Cleveland State University
EN-3: Student Life

Student Environmental Movement About Us: The purpose of the organization shall be to raise awareness and promote action to improve the environment. The organization shall take on the responsibility of educating the students, faculty, and the community about pressing local and global environmental issues. Lastly, our goal is to improve the immediate environment around campus and downtown Cleveland. The Cleveland State University Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) About Us: CSU's student chapter of the American Planning Association (CSU/APA) is a student-run campus organization that aims to enrich the academic experience of students in the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. CSU/APA strives to facilitate the exchange of ideas and thoughtful discussions, foster professional development, and create a sense of community among all students at CSU. Engineers Without Borders Engineers Without Borders at CSU takes engineering students, and students of all other majors, to places in the world that need their help. Using classroom skills to change real lives, EWB-CSU mixes construction, service, travel, professional experience, friendship, and fun. Projects involve the design and construction of basic infrastructure and include the following themes: water supply and sanitation, energy, transportation, food production and processing, housing and construction, communication, income generation, and employment creation.

The Student Environmental Movement implemented a large-scale pollinator patch garden in spring 2016. The group planted roughly 600 native Ohio genotyped pollinator plants in order to create a wildlife habitat on campus. This area is a sanctuary for numerous species in downtown Cleveland and a consistent source of forage for pollinators throughout the growing season. It contains roughly one dozen perennials that require little upkeep. It also provides a seed bank to propagate native plants to start other gardens in areas that lack resources for pollinators.

The Office of Sustainability and the Student Environmental Movement hosted an EarthFest event to celebrate Earth Day. The event featured a giant earth dome, exhibits from 38 campus and community sustainability organizations, electric vehicles (BMW i8, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt and CSU service vehicles), upcycled crafts, a clothing swap, a free bike check service, the launch of CSU's enhanced battery recycling program, free food, live music and DJ, the launch of the new CSU sustainability website, and great prizes for filling up an eco-passport including a bicycle and rain collection barrel. EarthFest was a zero waste event! https://www.flickr.com/photos/csumarketing/sets/72157679600243394 The Office of Sustainability and the Student Environmental Movement hosted a film screening of Before the Flood in April 2017. Held in the theater of the student residence, Fenn Tower, this event was promoted to students and was followed by a discussion on personal and organizational action on climate change. The Office of Sustainability and the Student Environmental Movement also hosted a special Earth Week event featuring a yoga class on the Recreation Center's green roof. Cleveland State University was selected as one of sixteen campus nationwide to host the Conscious Campus Road Tour on April 3, 2017. The Conscious Campus Road Tour is a seven week cross-country journey to sixteen school campuses across the United States. On each campus, Turning Green provides students with unique hands-on opportunities to mobilize around sustainable solutions on their campus. Each stop features a “Conscious Information Station” tabling event focused on six key lifestyle themes and a “Town Hall Meeting” to develop a collaborative student led initiative. Through educational resources, advocacy campaigns, and actionable projects, Turning Green sets the stage for students to spearhead a variety of environmental initiatives that scale impact.

The Adventure Recreation program offers outdoor activities and trips such as hiking, rock climbing and whitewater rafting. Instructional workshops are also available and focus on topics like kayaking and leadership.

First-year students enrolled in ASC 101: Introduction to University Life are part of a common reading program. The goal of the program is to create a shared learning experience that fosters student engagement, retention, and personal development beyond the classroom. Several of the books chosen in recent years have had a sustainability theme including: Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck (2014) In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan (2013) No Impact Man by Colin Beavan (2011)

The newly created Office of Sustainability offered one paid internship position in 2016-17 and one internship position for academic credit.

The Student Environmental Movement hosts a variety of hands-on events for students including monthly beach clean-ups, weekend hikes, camping trips and stream monitoring events.