New Mexico State University
EN-3: Student Life

ESSO - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE STUDENT ORGANIZATION is in the Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences college. It's mission statement is to spread environmental awareness, give back to the community, encourage students to branch out, and introduce students to new and exciting possibilities. ESSO strives to educate the community in earth sciences and environmental sustainability.

ESSO Purpose and Objectives
1. Advancement of environmental knowledge and awareness at New Mexico State University and the community
2. Mentor and advise members on academic and non-academic matters in sustainable systems
3. Network members with environmental field professionals through informational speaker series
https://aces.nmsu.edu/academics/clubs/esso/

GSO - GRAD STUDENT ORGANIZATION & SKEEN HALL COMPOST CLUB
The Environmental and Plant Sciences Graduate Student Organization (EPS-GSO) is committed to sustainability by participating in composting efforts alongside the Skeen Compost Club. The Skeen Compost Club began an on campus composting system in the June 2017 that collects food waste from the third floor office and lab area of Skeen Hall. In three years, approximately 1600 pounds of food waste from student, staff and faculty lunches have been composted and diverted from the landfill. The EPS-GSO also participates in this effort. The compost is located on campus near Skeen Hall.

In addition to composting, both organizations grow fruits and vegetables at the Student Research and Education Garden, a 2-acre USDA certified organic farm. The produce is either sold as a fundraiser or donated to the Aggie Cupboard, an NMSU food pantry that donates food to NMSU students and staff. Both organizations are also involved in a few local events. One of those is the Big Event where they help clean up local areas in Las Cruces. Another is Earth Day. They have helped with composting efforts and volunteered at the Las Cruces Earth Day festival.

DEFEND OUR FUTURE CLUB
Climate change activism club with the following purpose.
- Spread awareness of climate change on campus
- Create a culture of eco-friendly habits
- Educate students about proper recycling habits
- Participate in local, state-wide, and national environmental activism

The Student Research and Education Gardens (SREG) is at NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). The SREG is a three-acre farm centered on the main campus of New Mexico State University. The mission of the Garden is to facilitate experiential learning in the plant and environmental sciences fields, including agronomy and horticulture, soil and environmental sciences, agro-ecosystem management, sustainable soil management, and crop production.

The SREG has been in existence since 2012. It serves as a hub of hands-on learning for NMSU students. The mission of the Garden is to provide experiential learning opportunities and a hands-on educational facility for NMSU students, faculty, staff and the local community in the exploration of organic and sustainable agricultural systems that are applicable to New Mexico farms.

Objectives of the SREG:
1. Explore sustainable agricultural systems through the production of vegetables, small fruits, flowers, herbs and other crops using sustainable and economically viable practices.
2. Promote education and research in organic agriculture by creating new learning opportunities.
3. Support the education of NMSU students by providing:
a) Hands on experience in sustainable farming.
b) An opportunity to develop interpersonal and effective communication skills.
c) A mechanism for participation in community outreach.
d) Exposure to holistic learning and critical thinking.
e) An environment that will require group interaction, cooperation and facilitation.
f) Promote the consumption of local foods and encourage a healthful, well-balanced diet.
g) Increase the visibility of the College of ACES research, education, and extension programs.

Through our Hotel Restaurant Tourism Management (HRTM) program we have a cafe where the students learn to prepare food and serve. Food from the garden supplies vegetables to 100 West Café, composting the leftovers, and using the compost to enrich the soil in the SCFL veggie plot.

Produce grown by the NMSU Student Research and Education Gardens is sold to the Café West restaurant for hotel and tourism students to use in their courses. The Environmental and Plant Sciences Graduate Student Organization also grows and sells pumpkins annually to raise funds for conference travel. All produce is student-grown in the Garden, just west of Gerald Thomas Hall, for Applied Vegetable Crop Management (HORT 485). "We teach and conduct research to explore organic and sustainable agricultural systems that are applicable to New Mexico farms."

The New Mexico State University Climate Change Education Seminar Series, or NMSUCCESS, is an interdisciplinary series bringing a range of experts to NMSU and venues in Las Cruces to promote informed discussion of the causes and consequence of climate change.
https://sustainability.nmsu.edu/nmsuccess/

Fall 2020, the University Art Museum at New Mexico State University, The Department of Art at New Mexico State University, The College of Arts and Sciences at New Mexico State University, The Southwest Environmental Center, Cruces Creatives, New Mexico State University Climate Change Education Seminar Series and the Las Cruces Arts and Cultural District (ACD) in collaboration with 516 Arts Contemporary Museum in Albuquerque, NM, and partner venues in the Rio Grande watershed spanning CO, NM, TX and Mexico all commit themselves to providing education and spurring dialogue around the current and ongoing local and global threat to our environment which is arguably one of the most pressing social, political and ecological issues of our time. Check the 516 Arts website for a full list of all of the programing: https://www.516arts.org/assets/documents/Species_in_Peril_Guide_FINAL_web_spreads.pdf

The NMSU Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP) prepares students to plan, implement and lead outdoor recreation and/or cultural activities for the NMSU student body. Participants receive training in group dynamics, teaching techniques, risk management, wilderness first aid, Leave No Trace ethics, and outdoor skill sets such as backpacking and rock climbing. Each semester, the OLP seeks highly motivated students who want to enrich their college experience by increasing their leadership skill sets. The OLP equips its students with practical leadership experiences to complement their academic degrees and give them the edge in the job market after graduation.

The Climate Office hires NMSU students to help complete reports and conduct research related to climate change.