Duquesne University
EN-3: Student Life

Evergreen is an environmentally conscious organization that helps to educate the Duquesne community about sustainability on-campus and works to keep local neighborhoods clean and green. They 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 campus buildings. Off-campus, they collaborate with the Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh working to make the Uptown neighborhood 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. (https://instagram.com/evergreenatduq?utm.medium=copy_link)

Environmental Law Society: 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.

Ecology Club works to achieve conservation through research. Members are active in learning about the natural community around us through bio-surveys, maintaining on-campus community and pollinator gardens, conducting science outreach, and more. For a full description of the Ecology Club, see the "Wilderness and outdoor programs" section below.

Duquesne University proudly hosts two gardens: a produce garden located between Canevin and Laval House, and a pollinator garden adjacent to A-walk near College Hall. The gardens receive ongoing support from the University Sustainability Committee and the Grounds team.

A former undergraduate student, Kristen Roth, published her undergraduate thesis titled "Regenerative Landscaping: An Urban Garden for Storm Water Management at Duquesne University." With guidance from a professor, her thesis developed plans to install an urban vegetable garden on campus. These plans turned into reality when the Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering's Graduate Program Coordinator, Mary Kate Ranii, took the lead on the project in Fall 2020. With the help of Facilities Management and two Graduate Assistants, raised beds were constructed and cover crops were planted to restore nutrients to the soil. In addition, two rain barrels, which provide the water necessary for the crops, were installed.

Throughout the spring and summer of 2022 and 2023, Dr. Sarah Wright from the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, as well as Dr. John Stolz and Dr. Brady Porter from the School of Science and Engineering, aided with the project alongside Mary Kate Ranii and Carla Richards, a Ph.D. candidate in Department of Communication & Rhetorical Studies. They worked with Undergraduate Research Program (URP) students to bring the garden to life. They prepared the garden and planted tomatoes, basil, peppers, squash, onions, bok choy, and peas. All food was donated to Jubilee Soup Kitchen in Pittsburgh, PA, and Duquesne University's McAnulty Food Pantry. Along with food donations, the campus garden supports pollinators, increases biodiversity, decreases rainwater runoff, and offers a haven for members of the campus community. The group plans to expand to the other raised brick beds next to Laval House in the coming years.

Duquesne has a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Program that provides students with a compelling experience in money management and contributes to their preparation for successful careers in finance and investment management. One of the investment funds is referred to as the Duquesne Values Fund (DVF) "Investing for the Greater Good." This is one of the largest undergraduate funds of its type in the nation, as it pursues a stock selection strategy employing fundamental equity analysis and valuation. Eligible investments are deemed consistent with responsible investing criteria and Spiritan values, which include preserving the planet through sustainable initiatives. The $1 million student managed investment fund also employs socially responsible investment strategies. (https://www.duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/business/degrees-and-programs/undergraduate/majors/finance.php)

Duquesne also has a Net Impact chapter of graduate students in the One-Year MBA program (formerly the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices program). Now in its 29th year, Net Impact has grown a grassroots, global movement of students and emerging impact leaders who want to use their skills to make a positive impact for people and planet. Net Impact’s mission is to inspire and equip emerging leaders to build a more just and sustainable world. (https://www.instagram.com/netimpact_duquesne/)

Duquesne has a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Program that provides students with a compelling experience in money management and contributes to their preparation for successful careers in finance and investment management. One of the investment funds is referred to as the Duquesne Values Fund (DVF) "Investing for the Greater Good." This is one of the largest undergraduate funds of its type in the nation, as it pursues a stock selection strategy employing fundamental equity analysis and valuation. Eligible investments are deemed consistent with responsible investing criteria and Spiritan values, which include preserving the planet through sustainable initiatives. The $1 million student-managed investment fund also employs socially responsible investment strategies. (https://www.duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/business/degrees-and-programs/undergraduate/majors/finance.php)

