Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 47.06
Liaison Daniela Shebitz
Submission Date Dec. 11, 2023

STARS v2.2

Kean University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Sarah Coykendall
Managing Assistant Director
Diversity Council on Global Education and Citizenship
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student groups 

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes

Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
The student group "Environmental Alliance" was previously the Earth Science Club at Kean University. It recently changed its name to attract people from throughout the University who are concerned about environmental issues. Their major accomplishments each year include organizing Earth Week (presentations, river clean-up, and other events), and field trips for students.

We also have the United Nations Association chapter - The United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) is a movement of Americans who believe that our interests and values can best be advanced by standing with The United Nations, including the 17SDGs.

Gardens and farms 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The Office of Residence Life has created a community garden that allows students to get involved with planting, weeding, maintaining, and growing flowers, vegetables, and fruits that are either donated or used on campus.

We also have hydroponic systems in our greenhouse in which leafy greens and tomatoes are grown throughout the year by students - for students. Students from our introductory environmental and sustainability courses visit the greenhouse to help plant and harvest the crops.

Finally, we work with the local non-profit organization Groundwork Elizabeth which employs many of our students each semester to serve as urban farmers at their micro-farm located one mile from campus (at the Elmora Library in Elizabeth). In addition, many students intern with the organization for college credit to work on farming and local restoration activities.

Student-run enterprises 

Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
---

Sustainable investment and finance 

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?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
---

Events 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Kean University explored the role of business in addressing the threat of climate change and the importance of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) during an industry panel discussion held recently on its Union campus.

The panel Environmental Social Governance: The Role of Business in a Rapidly Changing World was presented on Tuesday, November 1, by Kean’s College of Business and Public Management (CBPM) with the Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences.

More can be found: https://www.kean.edu/news/sustainable-business-practices-discussed-kean-forum

Cultural arts 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
The Galleries at Kean University has focused on sustainability during the 2022-23 academic school year. Brought to Kean University’s Liberty Hall Academic Center gallery by the National Geographic Society, the display titled Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary ran through Wednesday, November 23, 2022. A September 15 opening reception celebrated the exhibit for using unique artistic expressions to echo Kean’s emphasis on diversity, inclusion and social responsibility. There was also a gallery installation called followed by AFTERMATH (https://galleries.kean.edu/exhibitions/aftermath) which blends human rights issues and Sustainability and draws inspiration from the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Another installation, called Reclaimed Creations, included a sustainability curriculum for students who visited the exhibit and a panel during Earth Week with the artist and professors from different departments who worked on sustainability-based research and engagement.

Wilderness and outdoors programs 

Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Outdoor Adventure and Recreation Club - is a Kean University club with the goals of introducing students to outdoor activities with a group of peers. To give new appreciation to the outdoors and other areas. We travel all around New Jersey to see places not everyone hears about. Travel with us to see the ruins of an actual castle in NJ, Delaware Water Gap, Parkour obstacle course. If that's not your cup of tea then come take a nice hike with us, come walk around in Grounds for Sculptures, or camping. We want to bring an experience as a college student that they can remember! All activities practice leave-no-trace principles.

Sustainability-focused themes 

Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The Galleries at Kean University has focused on sustainability during the 2022-23 academic school year.

https://zerowastememoirs.com/baby-step-10-book-sustainability/

https://galleries.kean.edu/exhibitions/aftermath

https://galleries.kean.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Sayaka%20Ganz_%20Reclaimed%20Creations%20SUSTAINABILITY%20CURRICULUM%20GUIDE.pdf

Sustainable life skills 

Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Give Back Abroad Internship is an internship and travelearn introduced by Kean University for students where students can earn two credits while they travel to Costa Rica. The Center for International Studies offers information regarding this internship as well as various other opportunities abroad.

More can be found at: http://kutower.com/2022/11/18/costa-rica-spring-internship-travelearn/

Student employment opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
- Composter (employed through work study and interns with the Environmental Health and Safety office)
- Greenhouse work study (1 student position)
- Sustainability work study (2 student positions)
- Hydroponic Farm Assistant

https://www.kean.edu/academics/college-science-mathematics-and-technology/department-environmental-and-sustainability

Graduation pledge

Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
---

Optional Fields

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
ID 1350 *01 - Environmental Justice and Internships
Working with the NY/NJ Baykeeper - Internships (Oyster Gardens and Restoration Projects) [could fall under education as well since the coordinator does an hour lecture in about Environmental Justice and Ocean Conservation/Restoration]

Coordinated compost bins among the dining halls/restaurants
Working with Gourmet Dining, Outtakes, and The Pantry to decrease fresh food waste (pre-packaged items)

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.