| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Susan Lindemann |
| Submission Date | Sept. 25, 2020 |
Kalamazoo College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Madeline
Ward Sustainability Intern Facilities Management |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
ECO (Environmental Conservation Organization) is a student group at Kalamazoo College dedicated to ensuring the well being of the earth and its inhabitants. In accord with Kalamazoo College’s motto, “lux esto,” ECO aims to facilitate a paradigm shift towards a more sustainable consciousness by spreading education, awareness, and action. The organization provides responsible environmental leadership by increasing the environmental consciousness of its members, working alongside other campus organizations in an effort to make Kalamazoo College a more sustainable institution, and campaigning on a local, national, and global level to bring about positive change on a larger scale. Through these actions, ECO hopes to propel our college, community, and nation into the future by adopting a sustainable consciousness centered around a fundamental respect for the earth.
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:
Kalamazoo College has various gardens and growing spaces, the main spaces being the Hoop House, Jolly Garden, Hoben Garden and Greenhouse, and the Grove. The Hoop House, Jolly Garden, and Hoben Garden and Greenhouse are all community growing spaces maintained by a community of Kalamazoo College students, faculty, staff members, and friends. The Grove is the composting space on campus where compost is created to support the growing spaces on campus. The College offers gardening courses in the spring and fall through the Physical Education Department that are open to all students.
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:
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:
The College has invested in a sustainable investment fund upon the urging of the student body. The Socially Responsible Investment Advisory Committee (SRIAC) was created for students to have an opportunity to oversee certain investment decisions.
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 Program hosts a yearly Sustainability SIP Symposium where students present their sustainability-related Senior Individualized Projects, ranging in topic from English to Economics. The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership routinely hosts events related to sustainability and environmental justice. https://reason.kzoo.edu/csjl/
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:
The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership routinely commissions artists to install art inside the Arcus Center building focused on sustainability and environmental justice.
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 College leads an 18-day pre-orientation backpacking and canoeing trip located in the Adirondack State Park in northern New York State. As part of the experience, participants follow and learn the Leave No Trace principles as well as develop wilderness skills, ethics, awareness and appreciation for the land they are living on.
In addition to the first year experience, the Land Sea Office provides extensive technical and logistical support to the Kalamazoo Outing Club by lending equipment and providing trainings during the school year.
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:
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Students can pursue jobs as a Sustainability Intern for Facilities Management, as well as a job with the Environmental Leader Corps, a group of environmental student leaders on campus who are passionate about and motivated to make changes regarding environmental stewardship issues on Kalamazoo College’s campus, the Lillian Anderson Arboretum and the greater Kalamazoo community. Additionally, the College hire student workers for Composting, Recycling, the Lillian Anderson Arboretum, and the Just Food Collective.
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.