College of Charleston
EN-3: Student Life

Alliance for Planet Earth is a student-driven club that engages on a variety of local, state and national sustainability and environmental advocacy campaigns and initiatives. In recent years, Alliance for Planet Earth students have supported university Strawless Week, the international climate strike and campus waste audits.
https://cougarconnect.cofc.edu/organization/ape

The student Vegan Club educates peers on campus about the environmental and health benefits of a primarily plant-based diet. Student organizers often table at campus and community events, host family-style meals and potlucks and organize documentary screenings.
https://cougarconnect.cofc.edu/organization/c0fcv3gan

The graduate-level Environmental and Sustainability Studies program coordinates the College's Sustainable Agriculture program. Students at Stono Preserve manage a 5 acre plot of land and we have four downtown urban gardens managed by students. The produce grown in these gardens goes directly to students, staff and fauclty and then excess produce is donated to the community. More information about the Sustainable Agriculture program can be found at https://mes.cofc.edu/sustainable-agriculture/index.php

Impact X is an entrepreneurship course that uses the framework of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for sustainable and profitable businesses. At the end of the course, teams compete in a pitch competition for the chance to win seed money to scale their businesses.

https://today.cofc.edu/2021/05/11/school-of-business-recognized-for-impact-x-program/#:~:text=Impact%20X%20is%20an,money%20to%20scale%20their%20businesses.

The College of Charleston’s Center for Sustainable Development hosted Solve Climate by 2030, a national conversation happening on college campuses across the country, on Wednesday, April 7. This conversation included topics ranging from climate challenges facing South Carolina, the pathways South Carolina can take to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate, and why it is important to look at these issues from a justice and equity lens.

In April of 2022, the College of Charleston served as a host institution for the Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, hosted by Second Nature and the Intentional Endowments Network. This summit is the premier annual gathering of higher education leaders committed to addressing inequality and the climate crisis. The 2022 Summit provided the space for courageous conversations, the creation of new partnerships, connecting with peers and cross-sectoral climate champions, all towards the overarching goal of finding solutions to the most consequential climate and justice issues of our time. The 2022 Summit built off of the year-long 2021 Climate Action Pursuit.

As part of the Quality Enhancement Plan, the Center for Sustainable Development and sustainability literacy staff members have commissioned student artists to produce sustainability related artwork that aligns with campus-wide annual themes, including food insecurity. Once produced, these pieces are prominently displayed on campus to inspire conversation and reflection.

In 2020, three student-produced art pieces that connected with the QEP theme of the year, climate change, were selected and displayed in main campus buildings.

https://today.cofc.edu/2020/10/27/students-tackle-climate-change-with-art/

Members of the College's Outdoors Club enjoy mountain climbing, camping, paddle boarding and hiking. The group travels extensively and adheres to Leave No Trace principles. https://cougarconnect.cofc.edu/organization/cofc_oc

As part of the Quality Enhancement Plan and to frame sustainability programming and goals annually, the Center for Sustainable Development and sustainability literacy leaders work to select and promote campus-wide themes for each year the QEP is active. Faculty-developed curriculum, student-targeted events, art installations and even first-year books echo the selected themes.

For the 2020-2021 academic year (AY), the year-long theme was climate change. Modeled after a chosen goal from the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, the 2021-2022 theme was sustainable cities and communities.
https://sustain.cofc.edu/education/sustainability-literacy/index.php

In spring of 2022, the Center for Sustainable Development hosted a "how to use menstrual cup" workshop through the Cougar Changemaker program, including a diva cup giveaway.

The Center for Sustainable Development facilitates approximately 10 projects-based student employment and internship opportunities from its campus headquarters at 207 Calhoun St. Our team supports students to contribute to a range of existing projects (i.e., energy infrastructure, waste management, scientific research, educational outreach) and create new initiatives that reflect the university's commitment to sustainability and its strategic vision. Students can receive funding and academic credit, depending on experience and skills. More information can be found at http://sustainability.cofc.edu/internships/index.php.