Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 69.05
Liaison Katherine Spector
Submission Date March 3, 2023

STARS v2.2

State University of New York at Oswego
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Jonathan Mills
Administrator
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student groups 

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
No

Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
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Gardens and farms 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Located on-campus, the Permaculture Living Laboratory is run by the Office of Sustainability. It functions as an educational site where students and other members of the campus community can learn about permaculture as well as the historical and cultural significance of plants that are grown within the site. By working with volunteer programs and clubs on campus, we are able to engage students with the physical environment, encouraging a relationship with nature and the land our campus is on.

https://www.oswego.edu/permaculture/

https://www.oswego.edu/communications-and-marketing/release/ongoing-sustainability-work-leads-%E2%80%98green-colleges%E2%80%99-recognition-growing-efforts

Student-run enterprises 

Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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Sustainable investment and finance 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Each semester, all students are required to pay a Sustainability Fee that is included in the semester fees. All fees are gathered and used for the Office of Sustainability's programming and events.

https://ww1.oswego.edu/tuition-and-aid/undergraduate-tuition/undergraduate-tuition-breakdown

Events 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
SUNY Oswego Sustainability Fair; a one-day exposition focused on green living for students, homeowners, and community members. This fair features environmentally friendly building products, energy systems, and green ideas for the home, property and life. Local and regional vendors will display, discuss and provide demonstrations of green products and services.

Cultural arts 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
In the Spring of 2022, the Tyler Art Gallery collaborated with Artist Alberto Rey to create and curate an exhibition entitled 'Biological Regionalism: Oswego River & Lake Ontario' where Rey traveled the watershed of the Oswego River into Lake Ontario and created oil paintings of these waterways along his travels. Rey and the Gallery worked with Biology professors and Field Station directors to better understand the subject of his painting and also, to encourage students and other viewers to appreciate these waterways.

Wilderness and outdoors programs 

Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Oswego State Outdoor Club: ʺThe Outdoors Club was established to give Oswego students a chance to see and experience some of the natural beauty that the Northeast has to offer. The club activities include Camping, hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting, and cycling."

When Outdoor Club schedules a hike they practice "carry-in, carry-out" standards as well as pick up litter found throughout their hikes. Members of the Outdoor Club e-board educate members on trail maintenance and degradation caused by hikers so they can make conscious decisions as they engage in their activities.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/oswegooutdoorsclub/

Sustainability-focused themes 

Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
"Fresh Water for All," the college's first Grand Challenges Project, launching in the Fall of 2018 and continuing through the end of the Spring 2021 semester, aims to magnify the strengths of SUNY Oswego with a cross-discipline approach that makes substantial impacts on this imperative global issue.

The theme engaged students through the publishing of the second edition of the Grand Challenges Anthology that collected students writing and art from all disciplines to support the "Fresh Water for All" theme.

Sustainable life skills 

Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Through the Office of Sustainability, student interns create 'how-to' type tutorials, presentations, and other offerings geared towards sustainable living. For example, our YouTube Channel contains a collections of videos including: how to have a plant-based diet, how to start seeds, and how to make your own reusable grocery bag.

Student employment opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Through the Office of Sustainability, we offer a handful of paid and towards credit internships. Students that have interned through the office have collaborated on creating several of the permanent initiatives we currently operate.

Graduation pledge

Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
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Optional Fields

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.