| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 62.47 |
| Liaison | Kara Holmstrom |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Luther College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Maren
Beard Assistant Director, Campus Sustainability Center for Sustainable Communities |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Student Groups
Yes
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The Environmental Concerns Organization (ECO) is a student organization that strives to bring awareness to ecological and consumer issues by working with the Luther and Decorah Communities. They aim to think globally and act locally. They often work in collaboration with the sustainability department on some projects, but coordinate many things on their own. This group was active up until Fall 2016 and now is seeking to find new leadership.
Other sustainability-related student groups include:
-Food Council
-Habitat for Humanity
-Interfaith Student Association
-International Student and Allies Association
-Luther Athletes Serving Others
-Students Helping Out Community
-Luther College Feminists
-Muslim Student Association and Allies
-PRIDE
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Gardens and Farms
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Luther has a college farm where students work under the leadership of a Food and Farm Fellow to grow and sell food to the college cafeteria. The farm consists of 1/2 acre of outdoor production and a 30x96 high tunnel, which allows for seasonal extension. Each year 15 students have the opportunity to work in the gardens and dozens more are engaged through volunteer opportunities and events. Students also help oversee the Luther Community Garden where students, staff and faculty have garden plots. Additionally, students coordinate the college's Cafeteria to Community Program where excess food from the cafeteria kitchen is packaged and donated to the local food pantry. Students are supported through internships with Seed Savers Exchange and local farms and one student is hired each summer to serve as a Sustainable Foods Assistant in the Center for Sustainable Communities.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Student-Run Enterprises
No
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
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Sustainable Investment and Finance
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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Events
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
In Spring 2016 Luther hosted a leadership conference for college students from across the region. Several Luther students attended.
Luther brings at least three sustainability-related speakers to campus each year. Within the last year, speakers have included Sonia Kendrick of Feed Iowa First, author Cornelia Mutel and outdoorsman/environmentalist Chuck Stark.
The Center for Sustainable Communities has hosted workshops on tiny houses and renewable energy in the past year.
Luther is a sponsor and host of the Oneota Film Festival, a festival that brings many sustainability-themed films to the community. Students can attend for free and have the opportunity to submit films.
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
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Cultural Arts
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
Luther College celebrates the cultures of the world when it hosts Ethnic Arts Festival. The festival, which began in the 1980s, features presentations, programs and displays by Luther's international students from 48 countries. Ethnic Arts Festival is designed as an educational and entertaining activity for all students, as well as community members. Participants can tour the world with their own "passport," getting it stamped while they visit with students who provide information about their home countries. This event helps to everyone in the community to further understand and appreciate the diversity of cultural backgrounds represented on campus.
Spring 2015 Nineteenth century Art course curated an exhibition that paired objects from the Luther College Fine Arts Collection with the writings of Jens Jensen. The students delved into Jensen work and isolated key things that informed his landscape design, and the Luther landscape. They then found images that seemed to reflect or directly engage with Jensen's teachings. The exhibition hung first in the library gallery and was moved to the Union Gallery the following summer.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Wilderness and Outdoors Programs
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Immersion Program: We offer week-long Immersion experiences for incoming students as a way to build community, leadership capacity and a connection to the natural world.
Luther College Adventure Crew and Rec Sports offer spring break trips and wilderness experiences.
(For younger students) Discovery Camps are week-long environmental education programs providing hands-on learning experiences in the out-of-doors that are fun, engaging and full of discoveries! Participants learn about: woodland, wetland and prairie ecology, wilderness camping and survival, alternative energy, animal behavior, nature crafts, wilderness awareness and much, much more!
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
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Sustainability-Related Themes
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
In 2015-16 all incoming students were required to read "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henrîquez which tells stories from an Immigrant's point of view.
The 2015-16 Texts and Issues Lecture Series was entitled "Impermanence: Embracing Change" and included lectures such as "Back to the Future: Understanding the Anthropocene"
The 2016-17 Texts and Issues Lecture Series centers around the common theme of "Who do you trust?" Lectures include "Trust in the Commons? On Interdependence and Saving the World" and "The Racialization of Trust: Who Have We Been Taught Not to Trust"
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Sustainable Life Skills
Yes
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
In summers 2014 and 2015 Luther offered a free gardening series to all faculty, staff, students and community members.
Workshops have been held on tiny houses and renewable energy in the past few years. Those are open to everyone, including students.
The Luther College Sustainability House is a co-ed, two-story home located in a residential neighborhood within walking distance of campus. This house offers a living-learning environment where students reside together that share a dedication to an environmentally, socially, and fiscally sustainable lifestyle. Members of the house take part in house meetings, book discussions, hold house leadership roles, develop an annual operating plan for the house, and also provide education and outreach to members of the Luther and surrounding communities.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Student Employment Opportunities
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
At Luther we provide nearly 40 students the opportunity work in the Center for Sustainable Communities throughout the year. Students work in close collaboration with staff, faculty and students across campus, as well as community members. Positions include:
1. Cafeteria to Community Coordinators
2. Gardeners
3. Recycling and Composting Crew
4. Sustainability Educators (see EN-1)
5. Marketing and Communications Coordinators
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Graduation Pledge
Yes
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
The Graduation Pledge is a pledge of social and environmental responsibility that graduating seniors are encouraged to sign saying that they will be socially and environmentally responsible throughout the rest of their life, specifically in their careers.
The pledge reads as follows:
"I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Other Programs and Initiatives
No
A brief description of the 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 (optional):
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Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.