| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 31.69 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Masuen |
| Submission Date | Aug. 30, 2021 |
Metropolitan Community College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 2.00 |
Sally
Hopley Coordinator of Sustainable Practices Campus Planning and Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
MCC has an Ecology club that tries to meet monthly. The club discusses ecology matters and focuses on the conservation of natural areas. The club also celebrates Earth Day and Arbor Day events (tree and other plantings). This club also works with the NABT Bio Clubs on events. There was also a 2020 study abroad trip to Costa Rica that was canceled due to COVID.
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:
The Fort Omaha Campus quarter-acre garden is an exercise in urban agriculture; dozens of varieties of vegetables are grown without pesticides and chemicals in a small area. The garden is used for classes from the Horticulture and Culinary programs as well as community education, including class on Small Market Farming: https://mycatalog.mccneb.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=12&poid=3174&returnto=403
Student-workers spend time in the garden, helping with planting, maintaining, and harvesting vegetables from the organically managed garden.
MCC also recently partnered with a neighborhood association (Yates). MCC will have three classrooms and multiple freight gardens for educational programming. This site will also house additional sustainability education through our continuing education programming.
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:
N/A
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:
N/A
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 Sustainability Leadership Presentation Series is in its tenth year. The SLPS program is a partnership with Central Community College, Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Communities, Metropolitan Community College, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Environmental Studies, University of Nebraska - Omaha, and Hastings College. The program is active throughout the academic year and brings in a speaker monthly to discuss various sustainability-focused topics. The presentation is filmed live at one location and webcast live to the other organizations. The presentation is free and open to students, staff, faculty, and the community. All recorded presentations can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Xq0zLi2qhgVs_1_yLhzbQ/playlists. The MCC list of the SLPS events can be found at https://www.mccneb.edu/Community-Business/Buildings-Expansions/Campus-Planning-and-Sustainability/Sustainability/Events/Leadership-Presentation-Series-(1)
In the Fall of 2017, MCC launched the Hubbard Sustainability Speaker Series, a quarterly series sponsored by the Claire M. Hubbard Foundation. The series is an opportunity to bring in a local, regional, and national speaker on a related topic. Topics have ranged from climate change to local foods. The list of current and previous events can be found at www.mccneb.edu/hubbard.
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:
MCC holds an annual Intertribal Powwow in the fall. This event is intended for students but is also open to community members. To show respect for the performers and guests of the Powwow, MCC incorporates as many sustainable options for the operation of the event as well as through the message of the importance of taking care of the earth. https://www.mccneb.edu/Prospective-Students/Student-Tools-Resources/Intercultural/Programs-and-Events/Fort-Omaha-Intertribal-Powwow
MCC also holds an annual International Fair. The fair included multiple sustainability messages from throughout the world, including a session on a former student beginning a .https://www.mccneb.edu/Prospective-Students/Student-Tools-Resources/Intercultural/Programs-and-Events/International-Fair The last event included a video on Sustainable Development and Entrepreneurship: https://youtu.be/AXpcWwrAp0Q
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:
N/A
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:
N/A
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:
MCC offers many continuing education courses available to students to learn the basic mechanics of fixing a bike, bicycle safety, and other bike-related skills. Additionally, students can also take continuing education courses in small urban farming which can teach them how to create and maintain a small garden with the ability to grow their own food. Other continuing education classes include buying an electric car and reducing waste at home, cooking, and gardening classes.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Students are more than welcome to choose the Campus Planning and Sustainability Department as their choice of employer through work-study programs.
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):
N/A
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.