about the CSE and fellowships can be found here.  

Christopher Newport University has a community garden that has a total of 12 4x4' plots.  This garden is coordinated by a group of students in the Snails Trails Garden Club that maintain the upkeep; including planting, weeding, watering, and educational days.

Started as a gift from the CNU Class of 2016, the community garden was reimagined in 2024 to include a group taking care of all the plots vs. individual applicants for plots.  This structure improves aesthetics, provides opportunities for more students to get involved with the club and be part of the efforts, and allows more efficient coordination of educational days and a potential farmer's market.