Missouri State University
EN-3: Student Life

Students for a Sustainable Future (SSF) is the active sustainability-focused organization at Missouri State. The group is entirely student governed with new student officers elected by members each year. SSF works to educate and promote sustainability both within the club and to all students. SSF meets every week and hosts and attends sustainable events and outings throughout the year. Most notably, SSF organized a Beyond Coal campaign asking the University to transition to 100% renewable electricity. The campaign resulted in over 1,500 petitions signed and a formal presentation to the Board of Governors. Every year, SSF organizes the annual renewable energy powered concert and sustainability fair called Ecopalooza and coordinates recycling at several home football games.

The Missouri State Campus Garden was funded by a student sustainability proposal in 2010. The garden is currently managed by two student workers paid $12.50 per hour. The students strive to use organic practices and experience every facet of a sustainable food system. The student managers perform all work related to the garden, including planning, purchasing supplies, planting, coordinating volunteers, harvesting and selling produce, marketing, and accounting. The food is sold to campus and community members, local grocery stores, and donated to volunteers.

Carrie's Café is entirely operated by students in the Restaurant Management class. Students manage every aspect of production, including food and menu selection, budgeting, preparation, serving, and marketing. Sustainability is a key component of Carrie's Café, which emphasizes recycling, reuse, smart energy and water use, and purchase of local food when possible. Carrie's Café currently partners with the campus garden to purchase some of their produce when possible.

In March 2009, students voted to implement a $2 per semester fee to go towards sustainability initiatives on campus. Funds from the student fee are then matched by officials within the University up to $75,000 each academic year. The purpose of the Sustainability Fund is to provide the means to implement student-initiated projects on the Missouri State University-Springfield campus that focus on sustainability initiatives that lessen the negative environmental impact of the University. The Student Sustainability Commission, made up of five voting students and several non-voting faculty and staff members will evaluate all proposals submitted and allocate funds accordingly. The Commission has the authority to reject projects that are environmentally harmful or that primarily benefit a restricted academic department or group of students. In addition, the process of forming an idea into a viable proposal and submitting that proposal for consideration is intended to be a valuable learning experience for students as well as an opportunity to be involved in something that betters the University and the environment.

In 2013, a student authored a Public Affairs grant to bring Eban Goodstein to speak on campus. Goodstein, an educator, economist, and sustainability activist, spoke to a large crowd of students about sustainable business and entrepreneurship. In 2009, the Public Affairs Conference and Public Affairs Week were both sustainability-themed. Students are encouraged to attend all Public Affairs events.

Partnering with Missouri State University's College of Natural & Applied Science, City Utilities of Springfield, City of Springfield Environmental Service, The Print Group and SMC Packaging, the Discovery Center of Springfield utilized the plans of The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibit of Green Revolution and developed Springfield's own exhibit with recycled and re-purposed materials. Unlike most traveling exhibits, Green Revolution is not packed in a crate and does not travel by truck, so it has virtually no carbon footprint. Missouri State University hosted a free admission day at the Discovery Center from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. October 1, 2014. The free admission allowed students, faculty, staff and their families the opportunity to experience and enjoy the Green Revolution exhibit, as well as the other exhibits the Discovery Center has to offer.

Outdoor Adventures takes members of the Missouri State University community on wilderness adventure trips aimed at providing opportunities to meet others, work with a group, learn new skills, enjoy nature, and have fun. Outdoor Adventures employs student leaders who guide, instruct and facilitate these group activities. Trip leaders follow leave no trace principles.

In 2013, a sustainability-related book was chosen as the common reader for all GEP 101 First Year Foundations classes: "Start Something That Matters" by Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS. All incoming freshmen take this class, gaining exposure to a sustainable business model of creating change through giving back. In 2009, sustainability was the year-long theme of Public Affairs at Missouri State. This includes directed curriculum, special events, speakers, and two conferences on campus.

Students can be employed through the Student Recycling Coordinator Program, managed by Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services. Students perform recycling services, provide education and raise awareness in their residence hall, and coordinator floor volunteers. Students can be employed as Student Recycling Workers, managed by Environmental Management. Students perform recycling services for all academic buildings and outdoor recycling bins on campus. Students can also be employed as managers of the Campus Garden, earning a competitive wage of $12.50 per hour. Students operate all aspects of the garden including engaging the campus community in volunteering in the garden and purchasing the produce.

Each spring, Students for a Sustainable Future host Ecopalooza, a renewable energy powered concert and sustainability fair. The day-long event is entirely student-organized and features campus groups and departments as well as local organizations and businesses that have a sustainability focus. In 2014, there were several sustainable living demonstrations, like vermi-composting, city planning, aquaponics, and upcycled crafts. Students are the primary attendees of Ecopalooza.