| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 42.75 |
| Liaison | John Stolz |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Duquesne University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
Evergreen is an environmentally conscious organization that helps to educate the DU community on sustainability on-campus and works to keep our local neighborhoods clean and green. We collaborate with Facilities Management on Campus to help educate students and staff on recycling efforts available on campus as well as many of the new "green" upgrades being made to our campus buildings. Off-campus, we collaborate with the Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh working to keep the Uptown neighborhood that we are a part of a cleaner and greener place. Activities include Green Week during the fall semester, the Earth Day Fair and Spring Clean-Up during the spring semester as well monthly litter pick-ups and educational opportunities throughout the year.
The purpose of the Environmental Law Society is to provide a source of information regarding current environmental and natural resources law and policy, to allow and encourage discussion and debate about these topics, to promote environmental awareness, to aid the academic knowledge and awareness of its members, and to assist its members in employment within the environmental law field after graduation.
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?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The Ballpark Farm is part of the Pittsburgh Project's Urban Farming Initiative, which is focused on community outreach. The Pittsburgh Project aims at "developing servant-leaders and upholding the dignity of vulnerable homeowners." The Urban Farming Initiative is a multifaceted project which has transformed an abandoned baseball park into a farm. The farm produces fruits, vegetables, and herbs providing the surrounding community with fresh and affordable produce. The farm is maintained by members of the community as well as students at Duquesne University. The Ballpark Farm provides an area for recreational activities, as well as containing a rain garden.
The Nature Park is located just outside the farm. The park consists of a wooded area that has been cleared of debris by students and community members alike, and has allowed for a small stream to run freely through the park. The park has a set of park benches for patrons to relax and enjoy the scenery. A wooden bridge was installed to cross over the stream, allowing for further access and exploration of the area.
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)?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance 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?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
Integrity of Creation Conference to Focus on Global Sustainability
September 5, 2018
Faculty and staff are invited to register for the fourth annual Presidential Conference on the Integrity of Creation, which will examine the theme of The Global Sustainability Challenge.
The conference will feature speakers from a variety of disciplines, including science, law, business, agriculture, ethics and religion. Presentation topics will include how human and social impacts on nature are disrupting natural cycles; food security and changing global climate; environmental ethics in China; and water shortages in refugee countries.
“Sustainability is at the core of the Spiritan mission,” said Dr. Gerard Magill, the Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy and Law, who also chairs the conference committee. “The conference features pivotal thinkers who will address the breaking points of our global sustainability, and what we can do about it.”
The goals of the conference include increasing public awareness about sustainability and providing an opportunity for conference participants to engage in emerging science and research on the topic.
The conference is free and open to the public. It will be held in the Charles J. Dougherty Ballroom on Tuesday, Sept. 25, and Wednesday, Sept. 26.
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?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
Daniel Robinson (Environmental Science, 2018) ran a photo exhibition that featured a selection of nature photographs. The photos were taken by Daniel beginning in his freshman year at Duquesne up through an expedition to Alaska sponsored by the Honors College in the summer of 2017. The objective of the exhibition was to demonstrate the intersection of nature, art, and science through photography and
to instill in the viewer the same sense of awe for nature that originally compelled Daniel to choose his major of Environmental Science.
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?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Outdoor Adventure Series offers Duquesne students opportunities in the great outdoors! Thanks to a generous donation from the R.K. Mellon Foundation, students may participate in a variety of recreational programs off-campus at a significantly reduced cost. Past activities have included: white water rafting, kayaking & canoeing, rock climbing, horseback riding, caving, downhill skiing & snowboarding, snow tubing and paintball.
How to Take Part
Students may purchase a ticket at the Union Information Desk (price includes transportation and boxed lunch).
An updated schedule will be available at the Union Information Desk and on Campus Link.
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)?:
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The MBA in Sustainable Business Practices has three themed semesters:
1st Semester- Auditing in Regards to Sustainable Businesses
2nd- Processing improvement in Regards to Sustainable Businesses
3rd- Change Management in Regards to Sustainable Businesses.
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?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
In Des Places Residence Hall Students have constant access to an energy use dashboard so that they can adapt their lifestyle to be more energy efficient. This is also true for Rockwell Hall, an academic building, which hosts a dashboard measuring and reporting CO2 emissions, energy consumption, and indoor air quality as part of efforts to use this building as a living laboratory.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Center for Environmental Research and Education hires two-five students every academic year to assist with conducting with campus greenhouse gas emissions assessments and local environmental research opportunities.
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?:
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The Center for Environmental Research and Education hosts monthly EnviroBytes, which is an environmental speaker series. This series features speakers ranging from local environmental non-profit organizations, local environmental scientists, and local environmental companies (like solar panel installers) and are advertised to the entire campus.
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.