| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.51 |
| Liaison | Karen Eckert, Ph.D. |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Principia College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Karen
Eckert, Ph.D. Professor and Director Center for Sustainability |
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Student Groups
Yes
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The Principia College Sustainability Club and the Principia College (dormitory-based) Eco Heads are two groups of students who are dedicated to and focused on sustainability. They actively plan campus events and increase awareness of sustainability issues.
The mission of the Sustainability Club, as stated in their Charter, is to "Promote and facilitate—in practical, tangible, and inspiring ways—the participation of Principia community members in sustainability activities on campus.” The purpose of the Eco-Heads, as stated in the campus constitution, is to “coordinate and facilitate the ecological efforts of the campus. This includes working with the Facilities Department to promote and maintain the campus recycling program, as well as updating the campus about the recycling program.”
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Gardens and Farms
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Located on Principia College property, Three Rivers Community Farm is a chemical-free CSA that welcomes Principia students as volunteers and interns to learn first-hand about organic farming, sustainable planting, local food distribution, agriculture business principles, etc. These experiences empower our students to bring that knowledge back to the Principia community - and into their careers and life paths. In addition, the campus hosts a student-led Green Roof and apiary at the Science Center.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Student-Run Enterprises
Yes
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Student-run enterprises come and go based on student interest. In recent years a student-run aquaponics team has provided campus-grown greens and tilapia to Dining Services in accordance with an approved business plan of their own design; a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of a Freight Farm was completed by a student and submitted to Cabinet for consideration; and a solar array designed by two of our Engineering/Sustainability students included a cost and materials breakdown.
Every year, as part of the Sugarbush Management class, students have the opportunity to learn how to create a "value-added" maple syrup product (from maple syrup they made themselves) and sell their product to the college community. They learn sustainable business skills, including product development, marketing, and financing. An Innovation Center (hosted by the Business Administration department) sponsors "idea bounces" and skills-based courses that encourage sustainable business models.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
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Sustainable Investment and Finance
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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Events
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
An annual student-led Public Affairs Conference often embraces a sustainability theme. Students also host an annual Earth Day Fair featuring sustainable food, crafts, vendors, and entertainment, and a Whole World Festival to showcase the diverse cultures of Principia's international students. Throughout the year, the Center of Sustainability hosts films and speakers - including a Changemaker Speaker Series - to deepen awareness of sustainable issues and career paths.
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Cultural Arts
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
In 2019, as part of our Empathy Series, the documentary “A Portrait of Wendell Berry” was shown as a collaboration between the English Department, Marshall Brooks Library, and Center for Sustainability. A discussion of “caring for the land, supporting local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and the role of arts and creativity in conservation” was enjoyed by an audience of faculty and students.
Our sculpture and design professor led a campus-wide initiative in which students produced large art installations from natural materials sourced locally. This led to a greater awareness and a deeper discussion of land as inspiration and the relationship between aesthetics and nature.
A new coalition called "Solidarity" embraces all clubs pertaining to social justice - a kick-off event sparked deeper awareness around the issues of social justice and environmental degradation on campus and globally. In 2018, a student-led "sustainable" (upcycle) fashion show was well-received during our Earth Day festival.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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Wilderness and Outdoors Programs
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
EDST 130 Outdoor Education explores, inter alia, "...Leave No Trace outdoor ethics." In addition, every biology student and abroad program that has an outdoor component is trained to conduct all outdoor training sessions and overnight trips with the principles of Leave No Trace.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
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Sustainability-Related Themes
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
A First Year Experience (FYE) option is "A Forest of Voices", a partnership between faculty in Educational Studies and Biology that explores sustainable land practices using the college as a living laboratory. The college includes >2,000 acres of sustainably managed forest and native prairie, including an active Sugar Bush.
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
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Sustainable Life Skills
Yes
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Principia students learn a wide variety of sustainable life skills through, inter alia, student-run initiatives like dormitory recycling and composting, campus book recycling, campus food production outlets (e.g., apiary, aquaculture, Food Forest, CSA), Sustainability Club (e.g., leadership, event planning, budgeting, building community around sustainability goals), and community-based volunteering (e.g., food production, sustainable business, environmental stewardship).
In addition, students enjoy innovating and practicing sustainable life skills through DIY events, advocating for campus change (e.g., banning single-use plastic bags from the College Store), planting native gardens, and working with the Campus Store to identify more sustainable consumer products.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
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Student Employment Opportunities
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Center for Sustainability routinely assists students in identifying and capturing sustainability-focused employment during summer and winter academic breaks. Principia College also offers student employment in Dining Services, Facilities (e.g., recycling collection), and a "Stew Crew" managed by the Biology Department (Lands Stewardship Office) where students are involved in sustainable forestry work on campus.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Graduation Pledge
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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Other Programs and Initiatives
Yes
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The Principia College Solar Car team is comprised of students dedicated to making progress toward solar-powered transportation. The team is a successful global competitor and is active in bringing awareness of solar-powered transportation to the campus and alumni communities. See https://www.principiasolarcar.com/
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Optional Fields
100
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.