Northern Arizona University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Dayna
McKay Data Analyst 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:
There are many student clubs/organizations dedicated to sustainability or that have heavy sustainable components.
Student Environmental Caucus or "Green Jacks" - overarching environmental group on campus: https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/green-jacks/
Student-governed
Additional Student Groups are listed below, information on them can be accessed at: https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/student-groups/
Seven Environmental Caucus Action Teams:
Waste Minimization Action Team (WMT)
Transportation Action Team (TransAT)
Sustainable Landscape Team
Communications Action Team
Energy Action Team
Justice Action Team
Academic Action Team
Hospitality and Business Sustainability Club (HBS)
Connecting Higher Education Indigenously (CHEI)
Botany Club - Student-governed
Forestry Club - Student-governed
Hiking Club (NAUHC) - Student-governed
Program in Community, Culture, and Environment (CCE)
Student Association for Fire Ecology (SAFE) - Student-governed
Thrift Jacks Club - Student-governed
The Wildlife Society - Student-governed
Ambassadors for the College of Engineering, Forestry & Natural Sciences (ACEFNS) - Student-governed
Anthropology Club - Student-governed
NAU Divestment Club- Student-governed
Astronomy Astrobiology Club - Student-governed
Graduate Clubs
Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Student Organization (ESPGSO) - Student-governed
Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) - Student-governed
Forestry Graduate Student Association (FGSA) - Student-governed
Geology Graduate Student Org (GGSO) - Student-governed
Climate Director (Position) Graduate Student Government
Sustainability Coordinator Position- Undergraduate Student Government (ASNAU)
Community-University Public Inquiry
CUPI is a collaborative research program at NAU that aims to give undergraduate students research experience and leadership skills through applied community inquiry while focusing on addressing various community partners’ identified research needs. The program brings together multiple small groups (or “pods”) each comprised of undergraduate students from different disciplines, graduate student facilitators, a faculty advisor, and a community partner. These undergraduate students receive independent research credits that can be applied toward their major, while graduate students gain valuable mentoring experience, which some link to their thesis or final project. Pods:
Immigrant Youth Equity
Students in this pod work with the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council (NAIC), building civic engagement to help support immigrant families. Most of the work is focused on engaging educators in Flagstaff Unified School District on means of supporting immigrant students. Students in the pod conduct research and outreach for educational equity for Dreamers and immigrant students.
Climate Action
This interdisciplinary CUPI pod tackles some of the research needed to implement the Flagstaff Climate Action Plan. Climate action requires that we address social justice and sustainability, from both ideological and practical angles. Therefore, we are seeking students from a wide variety of interdisciplinary backgrounds for this research pod.
Rural Food Systems
Students work with a community partner, St. Mary’s Food Bank, that seeks to supply fresh produce and staple groceries to rural “food deserts” through regular food pantry distributions. Students with an interest in nutrition, food systems, communication, and social media are particularly needed for this pod. Travel to rural communities is required, as much of the research work has focused on surveying food pantry recipients and organizers. Students in this pod have also worked with NAU’s Nutrition program and external partners to develop culturally and nutritionally appropriate recipes for food pantry recipients.
The Hood Initiative
Student-led, the Hood Initiative creates a safe space for students who have been raised in and are managing systemic injustice (poverty, violence, addiction, and criminality). Through in-depth interviews, CUPI students study challenges of academic and personal identity Hood students face and how academic environments must adjust to acknowledge their existing expertise while supporting their academic success.
Visit for more info about CUPI: https://nau.edu/sustainable-communities/cupi/
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 Students for Sustainable Living and Urban Gardening (SSLUG). Student-governed.
What SSLUG does:
Integrate growing local foods and broader food-sustainability issues into education at the university via hands-on learning.
Advocate for food justice, and promote community gardening, fruit tree planting, and composting.
Research traditional agricultural practices.
Cultivate broad participation and durable networks of support so that they are able to flourish for many years.
Enhance collaboration with the broader community, particularly Flagstaff Foodlink and Community Gardeners.
What they grow and how we grow it:
The SSLUG Garden promotes sustainable food systems through the demonstration of organic growing methods in a campus setting. Hands-on participation in planting, harvesting, seed collecting, and soil amendment activities enables volunteers to learn how to grow a variety of food crops in a challenging high-elevation climate. The Garden features short-season heirloom vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs, climate-appropriate fruit trees and berries, along with native wildflowers and shrubs. Since Flagstaff has a relatively short growing season (103 days), many of the plants are sown from seed in the NAU Greenhouses in the spring and are cared for by volunteers until they are ready to be planted in the garden in early June.
