| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.69 |
| Liaison | Tina Evans |
| Submission Date | Aug. 20, 2024 |
Colorado Mountain College
IN-50: Innovation D
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Tina
Evans Professor, Sustainability Studies Sustainability Studies |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
As many know, honeybees have been facing extreme threats to their health and survival, especially since the emergence of colony collapse disorder in 2006. Since honeybees offer so many ecological services and contribute extensively to the pollination necessary for growing so many foods consumed by humans (and because bees are fascinating creatures!), CMC Sustainability Studies students launched a student Beekeeping Club in 2013. An action research project conducted by one graduating senior created the platform for the Club's creation, and the Beekeeping Club has remained among the most active student clubs at CMC ever since.
Currently caring for four hives of their own and working in partnership with the Honeystinger Corporation to host two hives supported by that company's local office, the Club is advised by two Sustainability/Biology faculty members and is active at the Steamboat Springs campus. Club members learn and directly apply responsible and effective beekeeping skills, sponsor community education events related to beekeeping and pollinators more generally, participate in planting bee forage flowers at the Bear Park Permaculture Center, harvest and distribute/sell honey from campus hives, and make beeswax based products such as lip balm and lotion bars. Students are active in the club throughout the academic year and also in the summer, even when they are not in classes!
Due to the success of the Club and the resources made available on campus by Club activities, a Sustainability Studies/Biology faculty member created two one-credit, junior-level beekeeping courses that can serve to fulfill part of the required upper-division elective credit requirements for the B.A. in Sustainability Studies degree program. These courses have grown quickly in their popularity and are offered every year. Students become quite competent entry-level beekeepers through taking these courses and/or through extensive participation in the Beekeeping Club. A good number of graduates and past students of CMC have used their beekeeping experience to become keepers of their own hives/apiaries. The Beekeeping Club and the Beekeeping Courses offer students direct access to participate in maintaining healthy populations of honeybees.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Information included here was supplied by the Beekeeping Club's long term co-advisor, Tina Evans.
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.