Florida Gulf Coast University
EN-3: Student Life

Florida Gulf Coast University has several groups that focus on sustainability. Their names and missions statements are below: 1. Amnesty International- We aim to increase education and engagement in standing up for human rights everywhere. Our purpose is to support the protection of people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. Our vision is of a world in which every person - regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity - enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. 2. Communities Helping International Livelihood Development CHILD- Our mission is to provide orphans and homeless children in developing country(ies)a technical education and shelter while they learn skills necessary to gain a job after finishing their courses. In addition, we seek to pass along sustainable practices. 3. Dominican Republic Outreach Program (D.R.O.P.) is a student-run organization at FGCU. The club’s mission is to promote the idea of global citizenship, stress the importance of community engagement, and foster a sense of civic responsibility, both locally and abroad. D.R.O.P. does this through a group of dedicated students who fundraise throughout the year for school supplies, athletic equipment, and monetary donations. Then, during a once-a-year alternative Spring Break, a group of D.R.O.P.’s members travel to the Dominican Republic to deliver those supplies to the underprivileged youth with the help of a Santiago-based outreach organization, Acción Callejera. 4. Divergent Ontongeny (Shades of Diversity (S.O.D) We want to give FGCU the true diversity it embodies. We want unity among ALL students. The mission of Ladies of Diverse Sophistication is to bring a group of women together from all backgrounds, cultures, religion, personality, sexual orientation, etc. to promote diversity, multiculturalism, and the importance of academic success. Are mission is to learn something new with one another, and appreciate how humans as a whole are different and unique. We understand that no two individuals are alike and we strive to create an environment that embodies and promotes diversity and multiculturalism. 5. Eco-Action- The primary purpose of this organization is to improve local ecosystems and encourage environmentally sustainable outdoor recreational activities. These goals shall be achieved through performing on and off campus clean-ups, planning or participating in educational activities that promote awareness of environmental issues and hosting outdoor recreation trips. 6. Engineers without Borders- The student chapter,EWB-USA FGCU, shares its mission with the national organization Engineers Without Borders-USA. It works with local partners to design and implement sustainable engineering projects in local and foreign environments. 7. Environmental Engineering Society (EES)- The mission of the Environmental Engineering Society (EES) is to further students' ability to research, design, and produce environmental based technologies. Members of EES are unique students that desire to apply their classroom knowledge to hands-on projects. Our ultimate goal is to begin a tradition of undergraduate research and development at FGCU. With the assistance of our faculty advisor, we plan to network in the community with local companies and professional associations to create a platform of support for this endeavor. We see this organization as a vehicle for FGCU engineering students to do great things: publish articles, obtain grants for research projects, obtain patents for new ideas, and increase notoriety for the FGCU engineering school in this region. 8. Food Foresters- Our club is focused around learning how to grow food in an ecological way in the SW Florida region. We aim to educate students as well as allow them to have a chance to garden and grow their own food. 9. Gender Equity Organization (GEO)- To Provide an Accepting Atmosphere to Discuss and Raise Awareness About Issues Regarding: Gender, Sexual Orientation, Inclusivity and Marginality, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Diversity, Sexual Health, and Oppression and Liberation 10. Global Medical Brigades- To coordinate with licensed medical professionals and community health workers in a direct effort to provide comprehensive, sustainable health services in rural communities with limited access to healthcare. Our current focus is in Nicaragua. 11. Nutrition and Wellness Club- The goal of this Organization is to raise awareness around campus about proper nutrition and to also provide wellness events to the student population. 12. Student Action for a Greener Environment (SAGE)- The goal of SAGE is to be a student branch of the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education. Students who become a member will be nurtured in their leadership capacity and develop their identities as environmentally conscious individuals. Students who become associates are expected to make a serious commitment to SAGE, the mission of the Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education, and to environmental and sustainability education at FGCU. SAGE members will work within the Center's traditions of collaboration, civil dialogue and intellectual integrity. http://www.fgcu.edu/CESE/sage.html 13. S(us)tain- Sustain is defined as, Conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources (Google). These two definitions are in essence what our larger goal is for. So let me change the definitions around in our terms and it'll show what we're working toward. So the first definition is good, but we want that certain rate or level to be a happy one. Based upon support, positive communication and trust. The second definition is also a goal of ours however we want the term ecological to be more generalized. We want a general balance for our school by avoiding the depletion of general resources. So we work hard for the environment but that is not the only resource that sustains FGCU. Community, hard-work, purpose, and changing the things we as a community feel are unnecessary. It's good to see us maintaining :), but let's start sustaining. <- our motto, and tentative constitution. 14. Students for Environmental Justice (S4EJ)- Students For Environmental Justice works towards eliminating the uneven distribution of environmental damages by addressing structures of oppression in the community and the planet. SEJ defines the environment as including the physical, economic, political and cultural conditions in which we live. By challenging the power structure which threatens these conditions, SEJ works to create progressive social change in both the campus and community levels 15. Student Planning Association- SPA is a student-run organization whose mission is to promote responsible and sustainable planning practices, while educating students, faculty, staff and the community on various planning issues. We strive to enhance our education through public outreach, research, and other means to further advance planning in our community. The SPA provides an interdisciplinary environment, welcoming students of all majors and departments. 16. The Environmental Coalition of FGCU. ECOFGCU is a coalition of leaders from many environmentally oriented clubs and departments on campus with the goal of coordinating events and brainstorming ideas so that we can have a more unified presence. The goal is to create a better sense of community while also helping each other accomplish the goals and events we set for each semester. 17. PeaceJam- PeaceJam programs combine 1) standards based literacy, civics, and geography content, 2) leadership development, 3) service-learning, 4) conflict resolution, and 5) character development. The purpose of the PeaceJam curriculum is to stimulate youths' critical thinking skills, strengthen their research abilities, increase their knowledge of the role of nonviolence in conflict, and promote self growth and reflection. It includes specific content on the lives and work of the Nobel Peace Laureates, as well as engaging activities for analyzing root causes of issues that affect communities both locally and globally. PeaceJam puts youth in the authentic position of being peacemakers and peacebuilders who address the most pressing issues of our time in both local and global communities. Youth will use the framework of PeaceJam's Global Call to Action to implement creative projects that address the root causes of such issues as extreme poverty, disease, racism, violence, environmental degradation, human rights, and the proliferation of weapons. PeaceJam offers all young people the opportunity to step into powerful leadership roles that will make a lasting and sustainable impact. 18. Vegetarian-Vegan Club- To eat great tasting Vegetarian-Vegan food. To provide a social outlet for vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians, and anyone else interested in eating a healthy diet that is animal free. To offer members an opportunity to connect through the exchange of ideas, from recipes and cooking tips to how to live a healthier, more humane lifestyle. To offer an educational component focused on issues related to vegetarian and vegan diets including nutrition, health, environmental impact and animal rights. To promote healthier food options at FGCU. 19. Wildlife Club-The Wildlife Club is a place for people who enjoy learning about, protecting, and conserving nature. Not only is it a great way to earn service hours through volunteer opportunities that don't even feel like work, it is also a great pace to meet people with similar interests and make new friends. Along with trying to volunteer in the community as much as possible, we also try to have social trips and even go camping. Overall, our main goal is education and conservation of the environment.

