Michigan State University
EN-3: Student Life

"Sustainable Spartans (formerly called Sustainable Energy Institute) is Michigan State University's main student sustainability organization. The group was founded during the summer of 1999 and has been active ever since. The group changed its name from ECO to Sustainable Spartans in 2012. Sustainable Spartans works on the local, statewide, and national level to promote sustainability with tenets such as recycling, conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy. The group works closely with administration and other organizations on campus, including the MSU Sustainability Be Spartan Green Initiative and other student organizations such as the Student Sierra Club and MSU Greenpeace.The director of MSU Sustainability is the group's advisor. Other student groups that focus on sustainability include: EFFS: Ecological Food and Farm Stewardship Fisheries and Wildlife Club MSU Greenpeace Spartan Sierra Club Horticulture Club LEAF Outdoor Club PAWS

MSU’s Student Organic Farm (SOF) fosters sustainability, education and community engagement. With 16,000 square feet of passive solar green houses, the farm is able to sustainably support a 48-week Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program to 150 community members. In addition, a weekly on campus farm stand provides organic, local food to community members. The farm stand runs six months out of the year and enables students working on the farm to cultivate knowledge in organic and sustainable food production in their peers and in other community members. All 5 acres of field and garden-scale production on the certified organic farm incorporate a strong emphasis on teaching and research. Additional resources at the farm include an edible forest garden, laying hens, bee hives and a small mushroom production area. In addition, the Bailey Hoop house is an organic and student run green house which produces herbs and greens year round, supplying several of the dining halls with products. The Bailey Hoop House is run by students in the RISE program in Bailey Hall.

The university’s Student Organic Farm provides students with educational opportunities in the fields and hoophouses, as well as in institutional contracting, marketing and business. Student’s who take courses and work at the farm learn about how to market their products and engage the community at their weekly farm stand, where produce and flowers from the student organic farm are sold. Each Thursday from May through October, students set up the farm stand on campus and utilize the opportunity to engage community members and generate revenue for the farm. On average students generate $700 dollars per week at the farm stand. Along with opportunities for hands-on learning in marketing and business at the stand, students also have the opportunity to participate in institutional contracting between the university residence halls and the Student Organic Farm. The farm provides organic salad greens to the residence halls, demonstrating the importance of local business contracting and providing further business experience for students taking courses at the farm.

The Spartan Global Development Fund (SGDF) promotes sustainable economic development by enabling entrepreneurs in developing countries to help themselves. The project was launched on July 4, 2009, with four microloans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. To date, SGDF has made more than 500 loans in amounts ranging from $25 to $1,500, formed a nonprofit organization, and involved dozens of students each year from across campus – particularly business students and that number increases each month. This project includes important dimensions of business and service in the 21st century, including sustainability, entrepreneurship and international development. SGDF set and achieved goals for fundraising, outreach and portfolio management–in its first year, SGDF secured a corporate donor, raised over $4,000 and exceeded its goal of helping over 100 entrepreneurs while having a global presence. The fund helped 173 entrepreneurs and made loans in five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia). The default rate on the portfolio was 0% and is diversified across 42 countries and 13 sectors of the economy.

There are several sustainable events held throughout the year. Information on events are posted on www.bespartangreen.msu.edu. In addition to these events, several college and departments hold sustainability-related speaker series and forums. The events sponsored by the Campus Sustainability Include: Eco-Challenge launched in October 2013 to engage student groups in sustainability by pledging specific actions. This event was sponsored by the Northwest Earth Institute and Campus Sustainability in collaboration with several registered student organizations. RecycleMania is an annual competition (national). Campus sustainability organizes events, outreach, and education specific to students on resource conservation and recycling. Campus Sustainability Week (October 2014) - MSU celebrates National Campus Sustainability week with a series of events designed to bring awareness and generate dialogue on sustainability issues. Campus Sustainability presented a week long series of speakers, events, tours, workshops, and other opportunities for students to engage. Pack Up Pitch In Help Out Program - This program takes places during student move in and move out to collect items for community organizations and unwanted items for recycling or reuse. Conversation with the President on Energy - this live stream event was the third one held, on April 8, 2015. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, along with other distinguished panelists , discussed how updates to MSU’s energy infrastructure and emerging partnerships will position the institution as a leader in sustainability among top research institutions. http://energytransition.msu.edu/

The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum host exhibits, events and film screenings, some each year which support and promote a sustainability-related theme.

The MSU Outdoors club focuses on exploring and enjoying the great outdoors. The club organizes several large trips each year including white water rafting in West Virginia and ice climbing in Canada and Munising. Other fun trips to look forward are rock climbing, skydiving, backpacking, mountain biking and more.

During academic summer orientation, MSU's Residential & Hospitality Services hosts a model room for new students and parents to tour. Sustainable living concepts are incorporated into the room setup and supporting literature is distributed.

Campus Sustainability is active in creating work and internship experiences for MSU undergraduate and graduate level students. The employment opportunities include sustainability communications, student outreach and engagement, web and technical, sustainability leadership, waste reduction, etc. Campus Sustainability also works in collaboration with other departments and academic units on campus to connect students with cross-functional and interdisciplinary employment opportunities.

he Department of Community Sustainability (CSUS) is a multidisciplinary department that focuses on combining the natural and social sciences to address contemporary issues of sustainability in agriculture, recreation, natural resources, and the environment. The Department of Community Sustainability (CSUS) was formerly called the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation, and Resource Studies (CARRS). On January 31, 2013, Acting Provost June Youatt approved the new name because it better captures the essence of the goals of the department and creates a framework for its research and outreach programs of the future. This change was effective July 1, 2013. Consistent with its mission to assist in the development of sustainable communities, the department offers the two undergraduate majors—Environmental Studies and Agriscienceand Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism. The CSUS graduate program enables students to co-create personalized programs of study in four focal areas that represent the teaching, research and outreach interests of the CSUS faculty—Community Food and Agricultural Systems, Education and Civic Engagement,Natural Resources and the Environment, and Recreation and Tourism Systems.