Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.95
Liaison Susan Powers
Submission Date Feb. 12, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Clarkson University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Susan Powers
Assoc. Dir. Sustainability
ISE
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
Yes or No
Active student groups focused on sustainability Yes
Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems Yes
Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes Yes
Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills Yes
Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles Yes
Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences No
Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills Yes
Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution Yes
Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions No
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives Yes

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

Engineers Without Borders Clarkson University Chapter (EWB): In the process of working to advance developing communities, EWB-USA promotes the training and development of globally aware and internationally responsible engineers, students, and professionals. They work with a community in Ecuador to provide lean water and a bridge for access to land across a river. This group has been expanded to also include association with Engineers for a Sustainable World to enable more diverse projects.
Sustainable Synergy (Synergy): Is a student-run, project-based organization focused on making the campus more sustainable through implementing new technologies.
Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO): ECO works towards making the Clarkson community more sustainably focused through increasing awareness of environmental issues and providing avenues for groups and individuals to enact change.
New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) is a professional society for Environmental Engineering students. They broaden their professional skills with community (e.g., highway clean up) and professional activities.
Bridges to Prosperity designs bridges for developing communities.


The website URL where information about student groups is available:
A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:

A year-round cold-climate greenhouse designed, funded and constructed by student. Producing lettuce and used for research to improve the process and energy efficiency of the system to evaluate the sustainability of year-round local produce. Organic fertilizer for the greenhouse is partially provided with effluent from the food waste digester. Heat is provided through passive solar design and a wood pellet boiler.


The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:

Student run Entrepreneur Coffee sells fair trade coffee in re-useable buckets; sustainability is integrated throughout their operations.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:

Microfinance at Clarkson (M@C): A microfinance club at Clarkson University that will bring awareness to the community about the benefits of microloans while developing a microfinance fund that will be used to people around the world create sustainable businesses. This club is run through the School of business and is student governed.


The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

*We generally have a major event in the fall (connected to the national Campus Sustainability Day) and in the spring semester during Earth week.
*We participate annually in National Bioenergy Day that includes panel discussion, posters etc.
*The ISE hosts a graduate student poster session every year to promote sustainability in research. This well attended event draws students from all schools on campus.


The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

Sustainability Week: Moving Planet Day: Student display of sustainability projects, music and speakers
Earth Day: Display of crafts from recycled/waste materials
Campus Sustainability & Local Food Celebration - includes another Sustainable Chef competition, sustainability speakers.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
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A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:

The Outing Club is one of the largest clubs on campus. Students organize and lead hiking, climbing, skiing trips for experts and novices. Club sponsors training for wilderness safety and leave no trace activities. Club members coordinate and lead pre-orientation trips for many of the incoming freshmen.


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

N/A


The website URL where information about the theme is available:
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A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

* Adirondack semester: students learn recycling and composting skills, and concepts in sustainable purchasing. Students live for a full semester as a resident explorer, entrepreneur, environmental scientist, and policy advocate of the Adirondack Park
* Students in the Smart Housing Project attend workshops for energy education and motivation for conservation. Weekly email messages and tablet screens in their apartments provide feedback and motivational messages to encourage conservation.


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:

The ISE annually hires 2-4 undergraduate students as sustainability interns and funds one graduate sustainability TA. These students work with the sustainability coordinator to run several of our programs (eco-reps, sustainable office certification, data for STARS, sustainability week, etc.)


The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
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A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:

None


The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:

Sustainability Week: Sustainability week is an opportunity to join with institutions from across the country in these types of events, while focusing on the opportunities we have on our own campus. The goal of this event is to raise awareness of the issues and to find the solutions needed to make a difference to better our environment, society and the economy.


The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.