Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.21
Liaison David Husemoller
Submission Date June 7, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

College of Lake County
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 David Husemoller
Sustainability Manager
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:

CLC offers a variety of clubs and activities. Two clubs stand out as especially focused on environmental sustainability, the Environmental Club and the Horticultural Club. They are involved in educational and public service events that promote sustainability awareness and action. The Social Action Club is active in raising awareness of social equity issues and promoting action to benefit disadvantaged communities. All student clubs are required to participate in at least one sustainability event each year.


The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:

CLC has a Learning Farm which employs students and coordinates with classes to grow food crops for the campus dining services, CSA, and a farm market. The farm raises crops using organic methods in fields and in two hoop houses for season extension. The college also hosts about 40 community garden plots. Produce is gleaned during the height of growing season and donated to local food pantries.


The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
Yes

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:

Students and staff have worked together over the past year to develop an apiary. The apiary is producing honey that is being sold at educational events. The honey will sold in the next year to consumers in the cafe.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have 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

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:

The Student Government Association created a green fund that has been tapped by students to plant a butterfly garden and restore and plant two green roofs.

CLC has created a revolving green fund in FY17 to utilize utility budget savings from new energy efficiencies for new sustainability initiatives.


The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:

Sustainable CLC hosts events throughout the year for students and also community members. Sustainable CLC hosts speakers and movies for Climate Week in September. For America Recycles Day, environmental and horticulture club students hosted educational events in the student commons area. CLC hosts the One Earth Film Festival in March. Earth Week activities generate the largest student participation, with speakers, movies, environmental work days, and demonstrations.


The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:

Yes, as stated above CLC participates in the One Earth Film festival in March and hosts other sustainability related films throughout the year.

This fall, CLC hosted the play Everyman which featured issues related to excess and waste, featuring a light sculpture made with plastic bags.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:

The environmental club often goes camping in a state park as part of their end of the year celebration. Biology classes take hikes out in the campus prairie, wetlands, and lake communities. There are also a couple of off-campus courses that include camping and hiking. Each of these activities teach students to "leave no trace behind," "cleaner than the way you found it."


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

CLC offers several environmental and social sustainability themed intersession courses off campus, such as the Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Costa Rica, Morocco.

Climate Week is an annual event at the beginning of the school year to help students to consider what we can do in response to climate change.

Each student club is required to find their own sustainability activity each year to share with others.


The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

CLC hosts events throughout the year that encourage students to consider what they can do to make a difference in living more sustainably. Climate Week, America Recycles Day, Earth Week all help students to explore sustainable life skills. Events are posted on the community calendar.


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:

Student workers work on the learning farm, in native plant gardens, and on the green roofs. Students learn how to maintain organic vegetables, native plants, and green roof plantings.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledges:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
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A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
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Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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