The NAU Botany Club runs the SHAND garden (named in memory of Professor Richard Shand) on north campus. The creation of the garden transformed a weedy, unused lot into a beautiful and functional place on campus. The garden serves as an important teaching tool and research location for all botany courses. Student-governed.
https://sites.google.com/a/nau.edu/botanyclub/shand-garden
Students Nurturing Alternatives in Landscapes (SNAIL) - Engage the campus community in cooperative gardening on campus. Student governed.
2022 renovation project: The SNAIL Garden is located on south campus next to Facility Services and was originally created in 2012, but has since fallen through the cracks due to a lack of oversight and upkeep. The SNAIL Garden Renovation project will create a new mission for the SNAIL Garden that includes investing in sustainable gardening techniques, educating participants, expanding the concept of gardening into the realm of ecological cohesion, enjoying the health benefits of the garden, and providing a positive example of sustainability and environmental responsibility. The garden will be student and community-run and will allow volunteers to gain hands-on education in gardening, landscaping, restoration, and native plants.
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:
Northern Arizona University (NAU) is home to a remarkable student-run enterprise with a clear mission centered on sustainability. "NAU Thrift Jacks" is a vibrant club that exists to promote sustainability and accessibility within the NAU community. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to champion sustainable fashion practices and to create a culture where thrift shopping is not just a choice but a commitment.
NAU Thrift Jacks is more than just a club; it's a dynamic initiative that actively pursues its mission. One recent endeavor that exemplifies their dedication to sustainability is the hosting of a successful clothing drive in Reilly Hall. This event allowed residents to donate clothes, demonstrating a clear commitment to sustainability in action. The collected donations were then redistributed to students, fostering a sense of community and addressing clothing waste.
Student Perspectives on Thrifting and Sustainability:
Members of NAU Thrift Jacks are driven by their personal experiences and motivations, which collectively underscore the club's mission. These students share a common enthusiasm for thrift shopping, sustainability, and accessibility:
NAU Thrift Jacks' members, inspired by affordability, highlight the sustainability of thrifting as college students.
Many of these students have grown up relying on thrift stores for economical clothing options due to financial constraints.
They appreciate the environmental aspect, reducing landfill waste, and making clothing more accessible.
The concept of shared memories through donations and swaps is seen as a special and sentimental element of thrift shopping.
Students such as Grace Harris-Norman share their journeys into thrifting, emphasizing its versatility and value.
These students' stories collectively showcase the broad appeal and significance of sustainable fashion practices within the NAU Thrift Jacks community. Their experiences and perspectives strongly align with the club's mission of promoting sustainability and accessibility.
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:
Green Fund - The Green Fund Committee oversees NAU's Green Fund: The Green Fund is NAU’s main source of sustainability funding. University students, staff, and faculty may submit project proposals, which are reviewed and selected for funding by our committee of six students supported by staff and faculty advisors. Projects are supported by the $15 per student, per semester Green Fee, which adds up to a yearly budget that is upwards of $600,000. The Green Fund allows students to utilize fee money to make the campus a better place for themselves, their peers, and future students.
https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/nau-green-fund/
Student-governed
NAU Student Managed Investment Fund - founded in 2000 with an initial fund from the NAU Foundation of $500,000. The fund was created to allow students to apply what they have learned in their educational career by investing money in the stock market. This is a hands-on learning experience, where students are required to perform investment research and manage a portfolio of over $1.88 Million.
The NAU Foundation awarded $1M to create a new portfolio managed with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. This is in addition to the $1.9M portfolio currently managed by SMIF. Companies will be identified that are doing well financially as well as by their various stakeholders.
https://nau.edu/franke-college-business/franke-experience/experiential-learning/student-managed-investment-fund/
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 Office of Sustainability hosts Earth Hour, Earth Month, and Earth Jam.
Earth Month is held annually on campus. The event included tabling from clubs, free vegan and vegetarian food for students, yoga, and other sustainable activities. This event promotes a culture of sustainability at NAU while also bringing awareness to environmental issues, such as food production, the impact of animal-based products, and waste minimization. The food, provided by the WTF Truck, was served in compostable bowls, and volunteers ensured that the plates were properly being composted at the event. Food left over after the event was donated to Sunshine Rescue Mission by Green Fund members. With the wide range of sustainability groups tabling during the event, all categories of the climate action plan were met and students were educated about them.
