| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Jennifer Wilson |
| Submission Date | March 23, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Georgia State University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
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Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
| Yes or No | |
| Active student groups focused on sustainability | Yes |
| Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes | No |
| Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills | Yes |
| Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | Yes |
| Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | No |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | No |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | No |
| Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution | Yes |
| Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions | No |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | No |
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The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
1) Atlanta Herpetology Club
2) Environmental Law Society- Seeks to provide a forum for law students to explore the field of environmental law, a network of students and professionals to support professional growth.
3) GSU Bikes- GSU Bikes, launched in August of 2009, is a student-led, interdisciplinary group focused on making the Georgia State University campus a bike-friendly area. The Institute of Public Health, Welch School of Art and Design, Department of Sociology, university public relations, and the Department of Recreational Services, in partnership with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition and Central Atlanta Progress, have teamed up to conduct this project. GSU Bikes provides information and other services for bicycling and improving the environment in support of bicycling to, from, and on campus. Funding from the EPA’s P3 (People, Prosperity and the Planet) grant was used to identify factors that affect bicycling to and from the GSU campus, and to put in place features, services, and policies to promote bicycling.
4) Sustainable Energy Tribe (SET): The Sustainable Energy Tribe (S.E.T.) is a grass roots organization working with the GSU Campus. S.E.T. has become an integral part of the GSU culture through organizational affiliations and student relations. Introducing educational programs and hosting engaging events are avenues that S.E.T use to influence students to be more sustainability, or open to sustainable practice.
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The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:
With financial support from the Porsche Foundation, the Sustainable Energy Tribe maintains three large raised beds in Hurt Park. These are within walking distance from GSU and the group always offers volunteer opportunities.
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The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
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A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
GSU has a mandatory student sustainability fee in which all 33,000 students pay $3 per semester towards sustainability initiatives. There is a sustainability fee committee made up of 3 students and 3 staff members. They meet regularly to review and vote on project proposals.
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
Every month, the Office of Sustainability hosts a "Green Bag Lunch" Sustainability Forum that is open to the public and geared toward students. Each month there is a speaker from a prominent environmental organization in Atlanta.
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The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
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A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
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The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
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A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Touch the Earth is Georgia State University’s outdoor recreation program. Our program offers a wide variety of experiences designed for all skill levels lead by a team of experienced volunteer trip leaders. In most cases, we provide equipment, transportation, leadership and handle all logistical planning. These programs are offered to Georgia State students, faculty and staff and graduates who are members of the student recreation center. Touch the Earth operates five departments: climbing wall/bouldering cave, equipment rental, trips, bike shop, and challenge program/team building. The Climbing Wall and Bouldering Cave provide challenges to meet the needs of both beginning and experienced rock climbers. Climbing is free; we also offer belay certification clinics for a small fee. Students and SRC members may come into the Touch the Earth office to rent all manners of outdoor equipment ranging from whitewater kayaks to six-person tents. The Touch the Earth Bike Shop offers only the most basic “while-you-wait” services. Referrals to local bike shops are available to address more complex issues. The Challenge Program offers people innovative ways to improve their abilities when working with others. This learn-by-doing approach focuses on creative problem solving and effective communication. Each program is tailored to meet the needs of the group. Our team of facilitators has experience with clubs, office units, social organizations and corporate groups. In all, Touch the Earth is a multi-faceted organization focused on increasing participant knowledge and experience in outdoor recreation.
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The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
N/A
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The website URL where information about the theme is available:
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A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Georgia State Office of Sustainability hires undergraduate and graduate students every year to help with projects such as GIS mapping, organizing the on campus farmers market, climate action planning, and student engagement in sustainability.
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The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
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A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
N/A
None
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.