Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.72
Liaison Christie-Joy Hartman
Submission Date May 12, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

James Madison University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.50 / 2.00 Melissa Altman
Grant Writer
Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability
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Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
E.A.R.T.H. Club (JMU Earth Club) "We are an environmentally conscience club that is focused on advocacy and the spreading of knowledge of various topics." Give Volunteers (GIVE) "A community of students who volunteers in the Harrisonburg community as well as in communities in Nicaragua, Tanzania, and Thailand. We are the roots of change. We are interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, adventure, and travel. We actively work on asset based, environmentally minded projects in the Harrisonburg community and enjoy exploring the adventures within the Shenandoah Valley." Net Impact "JMU Net Impact Undergrad aims to educate, equip and inspire our members to use the power of business to create a more environmentally and socially beneficial world." Strategies for Ecological Education, Diversity, and Sustainability (SEEDS) "Increase ecological awareness and diversity through community fellowship." Climate Justice Coalition "Purpose: to build student power and raise public awareness while actively campaigning for individuals, institutions, and governmental bodies to take action to prevent and mitigate anthropogenic climate change." Environmental Management Club "Purpose: to give members unique opportunities to learn about the world we live in and ways to make a positive impact upon it." Food for Thought "Purpose: to promote vegan/vegetarian diets and sustainable lifestyles." Campus Kitchen "Campus Kitchen is an organization which aims to give food waste a new life by distributing unused food from dining halls and from around the community to local community organizations in need." Information quoted from the "Be Involved" website.

The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
No

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
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The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
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Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
A "Fueled" food truck was initiated by students but is operated by JMU Dining Services.

The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
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Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
Sample Events 1. Diana Wall: Common Ground - Soil Biodiversity and Sustainability. Lecture hosted by the Cohen Center for the Study of Technological Humanism featuring Professor Diana H. Wall, University Distinguished Professor and Director, School of Global Environmental Sustainability at Colorado State University (February 26, 2016) 2. "Hunger in Haiti: What Haitians Want You to Know" was presented by Dr. Mary B. Tacy based on her work on hunger and sustainability in La Gonave, Haiti. (September 21, 2015)

The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
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Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
An example of an exhibition related to sustainability is below. "Source and Confluence: Exploring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed" on exhibit in the New Image Gallery. Photographer Scott Jost is creating a portrait of this vast historical and ecological treasure by focusing on its river and stream origins and confluences. Chesapeake Bay is the third largest estuary in the world, and its watershed is home to approximately 17 million people. (September and October 2016)

The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
University Recreation's (UREC's) Adventure Program plans an assortment of trips that teach and follow "Leave No Trace" principles, including hiking, kayaking, skiing, canoeing, and other outings.

The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
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Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
No

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
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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 Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability annually employs undergraduate and/or graduate students. Facilities Management Sustainability also offers employment to students. Some examples of projects to which student employees contributed include a survey and signage update of waste bins and recycling stations, graphic and web design, and a campus sustainability map and tour.

The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
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Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledges:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
Yes

A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
Each year James Madison University offers student-led and developed service breaks to locations in the United States and abroad. Some are sustainability focused. Each service team typically consists of 12 student participants, two student co-leaders and a faculty or staff learning partner. Most breaks take place during the spring break period, but breaks are offered at all of the JMU academic breaks. While working with national and international communities, the James Madison University Alternative Break Program trains and immerses students in a purposeful service experience designed to connect students and community members while enhancing personal growth, mutual awareness and life-long learning.

The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Responsible party for student organization information: Katie Lese, Coordinator, Organization Development Responsible party for Alternative Break information: Community Service Learning at http://www.jmu.edu/abp/ Responsible party for student employment opportunities: Dr. Christie-Joy Hartman, Executive Director, Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Responsible party for "Leave No Trace": UREC at http://www.jmu.edu/recreation/adventure/index.shtml Information entered by Melissa Altman.

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.