| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.33 |
| Liaison | James Biesecker |
| Submission Date | Nov. 1, 2022 |
Gettysburg College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jeff
Rioux Director Center for Public Service |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
GECO (Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Organization) is the environmental club on campus, an entirely student-run organization that has existed on campus for over 25 years. Members are students who care deeply about environmental issues and want to make a positive impact on the environment and their community. They are involved in advocacy campaigns, campus sustainability projects, and ecological restoration activities. They frequently collaborate with other student organizations to put on education and social events on campus, such as film festivals and speaker series, and have organized various trips off campus from camping in nearby state parks to national student conferences. https://engage.gettysburg.edu/geco/home/ OR https://www.instagram.com/gettysburggeco/
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:
In 2006, student Freya Gibbon '07 received a Mellon Grant to establish an organic student garden on campus. Named after a friend found at the garden after flood rains, the Painted Turtle Farm is a campus-community hub for food justice that includes a 20 week (25 member) CSA program and 29 raised bed plots that are utilized by local Latino families to grow culturally relevant, healthy food. The farm is Certified Naturally Grown and both students and community members learn about organic practices as they volunteer and work on the farm, including composting, natural soil management, non-chemical pest management, and crop rotation. They also have a learning garden, where they planted a Three Sisters Garden this year to teach about complementary planting and indigenous wisdom. https://www.gettysburg.edu/offices/center-for-public-service/students/painted-turtle-farm/
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:
Painted Turtle Farm offers a CSA Program for the local community
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:
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:
The Environmental Studies Department hosts an annual lecture. The most recent lecture, in 2020, was co-sponsored by the Eisenhower Institute and took an in depth look at the history of Pennsylvania’s very own Environmental Rights Amendment, its status in today’s context, and its future in every state across America. This lecture featured former Deputy Attorney General and Pennsylvania State House Representative, Franklin Kury and Maya van Rossum, founder and leader of the Green Amendment Movement.
Each year, several departments (Facilities, ES) and student organizations (GECO, PTF) at Gettysburg College organize Sustainability Week every fall and multiple events to coincide with Earth Day in the spring. Recent events have included films, speakers, potlucks, and opportunities to tour and volunteer at the Painted Turtle Farm.
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 the spring of 2019, the Gettysburg College Musselman Library hosted an exhibit entitled "Trash and Treasure: Sculptures from Found Objects." John Commito, emeritus Professor of Environmental Studies, fashions sculpture from garbage—castoff objects he finds on beaches and backroads of coastal Maine and in his hometown of Frederick, MD. Commito collects, sorts, and arranges these objects, then encloses them within a box frame. Some he paints; others he leaves au naturel, transforming piles of rusty bottle caps, discarded electronics and pieces of driftwood into something remarkable.
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:
The Garthwait Leadership Center provides a wide variety of outdoor opportunities ranging from one day experiences to week-long experiences that visit crags, waterways, caves, and trails from the mid-Atlantic region to international locations. We promote exploration, education and respect for the natural environment through our small group experiences. We emphasize instruction and teaching while on our trips, rather than just guiding an experience. We want our participants to learn the skills necessary to enjoy the backcountry, so when they embark on their own adventures they have a foundation of ethical and sound Leave No Trace practices. Our trips are available to anyone associated with the Gettysburg College community--students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their family members. https://www.gettysburg.edu/leadership/outdoor-trips/
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:
The student sustainability-themed house, Farmhouse, models sustainable living for all students on campus. All students living in the house strive for a low-energy and low-resource use lifestyle. Food, appliances, and electronics are shared communally and sustainable practices such composting food, dry clothes on the clothesline, and biking around town are practiced frequently. https://www.gettysburg.edu/offices/residential-first-year-programs/upperclass-living/college-house-program/college-housing-descriptions-and-contacts.dot
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Sustainability interns (1) on campus are hired to conduct surveys of greenhouse gas emissions on campus, innovate with Facilities Services to engage the campus community, and develop their own ideas about implementing sustainable practices. In addition, the PTF Program Coordinators (3) are paid positions by the college. https://www.gettysburg.edu/offices/center-for-public-service/students/painted-turtle-farm/
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:
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.