| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 85.66 |
| Liaison | Mark Lichtenstein |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Laura
Crandall Director of Student Involvement & Leadership Student Affairs |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
ESF has over 25 different environmentally-focused clubs on campus. The clubs that are most focused on College-wide sustainability include:
Green Campus Initiative (GCI):
- Implement and manage green and sustainable initiatives on campus
- Monitor and reduce waste of all campus operations and activities
- Practice what the College teaches and what is learned in classes
- Provide hands-on sustainability training and learning opportunities
- Foster a culture of sustainability awareness and action in the campus and local community
- Compost Cab (off campus compost for students)
https://www.esf.edu/greencampus/ and https://www.facebook.com/GCIESF
SustainabiliTEAM:
- ESF EcoChallenge
- Earth Week planning
- Waste audits
ESF-SU Food Recovery Network:
The Food Recovery Network at Syracuse University and ESF seeks to redistribute donated dining hall food to local charitable organization. The Network is a student-run, volunteer organization at the crossroads of social justice and waste reduction. It works with dining halls on both campuses and charitable organizations throughout the city to recover prepared but unused food from dining halls and donate it to charitable organizations and people in need.
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:
ESF has a community garden at its Lafayette Road campus (15 minutes away from Syracuse campus). Every year, work study students help to plan, cultivate and care for the garden. More information about this program can be found in IN 7.
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:
Selected examples:
New York State Green Building Conference -- ESF partners with the U.S. Green Building Council New York Upstate Chapter, and Syracuse University Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems to host the annual New York State Green Building conference. This conference’s mission is to promote, educate, and support green building design, construction, and processes.
https://www.esf.edu/greenbuilding/
Beyond Waste Student Summit -- In January 2020, ESF hosted the Northeast Region's Beyond Waste Student Summit in conjunction with the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN). Student leaders planned this full-day summit with guidance from PLAN and ESF staff members. This summit drew students throughout the region and was a space for students to build organizing skills through role-playing building the future they want to live in.
Attendees had the opportunity to collaborate on simulated campaigns that range from building zero waste campus infrastructure to standing in solidarity with frontline communities. All solution-building addressed accessibility, equity, and systemic oppression.
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:
1) Every year, students in the Department of Landscape Architecture host the annual Festival of Places in which the landscape architecture students who studied abroad for one semester build different cultural displays for a week and educate students on the culture, experiences, and landscaping.
https://www.esf.edu/calendar/event.asp?EventId=13229
2) ESF hosts a week long celebration of Earth Day, called Earth Week. During this week, ESF hosts many events that include a theme of sustainability, a focus on culture, and performances from within the ESF community.
https://www.esf.edu/earthweek/
3) ESF's Baobab Society Club
This group has three goals:
a) Promote a culturally conscious community,
b) Provide education and support for its members
c) Facilitate interaction with the greater Syracuse community
Past Baobab sponsored events include:
- Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)
- Insomniac Event: Miyazaki Madness
- Spirit of Essence Banquet
- Co-sponsorship with "Two Row Wampum Renewal Campaign"
- Co-sponsorship with Pride Union's Totally Fabulous Drag Show
- Dwali: Hindu Festival of Lights
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:
The Bob Marshall Club was named for Adirondack educator and preservationist, Bob Marshall. This is an organization of students who are concerned about the future of natural wilderness areas, especially the Adirondack Mountains. This "outing club" enjoys numerous hiking and exploration trips and follows a “Leave No Trace” protocol.
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:
ESF requires all incoming first year students to read a book related to the environment. The required summer reading is used by the “Writing and the Environment” instructors (a first year student course) as well as professors who teach Biology and Chemistry. The themes of the yearly book are incorporated into lectures, discussions, and assignments.
(No URL exists.)
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:
Many of ESF's student clubs organize workshops year-round on sustainable life skills, including the Green Campus Initiative, the Plant Propagation Club, Primitive Pursuits Club, and Cycling Connections.
In 2019, ESF's Student Affairs Office (through ESF's Community Service Coordinator) held a week-long Tiny-Home construction workshop, and built a home for the homeless. The service project was organized in partnership with A Tiny Home for Good Inc.
https://www.atinyhomeforgood.org/blog/esf-spring-break
ESF has one residence hall (Centennial Hall) that has achieved LEED Gold certification and includes an EcoReps program. More information about this program can be found in EN 1.
The Sustainability Champions program also offers monthly workshops, oftentimes focused on sustainable lifestyle change. More information can be found in EN 1 and EN 7.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
EcoReps are employed at Centennial hall. https://www.facebook.com/SUNYESFEcoReps/
Numerous work study students, GA's, and interns have worked for the Sustainability Division over the past three years. The College is currently renewing its web content (anticipated public launch in mid 2021). The Sustainability Division completely overhauled its web presence as part of this process. Two student sustainability interns created a series of green living guides that will be featured on the new site. More information can be found in EN 4. These students also created outreach material for the College Flow Real (reusable menstrual cup) program. More information about this program can be found in IN 50.
There are various Community Service work study tutors in the local community helping with science education.
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:
ESF has more than 25 clubs with the spirit of sustainability in their mission. This makes the College's student organizations very unique, filled with truly dedicated student leaders with passion towards the environment.
Every year a large coaltion of ESF students (from many different clubs) organize Earth Week.
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.