Overall Rating Bronze
Overall Score 31.92
Liaison Tom Kovacs
Submission Date Sept. 30, 2022

STARS v2.2

Eastern Michigan University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 2.00 Thomas Kovacs
Professor
Geography and Geology
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes

Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:

GREEN: Gathering Resources to Educate about our Environment and Nature (GREEN) is a student organization working to provide educational, interactive, and
environmentally-beneficial opportunities for Eastern Michigan University and
the surrounding community. They run and are involved in a variety of events
throughout the year including GREEN Week, Greening of Detroit, Hazardous
Waste Drop-off and much more. Also, home of the Giving Garden, a student ran
garden on campus where students grow food for themselves or to donate. https://www.emich.edu/dci/vision/programs/green.php

GeoClub: The Geo Club at EMU is a group dedicated to learning, discussing, observing, and having fun with Earth Science, Geography, and Geology. We have regular meetings to discuss up-coming events and topics. Events include fundraisers, field trips, mixers, scientific lectures, movie nights, and much more! Topics are limitless! How to become a member: First, Geo Club welcomes any and all students of ANY major, not just Geology and Earth Science majors. https://www.emich.edu/envi/student-resources/student-organizations.php (they also have a Facebook page).

Net Impact: Net Impact empowers a new generation to drive social and environmental change throughout their careers. EMU's volunteer-led chapter drives change by creating a like-minded community and providing events and programs that support members who aim to use business as a force for environmental and social impact. https://www.facebook.com/NetImpact.EMU/

VegPlanet: This is a plant-based diet student group, educating and raising awareness of the environmental impacts of animal agriculture, in addition to health and ethical viewpoints. Weekly meetings span topics of climate change, pollution, antibiotic resistance, environmental justice and more. They also participate in recipe exchanges, documentary nights, and restaurant outings. https://twitter.com/vegplanet_emu

Students for EcoJustice Education and Activism: The purpose of this nonprofit organization is to bring together students who are passionate about analyzing deep cultural roots of ecological and social crises and work towards reclaiming our cultural and ecological commons. In order to revitalize our commons, which have been devalued by industrialization, they create a space to address these issues using art, activism, discussion, action and education for the holistic sustainability. https://ecojusticeconference.weebly.com/


Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project 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:

The Giving Garden is an area on campus where students, staff, faculty and
Ypsilanti residents to rent plots and garden. Their mission is to empower
individuals through gardening and upholding five guiding principles:
sustainability, organic agriculture, community and place, education, and
respect. The garden donates portions of their food to Swoops food pantry and is
actively involved in the community. They partner with the GREEN student
organization and are part of the vision volunteer center.


Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
Yes

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:

Swoops: Swoop's Student Food Pantry is a campus-based organization that is run by a leadership board consisting of EMU faculty, staff, students and alumni volunteers. Haley Moraniec, a social work alum, recognized the need on campus and took the initiative to research both the issues and what other universities had accomplished. She then wrote a proposal and developed the food pantry. Its mission is to provide EMU students in need with food assistance and additional resources to positively affect well-being and college success. Its goals are to:

a) Create a sustainable resource for students to temporarily help meet food needs of students on campus.

b) To meet emergency, non-food needs of students.
Distribute food discreetly in easily accessible and safe environments on-campus.
To provide students with resources to assist them in accessing services in the area.

c) To involve community partners to assure the sustainability of the pantry.


Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:

The Environmental Science and Society organization provides ample opportunities for students to attend and participate with these events. Eastern Michigan University also provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to present research at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Many of the students that participate present on relevant sustainability and environmental issues. https://www.emich.edu/envi/


Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:

The Environmental Science and Society provides numerous opportunities for students to attend events related to sustainability. The events are always changing and vary in structure of presentation. https://www.emich.edu/envi/


Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
No

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
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Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

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

Eastern Michigan University requires Learning Beyond the Classroom (LBC) Credit as part of the Gen Ed. program, which can be fulfilled in many different ways. It is important to be active because a university education is about more than just classes. Students involved in activities outside of the classroom have higher retention rates and more positive educational experiences. Learning Beyond the Classroom encourages you to: obtain hands-on experience, gain important skills for future professions, and bridges classroom knowledge with out-of-classroom experiences. https://www.emich.edu/gened/learning-beyond-the-classroom/index.php


Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
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Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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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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