The Duquesne University New Venture Challenge is a three-stage competition that encourages students and new startups to submit new venture ideas that have commercial and/or social missions. Winning programs are awarded $3,000-$20,000 to put their projects into effect. The first place winner of the 2023-2024 competition was Aquatonomy, which developed an autonomous robotic inspection solution for underwater applications. The technology expedites inspection and repair time, eliminates risks to humans, and ensures the safety of critical infrastructure. Team members include Dr. Michael Kaess, Dr. Xiaoyu Kaess, and Jane K. Joseph, a 2012 Duquesne University graduate. (https://www.duq.edu/academics/colleges-and-schools/business/team-competitions/new-venture-challenge.php)(https://www.duq.edu/news-and-stories/releases/leaficient-wins-dnvc-competition.php)

The Annual Presidential Conference on the Integrity of Creation (IOC) invites participants from different disciplines to engage each other in civil discourse on a different topic each year. The format of the conference includes workshops, presentations, and posters and features national experts on sustainability. The upcoming tenth conference (March 24-25, 2025) is titled "Climate Change: Global Perspectives." The conference series was commissioned by former President Charles J. Dougherty as an endowed academic event that celebrates the Spiritan mission of Duquesne University. The current University President, Ken Gormley, continues to inspire excellence in support of the Spiritan mission as the conference series develops.
The conference has three goals:
1. To provide a scholarly opportunity to engage established and emerging research on the conference topic
2. To foster interdisciplinary discourse on each topic, such as among science, health, philosophy, religion and policy
3. To enlighten public awareness and discussion of the conference topic
(https://www.duq.edu/research/integrity-of-creation/index.php)

Duquesne hosts the Human Rights Film Series each year. Though the theme of the conference changes yearly, it always focuses on sustainable societal advancement. The 15th annual Human Rights Film Series took place in March of 2023 with the message "The earth is a large and mysterious home to over 7.8 billion people. No matter where we are from, it is all of our responsibilities to take care of our planet. Despite our differences, we all belong". The series featured the film “Planetary,” which explains the consequences of our misplaced priorities, including exploiting resources over protecting the dignity of the Earth. The film highlights numerous perspectives by bringing in philosophers, cosmologists, NASA employees, members of indigenous groups and many others.(http://www.duqsm.com/15th-annual-human-rights-film-festival-calls-for-action/)

From January 13 - 31, 2025, Duquesne hosted the exhibition "What We Brought With Us," which showcased objects refugees carried while fleeing persecution, highlighting their symbolic weight in the face of suffering and war. Dr. Lydia Schmuck from Academy in Exile presented and led a conversation on the powerful stories behind these objects.

The Ecology Club of Duquesne University is an open student organization that welcomes students from all disciplines to participate. The club provides interested students with education about the environment and conservation that partners with different outdoor activities. This club stresses dedication to learning about ecologyand conservation through research, engaging in various conservation initiatives, biosurveys, and outdoor recreation. Some activities and events hosted by the EcologyClub include:
- Powdermill Camping Trip: Members and some faculty take a trip to Powdermill Nature Reserve in the Laurel Highlands over a weekend! Here members visit the bird banding research center, hike to a bog, visit the nature center, and conduct electrofishing surveys.
- Pollinator Garden: The club maintains the pollinator garden found on Duquesne's campus.
- Lanternfly Roundup/Stompout: During the fall, the club hosts a competition to see who can kill the most invasive Spotted Lanternflies to raise awareness about the invasive species.
- Birding Trips: Members can join Dr. Porter and his ornithology students on bird watching outings. We are supported by the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania through their College Birding Program, where students get point for participation and are awarded merchandise like field guides and binoculars.
- Great Backyard Bird Count: Campus bird counts are conducted in partnership with the Duquesne Department of Biological Sciences. Group bird count events are advertised across campus. In addition, individuals are encouraged to count birds on their own during a designated period of time and then report their findings through eBird using the Duquesne University hotspot. Dr. James Philips, Office for Research, maintains an official master list of all Birds on the Bluff seen on/from campus.
- Spring Salamander Spawning Survey: During the rainy season in spring, students go out and monitor salamander populations, while learning about amphibians and their vernal spring pool habits.

The One-Year MBA (formerly 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.

Students in the MBA program engage in 4 experiential project courses; many of these projects tackle sustainability issues.

The Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering hires between two and five students every academic year to assist with conducting with campus greenhouse gas emissions assessments and local environmental research opportunities.

The Duquesne University One-Year MBA (formerly the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices) offers graduate research fellowships and graduate assistantships.

The Department of Environmental and Energy Engineering 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.