Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.20
Liaison Kate Witte
Submission Date Feb. 24, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Keene State College
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.75 / 2.00 Heather Greenwood
Recycling Coordinator
Physical Plant
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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 No
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 Yes
Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills Yes
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 ---

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The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
KSC Campus Ecology focuses primarily on topics of environmental interest. Their initial get-to-know-each-other event is the Common Ground Fair in Maine, where they volunteer, preferably in the composting section. They table on topics such as Fair Trade, they show movies such as Tapped, they sponsor or co-sponsor speakers and try to educate themselves and their peers. They are increasing their partnerships with local sustainability related organizations. They have two free solar powered concerts every year which includes fun and educational activities. SEEDS (Students for Environmental Education Development and Success) is a student organization focused on educating students on sustainability. It is a new club this year (2013-2014). They have done small projects including tabling, showing a documentary and hosting pizza parties during which they find ways to reuse old newspapers. They hope to do more as they continue to grow. Fair Trade Club is a student organization trying to raise awareness of the social and environmental aspect of sustainability. They host tables at events and have even sent students to a section of South America to get a full look at what fair trade means on both ends.

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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:
Six raised beds between the library and the child development center. Maintained over the summer by former or current Campus Ecology members and other interested students.

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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:
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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:
The 2013 Keene State College biennial symposium topic was "finding your place in the evolving commons" and included several sessions directly related to sustainability. The PCSF President's Council for Sustainable Future) sponsors or co-sponsors speakers each year as does the Environmental Studies Department, who generally host a series of speakers each semester.

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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:
The Environmental Outing Club is a student organization that organizes and promotes hiking, camping, climbing and other outdoor activities. Their mission statement: Helps students actively engage in outdoor activities, while promoting a clean environment and a sustainable future.

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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:
Some of the residential halls have smaller communities focused on topics. One of the topics is "Environmental Living." Students apply to be in these communities where they are offered theme specific programming and support.

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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:
(See above information about our Environmental Living parliament/community in first year res halls.

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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:
Students can be employed by the recycling office, as eco-reps and as assistants in our green bike lending program.

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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:
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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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