Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Kathleen Hilimire
Submission Date Feb. 1, 2021

STARS v2.2

Fort Lewis College
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Kathleen Hilimire
Assistant Professor
Environmental Studies
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student groups 

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:
The Environmental Center is a student-driven organization that works to develop environmental leadership among the students of FLC by engaging them in hands-on, high-impact sustainability projects on campus and within the community.

For more information: https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/clubs-organizations/environmental-center/our-work

Gardens and farms 

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:
Fort Lewis College has many options for students to gain experience in sustainable food systems. The Environmental Center maintains a demonstration eco-garden on campus where students can volunteer or take classes. Students can also acquire hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture at the Old Fort at Hesperus, a 6,000+ acre site managed by the college that offers internships, paid positions, and an incubator program. Within academics, there is a Regenerative Food Systems certificate. Also within academics, the Environmental Studies program offers an internship course, through which students can acquire 150 hours of hands-on experience at one of many sustainable farms.

For more information: https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/clubs-organizations/environmental-center/our-work/local-food-security

https://www.fortlewis.edu/about-flc/initiatives/the-old-fort/sustainable-agriculture-programs

Student-run enterprises 

Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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Sustainable investment and finance 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
"Fort Lewis College investments will now be scored for sustainability and social impacts after the Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the Environmental, Social, Governance rule to their Investment Policy. The Investment Advisory Committee is required to periodically review investments for environmental, social, and governance factors, including clean technology and pollution, water use and conservation, human rights, community development, board of directors’ independence, and corporate political contributions. The IAC will submit a report of their findings to the full Board annually."

For more information: https://www.fortlewis.edu/fort-lewis-college-news/news/news-detail/board-of-trustees-unanimously-adopts-socially-and-environmentally-aware-investment-policy

Events 

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 Center hosts an annual Sustainability Summit.

For more information:

Cultural arts 

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:
1) Real Food Challenge Dining Installation: In 2015-2016, the Environmental Center's Aesthetic Activist student group designed a multi-media art installation to highlight how our on-campus Closed Loop Food system supports the Real Food Challenge here on campus. Through a combination of student-created photography, chalk lexicon, graphic design and three dimensional elements, our student artists walked viewers through student efforts from growing food on campus to Sodexo's role in preparing this food to be served in campus dining. The final segments of the 30x40' piece directed viewers' attention to the on-campus, student-run composting program and how the 'fuel' that it creates is ultimately used to grow more food by students, for students in the campus garden.

For more information: https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/clubs-organizations/environmental-center/events-happenings

Wilderness and outdoors programs 

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

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Fort Lewis College has several options for students to gain experience in Leave No Trace principles. Within academics, there are courses in the Adventure Education major with an explicit Leave No Trace Focus. Outside of academics, students can learn about Leave No Trace through Outdoor Pursuits, a program that offers outdoor experiences that emphasize environmental awareness.

For more information: https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/health-safety/outdoor-pursuits/op-home

Sustainability-focused themes 

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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Sustainable life skills 

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:
The Environmental Center provides regular opportunities for students to learn sustainable life skills through orientation activities, a regular newsletter, and volunteer activities.

For more information: https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/clubs-organizations/environmental-center/ec-home

Student employment opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Environmental Center at Fort Lewis College employs between 25-30 student staff each academic year, 2-4 student staff in the summer, and between 2-6 credit-bearing student internships at any point.

For more information: https://www.fortlewis.edu/life-at-flc/clubs-organizations/environmental-center/get-involved/work-at-the-ec

Graduation pledge

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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Optional Fields

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:
Updated February 2020

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