Montana State University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Rose
Vejvoda Project Coordinator Office of 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:
Sustainability Now (SNow): SNow is a student club that works to unify the student voice behind climate change and local sustainability by sparking activism, and encouraging service, leadership and education. SNow collaborates with community and campus entities on projects related to sustainability such as monthly volunteer opportunities, educational programs, and developing efficiency programs.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/snow
Friends of Local Foods: This group is a Sustainable Foods and Bio-energy Systems Program Collaborative working to engage MSU students in local food issues by promoting education, awareness, and action in areas such as food security, sustainability, nutrition, and food systems. They aim to bring together students and community members from diverse backgrounds, areas of study, and passions to bring innovative and practical solutions to local food issues on campus and within the community.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/friendsoflocalfood
Net Impact at MSU: Net Impact is a student group that works to build a more just and sustainable world. They understand the importance of tackling big issues and fostering tough conversations. Net Impact explores topics such as alternative economic models, defining and engaging stakeholders, harnessing technology for good, transforming business education, the intersection of people, planet, and profit, and so much more.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/netimpactmsu
Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) at MSU: The Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) is a student group on campus that is working to help pass climate legislation through national policy. Through CCL, students engage in presentations, education, and public outreach. They are an all-inclusive group of open minded individuals who are invested in opening gateways in communication to improve our environment.
Website URL:https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/citizensclimatelobbymsu
Bounty of the Bridgers (BOB): The Bounty of the Bridgers Campus Food Pantry is a student-driven initiative to combat food waste and food insecurity on the MSU campus for students, faculty, and staff. The pantry is available to offer supplemental and emergency food assistance to any student, faculty, or staff in need.
Website URL: http://www.montana.edu/oha/bounty-of-the-bridgers.html
Bridger Solar Team: The Bridger Solar Team is a group on campus that have engineered and built a solar powered electric car. They have already had the opportunity to showcase the car at many public events such as the Sweet Pea Parade, the Montana Clean Energy Fair, and the Bozeman Earth Day Celebration. Currently, the Bridger Solar Team is focused on redesigning and upgrading the car to race in the 2021 Formula Sun Grand Prix.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/bridgersolarteam
Ecology Club: The Ecology Club formed in order to promote the professional development and training opportunities for graduate and undergraduate in the field of ecology. The club organizes a weekly Ecology Department seminar series on campus. The seminar series brings in top scientists and working professionals to speak about a broad range of ecological topics of interest. The seminar also provides an important venue for students and faculty to interact and network with professionals in the field and learn more about their disciple.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ecologyclub
Land Resources and Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Organization (LRES GSO): The LRES GSO exists to facilitate communication and interaction between LRES graduate students, faculty, and MSU administration. Through social and educational events they aim to foster camaraderie among the LRES graduate students and provide opportunities for professional growth. Each spring semester the LRES GSO hosts the annual LRES Research Colloquium where graduate and undergraduate students display research through poster and oral presentations to faculty, peers, and the public. This is a fantastic opportunity for young scientists to display their research and receive feedback by a panel of judges composed of a mix of professors from the LRES and other related departments.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/lresgraduatestudentorganization
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Engineers (ASHRAE): ASHRAE advances the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.
Range Management Club: The Range Management Club exists to promote the knowledge and better management of North American rangelands and natural resources. Rangelands are complex and diverse systems that produce products such as food, fiber, forage, water, minerals, energy, wood, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. As future managers of rangelands we are committed to understanding how these systems function, and to becoming equipped to manage them so they are able to sustainably produce the above products.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/rangemanagementclub
The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA): UNA-USA is a movement of Americans dedicated to supporting the United Nations. With over 20,000 members and more than 200 chapters across the country, UNA-USA members are united in their commitment to global engagement and their belief that each of us can play a part in advancing the UN’s mission and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Website URL: https://montanastate.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/unausa
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:
Towne's Harvest Garden- The Towne's Harvest Garden is a three-acre diversified vegetable and educational research farm supporting a student-run, community-supported agriculture program. Towne's Harvest Garden promotes learning about food production, the value of eating and supporting local foods, community building, and individual empowerment.
Several edible food gardens also exist throughout MSU's campus.
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:
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:
Smart Building Initiative (SBI) Internship Program: The Smart Building Initiative (SBI) is a student initiated, faculty and staff led program that seeks to build the support and financial infrastructure to enable the development and implementation of projects that achieve utility cost savings. The goals of the SBI program are to increase campus (state-owned buildings) operational efficiency, thus saving money and reducing MSU’s environmental impact simultaneously. In order to achieve this goal, the SBI committee oversees the implementation and monitoring of projects to determine how to most effectively use SBI funds. Additionally, MSU operates a summer SBI internship program targeted at MSU students who hope to gain hands-on experience in their field. The SBI fund receives $250,000 of funding each year.
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:
Events are regularly held throughout the year pertaining to a variety of sustainability related topics. Some examples include:
Leadership and Climate Justice with Mary Robinson: In April 2021, former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson spoke to MSU students. Robinson's talk, “Leadership and Climate Justice,” focused on leadership, education and advocacy for the poor and disempowered in the world who are disproportionately threatened by climate change.
Master Class with Rob Davies, "Disruption: Forcing Relevance in the Age of Humans”: Rob Davies, physicist and professor at Utah State University, discussed how the climate crisis is changing our world today. A master class and panel discussion on climate solutions followed.
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:
Engineers Without Boarders holds a Junk to Funk Fashion show every year showcasing outfits made from recycled materials. This event is to raise awareness of waste reduction and promote sustainability on campus.
Every year during Earth week Sustainability Now (SNow) and the MSU Office of Sustainability organize a large event celebrating sustainability efforts through a "Sustainabilibash" fair. Organizations from the university and community are invited to share their work with the public while participants enjoy food, art, and music.
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:
Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP)- The ASMSU Outdoor Recreation Program provides the university community with opportunities for adventure, discovery, personal growth and engagement via human-powered outdoor adventure pursuits. The ORP provides education on LNT practices during their guided trips and workshops.
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:
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:
Nutritional counseling and education for any dietary or nutrition issue including vegan and vegetarian diets is offered in order to help students navigate their way through Culinary Services dining halls and in making dietary choices while living on campus. MSU's Office of Sustainabiltiy and Residence Life also work together to teach students living on campus sustainable life skills such as recycling and reducing water and electricity consumption.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The MSU Office of Sustainability provides numerous student employment opportunities, including, project coordinators for various sustainability research and engagement projects, marketing assistants, and recycling associates
Residence Life employs resident advisers who may work on its sustainability committee. As part of this position, they will work on developing sustainability projects and initiatives for the residence halls.
Website URL:
Office of Sustainability, https://www.montana.edu/sustainability/getting_engaged/jobs.html
Residence Hall Council, https://www.montana.edu/rha/hallcouncils/index.html
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):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Integrated Design Lab Bozeman (IDL): The Integrated Design Lab | Bozeman is funded by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. Their services include energy and lighting analysis for Montana architects and engineers who wish to become more aware of the environmental impacts of energy consumption. The IDL serves as the Montana contact for energy and daylighting information, education, and tools for assessing integrated design decisions. Located on Montana State University's Bozeman campus, IDL - Bozeman is affiliated with the School of Architecture. Founded by architecture professor Tom Wood, the IDL - Bozeman is now run by Kevin Amende, P.E., and Jaya Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D, LEED AP. Students from the architecture program assist with the Lab's projects.
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.