Clark University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Jenny
Isler Director of Sustainability Physical Plant / Facilities |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
-Environmental Action Council (formerly Clark Eco-Reps)works to educate the community and also to make lasting systemic change in Clark culture and practices through team-based action projects.
-Clark Sustainability Collaborative; a joint voice and resource for all of the sustainability-oriented student groups on campus, with delegates from other active green clubs & groups.
-Net Impact Clark Chapter; graduate green business student group. There is also a new undergraduate Net Impact chapter.
-Cycles of Change; the bike-share and sustainable transportation club maintains all bikes, manages the bike share program, leads group rides, and promotes sustainable transportation lifestyle.
-Outing Club; leading leave no trace trips, retreats and activities and doing wilderness clean up events
-Arboretum Advocates; promoting, improving and protecting Clark's Hadwen Arboretum; hosting local school kids on environmental education programs and welcoming classes to the outdoor space
-Herban Gardeners: community gardening organically and sustaianbly; open to all
-Clark Climate Justice: CCJ is an organization under the larger club of Activists United. CCJ started off focusing on divestment but is expanding to include other other sustainability interests. The group does protests, educational trips, and community events
All official clubs can be found here: https://clarku.campuslabs.com/engage/organizations?categories=1082
Additional information on clubs: https://www.facebook.com/clarkclimatejustice/; https://www.facebook.com/clarksustainabilityaction/; https://www.netimpact.org/chapters/clark-university-graduate-school-of-management-graduate
https://clarksustainabilitycollaborative.wordpress.com/; https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Clark-University-Herban-Gardeners-454819278039839/; http://web.clarku.edu/students/outingclub/;https://www.facebook.com/arboretumadvocates/
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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:
Clark's Freight Farm, a Leafy Green MAchine, is student operted and grows hydroponic greens (lettuce, kale, herbs) for the salad bar and catering. It produces about 800 heads of lettuce equivalent every 5 weeks in a growth-intensive reuse of an old shipping trailer featuring closed-loop water, 100% LED, soil-free, zero pesticides, organic seeds.https://www.freightfarms.com/clark-university
The Clark Community Garden consists of raised beds, a 2-bin compost system, and a border of berry bushes. It is gardened using sustainable practices and organically. Seedlings are raised by students or purchased from the local YouthGrow farm. It is open to the community and supported by the Clark Herban Gardeners, a student governed club. Herban Gardeners meet weekly throughout the year, and in addition to planting and maintaining the Community Garden host informational events and organic agriculture-themed activities during the academic year.https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/Clark-University-Herban-Gardeners-454819278039839/
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:
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:
Clark's Student Sustainability Fund competitively awards $20,000 annually to support and manage student-led sustainability projects and programs. The Student Sustainability Fund is a resource for the advancement of sustainable infrastructure and practices within the Clark community. The SSF is student managed and operated. All approved projects must measurably decrease the University's footprint.
The SSF allocates money to fund projects that will maximize the quantifiable impact of each student dollar, will be visible to and impact a great number of students, and will help to establish Clark University as a leader in sustainable practices. Projects will be balanced in areas relating to environmental and energy responsibilities as well as economic, social, and educational areas. https://www.clarku.edu/offices/campus-sustainability/resources-and-partners/
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:
The New Earth Conversation hosts lectures, workshops and panels on issues of sustainability, environmental justice, climate change, etc. throughout the year. https://newearthconversation.org/past-events/
The George Perkins Marsh Institute, following its mission to explore what should be man's relation with nature, holds a speaker series each semester with prominent speakers addressing global issues of sustainability.https://www.clarku.edu/centers/marsh-institute/news-and-events/lecture-series/
The President's lecture series and the Geller Endowed lecture series feature speakers on climate change, environmental issues, and societal sustainability, such as Naomi Klein, Kenneth Kimmel, Jane Lubchenco.
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:
There are so many...most of the visual arts exhibits include re-purposed/recycled items. Most of the performing arts/theater stage sets do too. Recently, "Seeds of Doubt", a play about climate change written by Clark faculty member was debuted here. There is also stArt on the Street, which is sponsored by Clark but shuts down 6 city blocks for local artists to perform and local crafts people to sell their work.
HERe is just oone example fo an arts event: https://www.clarku.edu/centers/higgins-school-of-humanities/event/in-the-flesh-an-exhibit-by-elli-crocker/
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:
The Outing Club supports hikes, camping trips, canoeing, trail maintenance, rock climbing and other outdoor activities open to all students.
http://web.clarku.edu/students/outingclub/
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:
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
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):
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.