Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 35.51
Liaison Jessica Thompson
Submission Date March 2, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Northern Michigan University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Sarah Mittlefehldt
Professor
Earth, Environmental & Geographical Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:

Students for Sustainability and Garden Club seeks to pursue and promote practices of sustainability on a personal level through: (1) exploring lifestyles, life choices, education, and careers in line with these practices; (2) following the mantra "Someone can't do everything but everyone can do something;" (3) grassroots activism on campus and within our community; and (4) organizing and attending functions designed to create awareness for the necessity of sustainable living. This club sponsors activities that are environmentally/sustainability focused, bringjng awareness to local agriculture, provide students and people in the community with opportunities to learn, act, and grow, promote the inclusion of minority groups in sustainable practices, and other things such as festivals, film series, camping, and open forums. Email mbenton@nmu.edu for more information.

Multiple other student groups organize around one or more aspect of sustainability, including the Northern Trail Heads, the Environmental Science Organization, the EEGS Garden Club, the Fisheries and Wildlife Association, and the Aquatic Biology Club.


The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:

The Superior Acre Permaculture Garden incorporates permaculture and sustainable land use principles into a permaculture garden site. The site provides an educational source of promoting community and student involvement, where individuals learn how to establish an alternative method to producing food in harmony with natural laws.

The Northern Michigan University (NMU) Hoop House serves as a collaborative learning center for eaters of all ages who are curious about where food comes from and how it is grown. Through research and education on sustainable agriculture, the project aims to expand our local food system, increase food security, and provide increased access to fresh, healthy food.


The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
Yes

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:

The NMU Hoop House produces and donates sustainably grown produce. This hoop house employs and is operated by NMU students. It serves as a collaborative learning center for eaters of all ages who are curious about where food comes from and how it is grown. Through research and education on sustainable agriculture, the project aims to expand our local food system, increase food security, and provide increased access to fresh, healthy food.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
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Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:

The Northern Climate Network is a campus-wide consortium providing opportunties for faculty, staff, students and community members to discuss and learn about climate change in our region. As of August, 2015, we have more than 150 members representing 35 different departments and the Marquette community. Interests include community ethics and policy, education and communication, and solutions/alternative energy.


The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:

The Devos Art Museum at NMU frequently features exhibits which relate to some aspect of sustainability. Examples include the 2013 exhibit "What is a Trade?", which illustrates some of the complex interrelated economic, cultural, and environmental issues associated with globalization; the yearly Rabbit Island exhibit, which is filled with reflective works created by various musicians, painters, and other artists who resided on the island and touches on sustainability-related issues such as climate change, overpopulation, and land use; and the Helsinki Choir's "State of the Union", which considers environmental crisis, economic inequality, and other socio-environmental issues. Currently, the museum is featuring the "Surviving the Anthropocene" exhibit. See below for more information on past exhibits featured at the Museum and a detailed description of "Surviving the Anthropocene."

http://art.nmu.edu/department/museum/archive.html#!

http://art.nmu.edu/department/museum/featureThree.html


The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:

The Outdoor Rec Center organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and other outings for NMU students. These activities are guided/led by students who have taken a variety of Leave No Trace courses. See below for more information on NMU's Outdoor Rec Center and offerings:

https://www.nmu.edu/recsports/outdoor


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
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Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
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Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
No

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
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Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:

Both the NMU Hoop House and the NMU Outdoor Learning Area employ student supervisors who oversee the operations & maintenance of the areas in addition to coordinating student worker/volunteer scheduling and involvement.

The NMU Hoop House serves as a collaborative learning center for eaters of all ages who are curious about where food comes from and how it is grown. Through research and education on sustainable agriculture, the project aims to expand our local food system, increase food security, and provide increased access to fresh, healthy food.

The goal of the NMU Outdoor Learning Area is to maintain and develop sustainably designed green spaces for academic and recreational experiences on campus.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
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Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledges:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
Yes

A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:

The Decolonizing Diet Project (DDP) was an exploratory study of the relationship between people and Indigenous foods of the Great Lakes Region. Very few studies have ever been conducted on this subject matter, and studies that examine the physical, cultural, and legal/political dimensions are practically non-existent.

The DDP chronicled the year-long experience of 25 voluntary research subjects--including students, staff, and faculty members--as they adhered to a diet consisting of 25-100% Indigenous foods from the Great Lakes Region, and an exercise regimen developed in consultation with an exercise science specialist and/or their personal physician.

The DDP incorporated self-monitoring by the research subjects using video, photo, audio, and written journals/logs. The DDP staff was seeking answers to questions, such as: will this improve health, and what kind of social barriers will be encountered, if any?

Access to Indigenous foods came from the local economy, foraging, hunting, fishing, and gardening. A database of Indigenous foods and availability was developed by DDP staff and is available at the DDP group site. To access the master food list visit: https://share.nmu.edu/moodle/course/view.php?id=33.


The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.