| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 38.48 |
| Liaison | Jesse Carswell |
| Submission Date | June 27, 2023 |
Southern New Hampshire University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
"The Environmental Club, formally known as The Environmental Sustainable Student Group, was formed in 2008. Previously it held other names such as Students for Environmental Action. This club is run by an executive board of student leaders a well as a faculty advisor. They hold weekly meetings on campus and organize events for members and non-members surrounding the topic of sustainability.
The Outing Club has been active for about 10 years and a core part of its mission is to appreciate nature. The club practices this by offering students the opportunity to engage in the wilderness and outdoor programs (e.g., hiking, rafting, mountain climbing, visiting waterfalls, and camping) that follow Leave no Trace (LNT) principles. Though this club has a faculty advisor,it is primarily run by students and student coordinators who plan and put these LNT-based trips together. "
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:
"The Arboretum at SNHU was developed in 2014. The 200-acre outdoor space has provided over 2,000 hours of STEM-centric opportunities. The Arboretum invites the community to visit and see various types of wetlands, forested environments, and other ecosystems.
SNHU mission is to ""have the arboretum become a space that is recognized and treasured for creating innovative academic experiences, fostering community wellbeing and generating passionate and engaged leaders."
In the Spring of 2019, The Pollinator Garden was established from January through May 2019 by three students in the School of Business. More information on this project can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US_JNzijf6c
"
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:
N/A
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:
N/A
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:
The Environmental Club on campus holds events targeting student engagement and education. In the past, The Environmental Club has put on screenings for movies related to environmental issues and has invited speakers to discuss on the topic regarding sustainability.
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:
A solstice stone and labyrinth was set up using natural landscaping. Signage is planned to highlight the sustainable choices used in its creation
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:
N/A
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:
The general education program at SNHU offers a first-year experience in the environment and sustainability. This 'learning community' is offered to entering freshman who take together (as a cohort) an introductory environmental issues course, english composition, as well as SNHU 101 courses each with a sustainability theme. Here is the description:
Human Impact: Living on Earth
What are the environmental issues impacting our lives and futures? Students in this Learning Community will be enrolled in three courses together, helping them to develop a strong sense of connection to students and faculty with common interests. The courses in this Learning Community include SCI 219: Environmental Issues, in which students study various environmental topics, including ecology, pollution, and sustainability; English 120: College Composition I, which offers practice in researching and writing about the environment and related topics, such as food, health, and social justice. Finally, students in this learning community will attend First-Year Seminar, in which they will use discussion, reading, and research to develop new understandings around controversial social issues, such as sexism and racism.
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:
N/A
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
"SNHU does hire students in the area of sustainability. For example, SNHU hired a student for the role of Sustainability Reporting Coordinator with the mission to collect data for the STARS report as well as to discuss and implement sustainable efforts on campus.
The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) is the community service department on campus that provides many different student-worker positions. One of the positions that the department offers is Service Coordinators. Service Coordinators are in charge of coordinating service projects on campus and in the local community. There are also Alternative Break Coordinators who spend months planning and preparing for service trips centered around various issues, including environmental sustainability. Also, the office hires Service Learning Coordinators who assist in courses that have integrated community service into its curriculum. "
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):
N/A
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
"The general education program at SNHU offers a first-year experience in the environment and sustainability. This 'learning community' is offered to entering freshmen who take together (as a cohort) an introductory environmental issues course, English composition, as well as SNHU 101 courses each with a sustainability theme. Here is the description:
Human Impact: Living on Earth
What are the environmental issues impacting our lives and futures? Students in this Learning Community will be enrolled in three courses together, helping them to develop a strong sense of connection to students and faculty with common interests. The courses in this Learning Community include:
SCI 219: Environmental Issues, in which students study various environmental topics, including ecology, pollution, and sustainability;
English 120: College Composition I, which offers practice in researching and writing about the environment and related topics, such as food, health, and social justice.
SNHU 101: First-Year Seminar, in which they will use discussion, reading, and research to develop new understandings around controversial social issues, such as sexism and racism. "
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.