Arizona University Sustainability Summit
NAU students worked with ASU and UofA students to plan, and host, this year's AZ University Sustainability Summit. The AZ University Sustainability Summit is an annual event for students, staff, and faculty. Previously referred to as Tri-U, the different Arizona Universities come together to showcase the sustainability work they have been doing, discuss common issues, and come together to create change. This event has a keynote speaker, a sustainability initiative showcase, and three dialogue-based working sessions centered around important sustainability issues.
See 2023 program: https://asuevents.asu.edu/sites/default/files/2023-03/az_sustainability_summit_program_flier.pdf
Sustainability Career Panel on 2/8/23 and 2/9/23: https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/february-monthly-newsletter/
WOC Honorarium Fund:
The WOC Honorarium Fund will create an NAU interdepartmental WOC seminar speaker fund. This fund will be used to bring two professionals who self-identify as WOC and who are experts in the fields of sustainability, environmental science, ecology, conservation, or climate science. The speakers, Roxy Cruz and Lauren Pharr will benefit the NAU community by sharing their expertise, exchanging perspectives, and networking as a leader in their field. This fund will enhance student knowledge about sustainability and environmental fields, while also widening student perspectives about WOC leaders.
Climate Teach-In on 3/29/2023: https://news.nau.edu/2023-climate-justice-teach-in/
Ecoinformatics Seminar Honorarium on 10/3/22
NAU's School of Earth and Sustainability will typically host at minimum 10 seminars a semester. View all Current SES Seminar Series here: https://nau.edu/ses/seminars/
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:
NAU hosts an annual "Better World Film Series"
This free documentary film series shows our society’s greatest challenges and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit. Sustainable films shown in 2023 were "Truth Tellers," "Last Call at the Oasis," and "The Monarch."
The Better World Film Series is sponsored by: The Office of Sustainability, the Environmental Caucus, the Center for Inclusions and Diversity (IMQ), and the W.A. Franke College of Business. There is a Q&A time held after each film screening to share perspectives and ideas toward action on campus. https://www.nazcca.org/flagstaff-events/2023/4/10/the-better-world-film-series
The Native American Cultural Center hosts cultural arts events. NACC creates programming and events in 4 areas: cultural expression events, social outreach events, inclusive educational events, and Indigenous health and wellbeing events. Information from the “Future Leaders” survey and the Indigenous Student Forums provided by NAU Indigenous students helped in creating the events schedule. https://in.nau.edu/native-american-cultural-center/events/
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:
NAU is one of the many nationwide educational institutions that has partnered with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. The mission of the NAU Outdoor Program is to facilitate experiential opportunities where students can learn the values of trusting one's self, intrapersonal communication, diversity, health, leadership, and the importance of creating life-long friendships while exploring and preserving our natural environment.
NAU Outdoors consists of a collection of programs designed to assist NAU students and others in exploring Arizona and the surrounding area. https://in.nau.edu/campusrecreation/outdoor-adventures/
NAU Hiking Club is another adamant supporter of LNT principles: https://m.facebook.com/groups/2217965304?view=info&refid=18
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:
The First Year Seminar Program brings the best faculty, teachers, and scholars on campus together with highly motivated first-year students to explore rich and engaging topics based on faculty research, scholarship, interests, and current issues. Through this experience, undergraduate research is pursued from the beginning of students’ careers, communities are established among Seminar students, strong mentoring relationships are formed with Seminar faculty, and increased numbers of students are retained from the first year into the second year. https://nau.edu/first-year-seminar/
The Sustainable Ambassador Program teaches students how to live sustainably: https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/sustainable-ambassador/
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Students can work for:
Environmental Caucus
https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/environmental-caucus/
Office of Sustainability
https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/office-of-sustainability/
Campus Recreation/NAU Outdoors/Bike Hub
https://in.nau.edu/campusrecreation/outdoor-adventures/
Composting with Campus Dining
https://in.nau.edu/dining/sustainability/
Green Fund
https://in.nau.edu/green-nau/nau-green-fund/
ASNAU (Associated Students of Northern Arizona University https://in.nau.edu/dean-of-students/asnau/
Graduate Assistantships
NAU has dozens of sustainability-related academic departments and classes that can offer GA or GT positions to research or teach sustainability-related topics.
https://nau.edu/gradcol/financing/grad-assistantships/
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:
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.