| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 26.70 |
| Liaison | Raymond Bowdish |
| Submission Date | Feb. 4, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York at Potsdam
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Bill
Beauchamp Director Intramural and Recreation Athletics |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The Environmental Club, a student governed group. Volunteer at community farms and schools, write to federal and state politicians on environmental issues, and hold environmental festivals yearly. [https://getinvolved.potsdam.edu/organization/enivronmentalclub]
Chemistry club, a student governed group. This club's principles state objectives to promote green chemistry projects and education.
Biology club, a student governed group. This club promotes students interest in biology and in the biological fields to enhance their learning experience. They also promote activities to share their knowledge with the campus community.
H.A.F.A., a student governed group. The Health And Fitness Advocates participate in community efforts by tabling at Potsdam’s Farmers Market Fall Festival.
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects 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:
WISER (Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research] Center built as classroom, community education center, and public space. Vertical garden and indoor farming of micro-greens in greenhouse and Wagner Institute of Sustainability and Ecological Research Center built. Farm to table program sponsored by PACES dining services. Community garden in Lehman Park, with produce being donated to community food pantries.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Venture Outdoors is an Outdoor rental gear shop run by students. This group also allows students to participate in day- trips that teach Leave No Trace practices through example, while in the field.
Students also manage the campus food pantry. The students also coordinate food drives, where they collect non-perishable food items. This pantry provides for students in need.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives 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
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
-Past events have commonly been sponsored by the sustainability program and the environmental studies department. Past speakers have included talks on Ecovillages, UNFCCC COP 21, vertical gardens, and campus sustainability.
Biology and Sustainability Speaker Series (https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/bio)
The Associated Colleges Sustainability Day is an annual event created by a group of faculty and staff from a consortium of four universities (including ours) and supported by the Associated Colleges of the St. Lawrence Valley, whose governing board consists of the four university presidents. The event is intended to be an inspiring opportunity for constituents from all four campuses to come together to collectively consider and collaborate on this issue which is central to the values of all four of our institutions. [http://bit.ly/SDAY19]
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
The Lougheed-Kofoed art festival has shown work by Meredith Mallwitz who created "Monarch Migration: Exploring Sustainability Through Creative Expression" to raise awareness of biodiversity loss. Todd McGrain has also presented "The Lost Bird Project" to highlight extinct birds in the Adirondacks. Other examples include; building of a wall garden on campus, hosting artists in the Gibson Gallery who present art focused on highlighting major environmental impacts caused by our modern lives.
http://www.potsdam.edu/museum/upload/Env-Impact-Poster.pdf
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Teacher lead outdoor leadership classes I & II, Backpacking I & II, rock climbing, Ice Climbing. With the completion of a Leadership II course participants may receive a LNT Master Educator certificate. All Environmental Studies Major and minor classes. As well as the student run Venture Outdoors gear rental shop that also executes hiking trips.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
A themed environmental science first year student class. Also an Adirondack/Environmental first year interest group, and an Into the Wild group.
http://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/services/FirstYear/groups/adirondack.cfm
http://www.potsdam.edu/studentlife/services/FirstYear/groups/wild.cfm
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Professor Sullivan-Catlin brings students to an Ecovillage every year to learn sustainable life skills through experiential education.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Casella recycling co-ordinator is an on-campus job opportunity for students. The job description includes, "assessing, developing, implementing, monitoring, and expanding the college’s recycling efforts, to improve the waste-stream management in terms of waste reduction, reuse, material recovery, recycling and composting."
A paid internship for the campus sustainability co-ordinator involves tasks such as implementing and managing sustainability projects.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
N/A
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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.