Connecticut College
EN-3: Student Life

The Climate Collective is a student-led club that aims to increase the amount of student participation in projects and actions relating to sustainability, climate change, and/or the environment on campus and in the community by providing resources and support to students who have a sustainable idea that they would like to implement on campus.

Spokespeople is a student group responsible for coordinating free semester-long bike rentals and bike maintenance.

Oceana is a student chapter of the international organization dedicated to marine conservation. Their policy campaigns range from curbing ocean pollution to promoting sustainable fishing. Past activities include: beach clean ups and restoration projects, film screenings, lectures by Oceana representatives and members of local nonprofits or organizations, fundraisers, panel events, a mock oil spill, and many other events.

Conn C.A.R.E.S. is an animal-rights organization. The purpose of this organization shall be to advocate on behalf of all non-human animals through education and reform by creating a safe-space community for those interested in ameliorating animal suffering and by providing resources for both living and sustaining a cruelty-free lifestyle.

The Sprout Garden covers around half an acre in the center of our campus and provides social and educational spaces in which students can practice gardening and gain hands-on experience with sustainable, small-scale agriculture. Sprout strives to build community and empower individuals by planting, growing, and sharing ethically produced food. It consists of a student-run gardening club and an academically integrated farm space that share tools, volunteers, and goals. The goals of Sprout are to: Build community around food by providing opportunities for hands-on growing to individuals on campus and in the greater New London area, Provide experiential education in small-scale agriculture and local food systems for students, faculty, and staff by cultivating land and producing food together, and actualize the College’s commitment to sustainability by minimizing the College’s food-footprint and increasing New London’s local food resilience.

Sprout is also a key component of the College’s sustainable agriculture curriculum. By working in this space, students develop a comprehensive understanding of food systems and small-scale agriculture that can prepare them for careers in farming, agricultural science, food justice, policy, community organizing, and so much more. On the farm, students explore sustainable soil management, integrated pest management tactics, season extension strategies, and wholesale distribution to the College’s dining and catering services.

The Sustainability Revolving Fund (SRF), was established in 2015 with $50,000 and the first project was completed in 2016. The SRF is overseen by a committee of students, faculty and staff who evaluate proposed projects based on their environmental impact and the length of payback.

Information can be found here: www.conncoll.edu/sustainability/resources-for-students/funding-opportunities/

The Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment hosts biennial symposia focusing on environmental and sustainability topics. These symposia are open to all students as well as the general public. The 2019 symposium "Climate Action from Below: A Cause for Optimism?" was held on March 2, 2019 and focused on momentum from state and local governments, businesses and corporations, and colleges and universities toward climate action and whether those efforts could make significant change. https://www.conncoll.edu/climate-action-from-below/

This year's symposium "Discarded: Unmasking and Understanding the Waste Stream" was held on March 6, 2021 and included speakers on closing material loops, making art from reclaimed materials, and the invisibility of many parts of the waste stream.
https://www.conncoll.edu/academics/majors-departments-programs/majors-and-minors/goodwin-niering-center-for-the-environment/conferences/

There were several dance performances in the past two years that focused on sustainability. Sydney Bryan '21 made a dance film concerned with the amount of plastic in the ocean. Sophie McLaughlin '20, a Botany and Dance double major, created a dance related to the life cycle of plants which was performed in the Sprout Garden. Abby Reich created an honors thesis, performed in the Arboretum, which utilized cardboard boxes and studied the ongoing competition between humans and nature through a site-specific dance.

Outdoor Adventures: The pursuit of wilderness activity through group planning and organized outings. Outings shall be geared so as to emphasize instruction and the improvement of wilderness skills. Special attention will be drawn to the importance of safety during wilderness activity, and to the development of a respect for the great outdoors, including Leave No Trace principles.

The President's Sustainability Council selects a theme each April for the following academic year. Each theme is embedded throughout the year through speakers, movie screenings and social events, coordinated social media outreach, and an active campaign to make sustainable change on campus. The first three themes were: Pass on Plastic (2018-2019), Putting the Liberal Arts into Climate Action (2019-2020) and Nourishing Community: Cultivating equitable and Sustainable food systems (2020-2021).
https://www.conncoll.edu/sustainability/annual-sustainability-campaign/

Earth House is Connecticut College's sustainable living residence. Each year, a small group of sophomores, juniors and seniors apply to live in Earth House as an alternative housing housing option. Earth House features a kitchen, living room and seven single rooms.

The Office of Sustainability offers 6 paid student positions each year called Senior Sustainability Fellows. Each Senior Fellow oversees a team of other students focused on topics like Food Systems, Waste Minimization, Community Collaborations, and Campus Infrastructure. Senior Fellows are paid for up to 8 hours per week at a rate of $12.10/hr.