Salisbury University
EN-3: Student Life

Environmental Student Association - The Environmental Students Association is an activity-oriented group of environmentally-minded students working to build community, achieve campus sustainability, and improve our relationships with the natural world.

The Gardening Club began in early 2012 with the original purpose to establish and maintain the front vegetable garden located near the corner of Camden and College Avenues. Since then, it has evolved into an expanded community garden with the goal of learning how to garden sustainably in a suburban setting. Entirely student-run, operated, and maintained, membership is open to all members of the SU community regardless of gardening experience level. Members get to share the delicious results of their labors too!

On May 25, 2023, SU hosted the Youth Environmental Action Summit (YEAS). YEAS is a community-based environmental education program that works on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland in Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties. YEAS’s mission is to support young people in taking action on hyper-local environmental issues and to build up their capacity to lead and make the change they want to see in their community. YEAS hosts an annual Youth Summit each spring, supports a year-round youth leadership program called the YEAS Student Ambassadors, and provides tools, resources, partnerships, and funds to support student-led action projects.

The Environmental Student Association organized a trash fashion show during the Spring 2023 semester. The ESA used the event to spread awareness of the overuse of single-use plastics.

SU offers a B.A. and a Minor in Outdoor Education Leadership.

Outdoor education leadership courses at Salisbury University take learning beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom to help students develop a broad variety of practical skills in an atmosphere that combines discovery and adventure. Core components of the program include stewardship of the environment and the development of adventure-based leadership skills. Experiential learning techniques are used and key objectives include:

Equipping – students with essential skills for safely planning and leading outdoor excursions. Courses are available in Wilderness First Aid, Navigation, Canoeing and Kayaking, Camping and Backpacking, Scuba Diving, Outdoor Leadership Techniques, Camp Management and Leadership, and Adventure Based Leadership.

Engaging – the natural world in classes that facilitate a better understanding of and appreciation for the environment. Leave-no-trace ethics are taught and carefully observed as students learn simple and memorable techniques for stewardship.

Expanding – student aptitudes for self-reflection, interpersonal communication, peer-leadership and crisis decision making. These courses are specifically designed to push individual comfort zones. Participants should expect rigorous challenges, ranging from full-length research papers on leadership disasters to winter hiking and backpacking on the Appalachian Trail.

The Green Floor is a Living Learning Community dedicated to sustainability. It is located in Manokin Hall which is heated with geothermal energy. Freshmen who have identified as Environmental Studies minors or majors are welcomed to live and learn together on the Green Floor.

SU hires four undergraduates each year to work as the recycling team. Students collect recycling from all academic and administrative buildings on campus except Academic Commons alongside our fulltime staff Recycling Coordinator. Students help with electronic recycling when it is scheduled with the IT department. They do outreach events including educational tabling, food waste event, recycle madness, student move in, and student move out. They also help with social media posts.