Stetson University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

The Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience is the first of its kind at Stetson - it's a science-based research and educational institute, which also supports local governmental programs to improve management of water resources, while offering abundant opportunities for community outreach and engagement. Its broader purpose is to help Stetson University become more widely recognized as a center for innovative approaches to tackling complex challenges. The Institute focuses on water and environmental research in order to offer policy options to protect natural resources in Central Florida and beyond. The Institute also channels student and faculty research across all university colleges - in partnership with other institutions and community stakeholders. On-site at the Sandra Stetson Aquatic Center, the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience offers multiple demonstration gardens with native plants that serve the local, regional and global community through reduction of irrigation and fertilizer inputs, protection of water quality, carbon sequestration, and conservation of pollinator habitat. An innovative freshwater living shoreline restoration project, named "Matt's Point," is also on the horizon, which will continue the site's tradition of protecting water quality and natural habitat, while simultaneously creating opportunities to educate the leaders of tomorrow about Florida's native ecology.

The Gillespie Museum is an earth science museum situated on one acre of green space that is recognized as certified wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. The museum's primary activities are public outreach, K-12 education programs, serving as a laboratory for University classes, curation and exhibition of the museum’s rock and mineral collection, and enriching the cultural experience of Stetson students. Programs encourage community members and students to better appreciate the natural world around them. The museum also serves as a hub for sustainability-focused student groups: Hatter Harvest, a gardening club that focuses on sustainable food systems; Stetson Bee Keeping, an organization that maintains several honey bee hives; and a bike-share program to help reduce carbon emissions on campus. The museum’s grounds serve as a demonstration site for conservation on the landscape in two ways. First, the landscaping around the museum building is entirely native species and best management practices are employed for conserving resources (no supplemental irrigation, minimal if any chemical or pesticide interventions). Second, the Volusia Sandhill Teaching Landscape is a habitat restoration project re-establishing the historic ecosystem that would have been present at the site prior to human development. The goal is to increase biodiversity at the site, restore a now much-reduced habitat type within an urban landscape, and establish a sense of place with regard to natural history on campus and in downtown DeLand.

Description: The Environmental Fellows work to develop a more cognizant and purposeful Stetson community focused on social, economic, and environmental practices. We foster a culture of environmentalism through education and direct involvement within our campus and the greater community.

Mission Statement: To maintain Stetson University as a leader in environmental stewardship through thoughtful communication and activities linking community and planet.

Activities:
1) Conducts an annual campus-wide greenhouse gas audit using SIMAP software
2) Manages and invests an annual Revolving Green Fund of $30,000 into energy
efficiency and renewable energy projects
3) Tracks return on investments made through the Revolving Green Fund using the
GRITS software
4) Creates educational events centered around the environment or sustainability for community events such as Values Day or Earth Day.