Radford University
EN-3: Student Life

The Environmental Club- the purpose of this organization is to raise environmental awareness amongst Radford University’s student body, facility, staff, and the Radford community. Student Sustainability Leadership Team: This internship team, based in the Radford University Sustainability Office, blends real-world projects with sustainability education, skills-based professional development, and leadership training to prepare students to be sustainability leaders and change agents. Fall 2017 was the inaugural semester for this program, and the students took on a variety of projects to help the university achieve sustainability goals and to educate students, faculty, and staff. Radford University Green Team Environmental Club: The purpose of this organization is to raise environmental awareness among Radford University’s student body, faculty, staff, and the Radford community. Student Government Association – The Radford University Student Government Association is the legislative arm of the student body. We serve the student population of Radford University to the utmost of our ability. As the largest student advocacy organization, they are involved with multiple campus legislative groups such as the Faculty Senate, the AP Staff Senate and the Board of Visitors. Serving the Radford community for 102 years, the Student Government Association has been an integral part of our institution. The SGA elects a Sustainability Secretary with several supporting deputies who work with campus partners to develop sustainability-focused initiatives for legislation. Environment/Community (ECO) Connections: ECO Connections is a freshman residential learning community for RU students interested in the environment, sustainability, and the rapidly changing relationship between human societies and the physical world in which we live. ECO students will pursue these interests inside and outside the classroom, as they take themed courses with other ECO students, design and implement environmentally-themed projects on the RU campus, the Selu Conservancy as well as the surrounding community, and participate in residential programming and peer mentoring. ECO students will create innovative approaches to contemporary and future problems, be active leaders within their individual majors, and will be able to link their education to Radford, Virginia, and around the globe.

Radford University's Selu Conservancy is an impressive retreat/meeting center and classroom facility that offers 380 acres of natural beauty and charm. Located just seven miles from campus, it’s an “extended classroom” with its 4,000 square-foot "Barn" equipped with meeting rooms and an observatory. Special events and weddings also take place at Selu, using either the multi-purpose "Barn" facility or the Selu Retreat Center. Imagine your wedding photographs with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background! Visitors can gaze across the landscape at the overlook, use of one the facility’s canoes to float along Little River or hike along the abundant trails. Selu is a special place for students, faculty, staff and community groups to bring the environment and education together Selu Garden and Service Club: In April 2014, Radford University students started an organic garden at Selu Conservancy to provide a hands-on building, cultivating, and planting opportunity for students and community members. Radford University’s Selu Conservancy is a 380-acre nature preserve used as an interdisciplinary outdoor classroom and meeting space for the community that provides an ideal location for this project. The Selu Garden and Service club was established to provide long term support for the project. The garden program has become integrated into coursework for Radford University classes, especially those requiring volunteer and service hours. Special events bring in guest speakers from the community to teach about compost, rainwater collection, nutrition and other topics. The project has resulted in the donation of over 100 lbs of food each year with much more anticipated in future growing seasons to Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread, a fresh food pantry which provides over 20,000 hot meals to community members annually. Gardening is a great way to serve the community, spend time enjoying nature, and make a few friends along the way.

Sustainability Film Series: The Sustainability Office hosts at least one sustainability film per semester, usually during the Fall Sustainability Week and Spring Earth Week. Films from the last two years include: "Time to Choose", "Nourish", "Jumbo Wild", "Before the Flood", and "Happening". Student Sustainability Forum: Student organizations are invited to townhall style meeting with group visioning discussions and breakout focus groups around certain solutions. Students vision a sustainable university then get together to develop and action plan for implementation.

"Strange Weather" travelling art exhibit by Erin Turner – depoliticizing and communicating climate change in a new way: https://www.radford.edu/content/cvpa/home/news/Releases/strange-weather.html "I Can See the Light" Choral concert – communicating nature and climate change with song and visual arts. https://www.radford.edu/content/radfordcore/home/news/releases/2016/october/choral-collaboration-combines-biology-with-music.html

Outdoor Programs Office organizes outdoor recreation programs for students and follows Leave No Trace principles. ; https://www.radford.edu/content/recreation/home/outdoor-programs.html Recreation Parks & Tourism Major – Outdoor Recreation & Leadership Concentration: Students learn and participate in a wide variety of outdoor programs and earn a "Leave No Trace Trainer" certification. https://www.radford.edu/content/cehd/home/rcpt/academics/concentrations/outdoor-recreation.html

RU Sustainability office provides employment opportunities for encouraging students to be involved in sustainability aspects across campus. With that we have Student education and outreach coordinator, student recycling technicians, Eco-rep and Eco-rep coordinator positions created. Sustainability Leadership Team Student Coordinator: One student serves as the student mentor and logistics coordinator for the Sustainability Leadership Team. Sustainability Web Developer: Student works with Sustainability Office to develop and update sustainability website. Sustainability Metrics Work Study: Student works with Sustainability Office to gather, enter, process, and report campus sustainability data for a Greenhouse Gas Inventory and STARS. Food Recovery Network Coordinator: Student works with Sustainability Office and Sustainability Leadership Team to coordinate with partners and volunteers to run the campus Food Recovery Network Radford Chapter. Housing & Residential Life Student Sustainability Coordinator: This sustainability student employee will work collaboratively with the Sustainability Manager and Housing & Residential Life to implement sustainability education and outreach programs in the residence halls. Through regular meetings and collaboration with Sustainability Ambassadors, Residence Hall Association, and the Sustainability Manager, the HRL Student Sustainability Coordinator will plan and implement marketing, education, and outreach through in the Residence Halls with events, flyers, and social media, and will play a pivotal role in the Highlander Cup Residence Hall Sustainability Competition.

The Environmental Club hosts (and partners with other organizations) various activities and events both on and off campus including Earth Day, America Recycles Day, RecycleMania, Service & Sustainability Week, and others. Sustainability Leadership Team Internship - Radford Sustainability Interns work as a team to communicate the message of sustainability through project implementation on campus. Sustainability interns will help improve and increase sustainable practices on campus, promote student behavior change, educate the Radford community about sustainability, and create programs and carry out sustainability projects at Radford. https://www.radford.edu/content/sustainability/home/initiatives/internship.html