| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.51 |
| Liaison | Josh Nease |
| Submission Date | May 10, 2022 |
Radford University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 2.00 |
Josh
Nease Sustainability Manager Academic Programs |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
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. It serves 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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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:
SMIPO - Student Managed Investment Portfolio Organization - now managing an investment portfolio of over $2 million.
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:
"Sustainability in 2020: Where We Go from Here" - a virtual panel discussion held on Zoom. Panelists included three sustainability-focused professors and the topic of conversation was how the events of 2020 were impacting local and global sustainability efforts.
"Virtual Earth Day" - Celebrating Earth Day in 2020 and 2021 is different than it has been in the past. While it's disappointing that we can't all physically be together, this time has provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with friends and colleagues in Virginia, across the country, and around the world.
Through the Virginia Association of Sustainability in Higher Education (VASHE), Radford University is joining forces with our friends at other Virginia institutions to bring you virtual events to commemorate Earth Day and Earth Week.
Additionally, organizations around the world are offering events and workshops you can participate in remotely. Attend lectures and workshops by sustainability experts from the public and private sector across the country and around the world.
On this page, you can find a diverse list of ways to celebrate the 51st Anniversary of Earth Day! There are events and activities available to you every day. Join in a virtual group event or choose activities that you can do alone. It's all here.
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:
Leaves of the Tree and More Leaves of the Tree
The Radford University Art Museum opened its first public exhibitions of the fall season in late September. “Leaves of the Tree” and “More Leaves of the Tree” afforded audiences the opportunity to delight in the wonders of leaves and their role in our environment. The exhibitions’ overlapping themes will emphasize environmentally-conscious art, specifically works featuring foliage. Shown in two separate galleries across campus, both exhibitions will run from September 23 through November 7, 2020.
https://www.radford.edu/content/cvpa/home/news/Releases/leaves-of-the-tree-fall2020.html
Highlander Discovery Institute
At the inaugural event of the Highlander Discovery Institute held on September 19, 2019, students, faculty, staff and members of the community experienced an insightful discussion focused on the nexus of politics and society. These challenging conversations strive to find common ground throughout a diverse community. The event was followed up by focus group meetings on a variety of politically charged topics, including climate change.
https://www.radford.edu/content/radfordcore/home/news/releases/2019/september/inaugural-highlander-discovery-institute-event.html
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:
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 Outdoor Recreation Minor – Outdoor Recreation & Leadership Concentration:
In the Outdoor Recreation and Leadership concentration students gain academic skills to organize, lead, and evaluate a variety of outdoor adventure programs. Through coursework, the students will be exposed to a variety of adventure activities such as: backpacking, outdoor living skills, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, ropes course facilitation, orienteering and caving. Academic courses are experiential in nature and emphasize leadership development with attention to risk management, environmental literacy, facilitation techniques, teaching methods and program management.
Students have the opportunity to obtain a number of certifications that are integrated into the course work for the concentration and minor. Students will receive the Leave No Trace Trainer Certificate when enrolled in the Outdoor Living Skills class. Another opportunity exists to obtain Wilderness First Responder (WFR) training through SOLO. Upon successful completion WFR, the student will receive a national certification recognized by all potential employers. Students will receive their Project Learning Tree certificates to strengthen their ability to teach a variety of environmental education topics. Successfully completing both ropes course classes affords students the ability to earn their level 1 and level 2 RU ABLE challenge course facilitator certifications. These in-house certifications allow the student to become a lead facilitator for our challenge course program.
https://www.radford.edu/content/cehd/home/rcpt/about/outdoor-recreation.html
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:
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
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.
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.
Fill It Forward Ambassadors: Students work to promote the Fill It Forward reusable bottle program on campus.
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.
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:
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
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.