The Food Forest gives students hands on training in a permaculture semi-urban garden. The food forest is run by Service Learning Coordinators and is open for the entire campus community to participate in and benefit from. In addition to growing food, the food foresters lead educational workshops and create online educational materials about plants that grow well in southwest Florida.

FGCU holds multiple sustainability events on campus that have students as its primary audience. We are currently in the process of planning the many sustainability events for the upcoming year which include but are not limited to the following: -Food Day -Recyclemania - Speakers for the Terry Tempest Williams Student Dialogue (see past speakers here http://www.fgcu.edu/CESE/TTWSD.html) -Campus Sustainability Day -Regular Farmer's Markets on Campus -Green Eagle Festival -Earth Day -Earth Hour

The fashion students put on a sustainable fashion show at a component of Earth Day in 2014 in which all the clothing was made from reclaimed materials such as used plastic grocery bags. Led by Lynn Neuman, an instructor in the Bower School of Music & the Arts, students in the "Repertory and Performance" class studied scientific models and principles of water flow to create a performance piece called "Monami" that addresses the disappearance of sea grass and other urgent water issues. The title is a Japanese word that means "grass waves"; but it also could be interpreted as French for "my friend," implying a responsibility to take care of the waterways. The students performed along with Led by Lynn Neuman, an instructor in the Bower School of Music & the Arts, students in the "Repertory and Performance" class studied scientific models and principles of water flow to create a performance piece called "Monami" that addresses the disappearance of sea grass and other urgent water issues. The title is a Japanese word that means "grass waves"; but it also could be interpreted as French for "my friend," implying a responsibility to take care of the waterways. The students performed on National Water Dances Day in along with other groups across the country plan to bring attention to the fragility of water systems. They also performed during FGCU's Community Engagement Day where all of the campus community could watch with free admission.

The FGCU Outdoor Pursuits program is a division of Florida Gulf Coast University's Campus Recreation department. "OP" is a student centered program that strives to educate and enhance the collegiate experience through quality outdoor adventure experiences, educational clinics, and team building initiatives. It is our hope to cultivate the lifelong commitment to healthy outdoor pursuits, environmental stewardship, and personal development.

For Florida Gulf Coast University's One Book,One Campus Reading Project first year students and many faculty and staff, including your Composition faculty, Orientation Leaders and the Resident Directors and Assistants in Housing, join together to read a common book, along with lots of other faculty, staff, and students across campus. This project is designed to help students join an intellectual community at FGCU, allowing them to increase student engagement and success and to foster a common academic experience. Additionally, FGCU's unique Live-Learn Community, “Leadership through Service,” focuses on the intersection between serving others and assuming leadership in our communities with a special focus on issues of social and economic justice, sustainable food practices, intergenerational learning and leadership, and values, ethics, and morals. (http://www.fgcu.edu/Housing/prospective/leadership-through-service-community.html)

At the Green Eagle Festival and Earth Day events students can learn sustainable life skills such as how to make their own eco-friendly cleaning products and laundry detergent. They also learn tips on how to save water and energy and reduce waste in their everyday lives.

The Office of Service Learning has 2 Service Ambassadors that are specifically dedicated to environmental and sustainability. These Ambassadors are responsible for service-learning outreach and event coordination (both on and off campus), as well as building sustainable partnerships with suggested Community Partner Agencies. The Department of Undergraduate Studies employees Service Learning Coordinators to manage volunteers in the Food Forest, Campus Naturalists to lead nature tours, and other positions as necessary to catalyze students involvement in other sustainability areas that currently require attention at FGCU. The Environmental Health & Safety Office has a Sustainability Ambassador who assists with sustainability reporting and sustainability event planning and facilitation. The Office of Multicultural & Leadership Development employs Multicultural Ambassadors who represent diverse cultures, geography, sexual-orientation, gender, ethnicity, and majors. These students serve as advisors, liaisons, facilitators, and representatives to the FGCU Community.

The Office of Multicultural & Leadership Development offers four Co-Curricular Leadership Programs through which students practice, reflect and apply leadership knowledge and skills that will empower individuals to question critically, think logically, and live ethically while becoming active citizens within the Florida Gulf Coast University community and the rapidly changing world.