| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.66 |
| Liaison | Amber Saxton |
| Submission Date | Feb. 22, 2024 |
George Mason University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Greg
Farley Director of Sustainability University Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Mason's Green Patriots is a student organization devoted to engaging the George Mason community to promote sustainability and environmentalism.
A student Green Coalition exists to bring together student leaders with an eye to environmental and sustainability issues, including food access & justice.
Mason's Student Environmental Justice Alliance works to organize a conference each year focused on social and environmental justice ideas.
Others:
*Be the Change (advances UN SDGs)
*Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow at George Mason University ("alternative voices on the issues of the environment and development")
*Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Student Association
*Mason Korea Green Patriots
*Model United Nations
*Model United Nations at Mason Korea
*Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society at George Mason University
*Student Environmental Justice Alliance
*The Climate Consensus at George Mason University
* GMU Inventors and Innovations Team
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?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The University Sustainability office maintains three food production sites on the Fairfax campus. Its Greenhouse and Gardens Program is available for all volunteers and visitors. It is a free resource for fresh produce and hands-on experiences in sustainable food production.
The Potomac Heights Organic Vegetable Garden (PHVG) was started at the Fairfax campus in April 2009 and is managed by the University Sustainability office. The garden is maintained by the student organization known as GOGA (GMU Organic Gardening Association).
The Innovation Food Forest is located next to Innovation Hall and the Johnson Center on the Fairfax campus. It is a garden designed using permaculture (permanent agriculture) and was created in 2013 by Elizabeth Torrens after she was inspired by the Permaculture Design Certification Course hosted on Mason's campus in 2012. The Innovation Food Forest is an ecological model and an educational resource for the George Mason University campus.
The Presidents Park Greenhouse (PPG), formerly owned by the College of Science, offers year-round food production. University Sustainability staff and volunteers at the PPG manage the site, and produce approximately 2,000 lbs. of fresh produce annually which raises $20,000 each year that is used to pay for supplies, staff and utilities. Harvests include fresh produce such as basil, cilantro, lettuce, and other greens. The new system recently added is producing tomatoes, fresh thyme and mint.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
The Honey Bee Initiative at George Mason University is one example of students learning and implementing social entrepreneurship to make a difference both in our local community and worldwide. A collaboration between the School of Business and the College of Science, the Honey Bee Initiative works on honey bee sustainability by providing an innovative education, conducting collaborative research, and establishing community partnerships in our local Northern Virginia region and abroad.
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?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
University Sustainability's Patriot Green Fund (PGF), a $100,000 fund provided by Facilities Administration, strives to foster an environment where Mason can flourish academically in part through practicing environmental, social, and economic stewardship. This fund seeks to fund tangible projects that have a high value in all three of these areas of sustainability. The PGF empowers students by providing them with an unprecedented opportunity to lead and direct projects that will create positive change. To strengthen the Mason community, all Mason students, faculty, and staff may propose and/or participate in a PGF-supported project. Infrastructure projects may only occur on Mason’s campuses, but research projects may help solve problems in any of Mason’s surrounding communities or the Metro D.C. region in general.
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?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
On March 30, 2022, Mason hosted a student-focused conference title, "Solve Climate by 2030: Teach-In on Climate and Justice" (https://ise.gmu.edu/solve-climate-by-2030-teach-in-on-climate-and-justice-at-mason/)
April 21-23, 2022: Mason's Business for a Better World Center and the UN Principles for a responsible Management Education (PRME) North America hosted the PRME North America Biennial Meeting on our Arlington campus. The sessions included a student workshop and encompassed multiple priorities (see https://business.gmu.edu/news/2022-02/prme-north-america-2022-biennial-meeting-april-21-23-2022#:~:text=PRME%20North%20America%202022%20Biennial,23%2C%202022%20%7C%20School%20of%20Business)
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?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
In spring 2023, Mason Exhibitions hosted "Approaching Event Horizons: Projects on Climate Change by Atlantika Collective," an art installation and series of accompanying events. Through sculpture, photography and performative actions, seven artists addressed the growing consumerist culture and raised awareness about the consequences of the environmental crisis.
https://www.masonexhibitions.org/exhibitions/approaching-event-horizons-atlantika-pk3bx
That exhibition also included a tree planting funded by University Sustainability's Patriot Green Fund (https://facilities.gmu.edu/100-trees-added-to-mason/)
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Mason Outdoor Adventures offer peer led hiking, rock climbing, skiing, backpacking, and canoeing trips. Each trip covers, at minimum, Leave No Trace, outdoor cooking, outdoors safety, and navigation.
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
University Sustainability's Greenhouse and Gardens program hosts cooking events that are intended to combat food insecurity and teach cooking skills. Sessions in the past year have included plant-forward cooking, including a Global Rice & Beans event, and an Earthsgiving event that also focused on plant-based foods and have at times included Mason Dining as an event partner.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
University Sustainability employs several paid student interns regularly, and hosts student interns and fellows through Mason's Bonner Student Leader program and our office of Community Engagement & Civic Learning. Interns in these programs work on focused sustainability-themed projects and are paid for their time and effort.
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
The Mason Core Engagement Series (ENCORE) – Sustainability creates more opportunities for students to make meaning of the Mason Core educational offerings, to draw greater connections to the larger university community, and to develop additional marketable skill sets. ENCORE – Sustainability began Fall 2016 with the entering freshmen class. This program is an optional pathway for students interested in combining academic coursework with co-curricular activities towards a completion certificate in a specific area of engagement.
https://green.gmu.edu/academics/mason-core-engagement-series-encore/
https://masoncore.gmu.edu/sustainability-2/
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.