Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.20
Liaison Scott Carlin
Submission Date July 15, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

LIU Post
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 William Achnitz
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 No
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 Yes
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 Yes
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 No
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 Yes
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives Yes

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

N/A


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:

In existence for more than 10 years, the Community Garden at LIU Post is open to all members of the campus community. Each March, the Department of Facilities Services sends a letter campus-wide to faculty, staff, and students inviting participation. The plots are given out on a first-come, first-serve basis and are rototilled and composted with horse bedding in preparation for the planting season. Some of the gardeners, however, prefer to prepare their own plots as part of the horticultural experience.The Community Garden not only enhances the beauty of the LIU Post campus, but it demonstrates and promotes the concept of sustainable agriculture.


The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:

The LIU Post Recycling Program is a student-run enterprise that handles campus recycling efforts in conjunction with the Department of Facilities Services. Students employed by the program work as Environmental Assistants (EA's) and the program is led by a Coordinator, usually a graduate student.

EA's are responsible for the collection and sorting of recyclables in their assigned locations. As part of its mission, the LIU Post Recycling Program strives to collaborate with other members of the campus community to bring forth a more sustainable institution.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:

N/A


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:

Each spring since 2010, the Sustainable Post Committee hosts a Sustainability Celebration. The celebration features awards, student presentations, sustainable food, and a keynote speaker. The committee, which also includes a number of students, has hosted a Sustainable Movie Series and has featured speakers on the topic of sustainability such as author Jim Merkel, author Carl Safina, and permaculture advocate Jan Spencer.


The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

In 2011, the Long Island Vegetable Orchestra performed at LIU Post on instruments made of fresh produce to introduce the Summer Sustainability Institute. The concert, conducted by acclaimed violinist, concertmaster and LIU Post music professor Dale Stuckenbruck featured a four-minute composition entitled “Carrots and Strings.”

The Art Department at LIU Post also regularly displays recycled art projects. Most recently in 2012, Eco-Artist Roy Staab collaborated with LIU Post students to create an outdoor environmental sculpture on the LIU Post campus.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:

LIU Post participates in Partners in the Parks, a unique and rewarding experiential learning opportunity for Honors students and faculty. This program was developed in cooperation with the National Parks Service offering participants the opportunity to experience and appreciate the unique natural treasures that make up America’s national park system. Projects are hosted by select Honors programs working in partnership with national parks in their area. Projects are designed to offer students and faculty unprecedented access and insights into the parks through extended 5-6 day excursions. Projects include educational and recreational seminars led by expert faculty and NPS rangers specifically designed to take advantage of the unique resources within each park.


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

“Sustainability: Our World, Our Responsibility” was the theme of the 2011 Summer Sustainability Institute at LIU Post. The program offered 10 new undergraduate courses that examined sustainability from the perspectives of international business and Wall Street, ancient history, clean energy technology, ecology, journalism and the fine arts. The courses were three credits and the University extended a tuition discount to college
students as well as to high school juniors and seniors.

The classes offered were:
"Ecology/Evolution - Our Changing Earth”
“Introduction to Basic News Writing for the Environment”
“The American Classroom & Sustainability in Curriculum and Policies"
“Field Studies in Earth Science”
“Wall Street Solutions to Sustainability”
“Eco-Art: Creative Environmental Sustainability”
“Ancient Egypt: The Ultimate Sustainable Nation”
“The Business of Clean Technology”
“The Human Artistic Experience in the Natural World”
“The Sustainability Challenge & the Global Firm”


The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

N/A


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 at LIU Post are provided with two sustainability-focused employment opportunities, either as an Environmental Assistant or an Environmental Educator. Both positions are paid at a rate of $10/hour and students must apply for the position through the Department of Student Life and Leadership Development. Environmental Assistants are responsible for the collection and sorting of recyclables at assigned locations around campus and at times may help recycle at events that the Environmental Educators host. On the other hand, Environmental Educators are responsible for creating educational materials, hosting programs, conducting research, and communicating progress made in sustainability to the campus community.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:

Graduates of LIU Post have been making commitments to civic responsibility for several years. At commencement each May, students can volunteer to take the “Green and Gold Pledge” in which they vow to improve the social and environmental issues in their homes, jobs and communities. By making this promise, Long Island University’s newest graduates join students from more than 130 universities nationwide. On the day of Commencement, students wear green and gold ribbons that signify their dedication.

The Green and Gold Pledge states:
"As a graduate of Long Island University, I pledge to be attentive to the social and environmental consequences of my actions and to improve these aspects in my home, work and community."


The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:

Established in 2010, the LIU Post Recycling Scholarship has provided students with an extra way to earn money. Designed to be an incentive to get students to recycle more, the scholarship is completely funded by the 5-cent deposits found on plastic bottles and aluminum cans in the State of New York. To date, the LIU Post Recycling Program has raised and awarded over $2,000 to LIU Post students, a result of recycling more than 40,000 bottles and cans. Each year, the recipient(s) are recognized at the Annual Sustainability Celebration.


The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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