Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.41
Liaison Yolanda Cieters
Submission Date Feb. 22, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Seattle University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Phillip Thompson
Director
CEJS
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
Yes or No
Active student groups focused on sustainability Yes
Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems Yes
Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes No
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
Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles Yes
Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences Yes
Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills Yes
Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution Yes
Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions No
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives No

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

Sustainable Student Action is a club that strives to educate the community on environmental issues and to work on projects that lead to a more sustainable future.
The Green Team attends large catered events to educate campus members which bin to put their food waste, recyclables and trash.


The website URL where information about student groups is available:
A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:

The Urban Farm is an innovative collaboration growing organic produce for needy families. The farm was created on 1 acre of unused land at the King County Wastewater Treatment Plant in Renton, 11 miles south of campus. In the first year, 7,000 pounds of produce were given to the Salvation Army Renton Food Bank. Seattle University’s Environmental Studies students plant, grow and harvest food as part of their coursework in sustainable agriculture. The students also provide public outreach and education on the benefits of growing produce using biosolids.


The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

Upcoming events:

1. Interfaith Earth Day 2016

2. CEJS Conference "Just Sustainability-Hope for the Commons"

This conference will be held in August 2016, where Attendees will get an opportunity to connect with researchers, businesses, and communities that are bringing Environmental Justice and Sustainability(EJS) issues to the fore of public discourse. Authors have been invited to submit papers. This conference has been planned with an aim to:
-Emphasize EJS research in a wide variety of disciplines
-Build an EJS network of Jesuit institutions
-Inspire EJS work through the arts
-Highlight work being done by nonprofit and government agencies
-Foster interdisciplinary conversations, research, and teaching

Link:https://www.seattleu.edu/cejs/conference/Just-Sustainability/

Events from past years:

1. Arctic Encounter Symposium 2014:
The goal of the Arctic Encounter Symposium was to engage participants in a focused discussion, through a balanced forum, highlighting shared interests and concerns of the United States and the global community as we look north to the last emerging frontier - the Arctic. The program incorporated five plenary sessions, featuring 3-4 speakers, and two concurrent sessions featuring research presentations by leading academic experts from across the country. The Symposium was structured to challenge the status quo dialogue and to critically address the Arctic's potential, to consider what is at stake, and to collaborate on solutions.

2. Interfaith Earth Day 2015:
Interfaith Earth Day, was hosted by Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry who is a longtime partner and local nonprofit dedicated to eco-justice. The theme of this day was, 'Indigenous Rights, Indignant Wrongs' and addressed the devastating impacts of fossil fuel mega-projects on Native American culture and spirituality. The aim was to remind all of the shared responsibility we have to protect Mother Earth.
Link:https://www.seattleu.edu/stm/news-events/news/?id=151279


The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

--In 2014 CEJS organized AJ Rafael in Concert: A Benefit and Fast in Solidarity with the Philippines. A YouTube sensation, AJ Rafael is a Filipino-American. Since first posting his music on YouTube in 2006 he has had over 90 million hits. All proceeds from the concert benefitted School of the SEA (Sea and Earth Advocates), a leading environmental education organization whose facilities were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan. Members of the Seattle University community fasted in solidarity with Yeb Sano, the chief Filipino negotiator to the UN climate change meetings in November 2013.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:

The OAR program was created in 2008. Presently it runs an average of 30+ trips per quarter, led by more than 25 student leaders with advanced training in group facilitation, wilderness medicine, risk management and incident response and environmental stewardship. OAR also hosts several certification courses and outdoor skill workshops throughout the year. The Outdoor Adventure Program trips focus on road and mountain biking, indoor and outdoor climbing, trail repair/ beach cleanup, hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing and snow shoeing, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, whitewater rafting and coastal surfing.


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

In fall 2012, all incoming freshman read Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester R. Brown. During orientation, the students broke into groups of around 10 people and participated in a book discussion facilitated by a faculty member.

In Spring 2014, the Seattle University Mission Day focused on sustainability. Half day sessions were held for students and staff(separately) that highlighted the work Seattle University is doing in the area of sustainability


The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

Earth and Society is a Learning Community on floors 2 and 3 in Campion Hall. Students explore possibilities for deepening their understanding and experience of how they and fellow earth-creatures can share this beautiful, diverse, complex ball of cosmic dust in ways that are healthy and sustainable. Students are part of living into new, creative ways to engage some of the most exciting, challenging and urgent issues of our lifetimes.


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:

The Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability (CEJS) hires 4-6 student interns each quarter to work on a variety of sustainability projects. The CEJS leases space in the Bullitt center (the greenest commercial building, certified by the Living Building Challenge). CEJS interns give building tours to SU students, faculty and staff. Interns have also collected data for the university's STARS rating and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory; produced videos highlighting community organizations and sustainability initiatives; assisted in event planning and marketing; developed the Center's website; contributed to the CEJS newsletters by writing articles on how Seattle U faculty, students and staff implement sustainability projects on campus and in other countries.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:

Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) is a co-curricular program that encourages all students to participate in sustainability projects both locally and abroad.


The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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.