| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.09 |
| Liaison | DeLayne Miller |
| Submission Date | Dec. 18, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Tennessee Technological University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The TTU Sustainable Campus Committee oversees disbursement of the student green fee. It is comprised of 8 students and 11 faculty/staff members.
https://www.tntech.edu/sustainability/sustainable-campus-committee.php
The Evergreen Society is a student group that promotes general awareness about environmental and sustainability issues in the world through various activities including activism, volunteering, and outdoor experiences.
https://twitter.com/evrgreensociety
VegTTU is a student organization that advocates for sustainable eating on campus.
https://vegttu.wixsite.com/vegttu
Ducks Unlimited is an organization that promotes wildlife conservation.
The Environmental Conservation Club promotes a sustainable environment that embraces positive conservation cultures.
https://www.facebook.com/ttuducksunlimited/
Wildlife Society serves as an international, non-profit scientific and educational organization serving and representing wildlife professionals in all areas of wildlife conservation and resource management.
https://www.tntech.edu/cas/biology/orgs.php
The Student Conservation Biology Association provides a forum for the increased awareness of issues affecting biodiversity, opportunities for service and education, and resources for professional development of its members.
https://www.tntech.edu/studentlife/orgs/list.php
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:
There are three gardens on campus: a native plant garden that teaches students about Tennessee's native plants, an organic garden to help supply the TTU Food Pantry, and a small garden run by the Agriculture and Human Ecology students in front of Oakley Hall. Tech Farm hosts a variety of agriculture projects for students to participate in. The Biology Department has a Cooperative Fishery Research Unit supported jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and Tennessee Tech.
https://www.tntech.edu/sustainability/greenspace-projects.php
https://www.coopunits.org/Tennessee/People/
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:
The university hosts an annual EagleWorks competition in which students can present businesses or business ideas to a panel of judges for prize money. The winning team for Spring 2019 was a group called Miscellaneous Men that provides jobs and services to rural community members. This student-ran enterprise also won the inaugural Rural Reimagined Award, given in the name and spirit of Tech’s Grand Challenge which seeks to solve problems, address disparities and transform rural communities. Michael Aikens, Tech’s director of innovation and entrepreneurship, stated that “Miscellaneous Men was the clear winner for the Rural Reimagined Award because of its potential to impact rural areas due to their innovative business model. This team is already creating numerous jobs in our rural region and it is our belief that the award will further Miscellaneous Men’s ability to help clients in rural areas.”
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:
The TTU Green Fee Program originated as a bill from SGA which allowed $8.00 of a student activity fee to be set aside toward sustainable campus initiatives. The fee is distributed with approval from the Sustainable Campus Committee, which is a mix of students, faculty and staff that has been appointed by the President. This revolving fee grants funding for students to pursue research projects, for the Bike Share Program, for many sustainable events hosted by the Sustainable Campus Committee, and much more.
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:
The TNTech Sustainable Campus Committee hosts speakers once a semester to educate students, faculty, and staff on campus of particular programs or sustainable strategies and ideas.
During the Spring 2019 semester, the TTU Women's Center hosted speaker Winona LaDuke, Native American activist and advocate for environmental, women's and children's rights.
https://www.tntech.edu/calendar/index.php?eID=1249
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:
In November of 2017, TTU hosted poet and Pulitzer prize winner Robert Hass to speak about his activism of poetry, literacy and the environment. As a TTU Center Stage Event, this discussion was open to the entire campus community and widely shared through TTU enews , email and Facebook invites, and flyers around campus.https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/pulitzer-prize-winning-poet-robert-hass-visits-tech-nov.-2.php
Additionally, the TTU Women's Center hosted Winona LaDuke, founder and campaign director of the White Earth Recovery Project, a reservation-based land acquisition, environmental advocacy and cultural organization.
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:
The Evergreen Society at Tennessee Tech University is an environmental awareness club. They host clean up days at local hiking trails to pick up litter.
https://www.facebook.com/TnTechEvergreenSociety/
There is also the Outdoor Club that is actively involved in wilderness programs, which mostly include caving and rock climbing expeditions.
https://www.facebook.com/ttuoutdoorclub/
The Campus Fitness Center has a program that allows students to check out hiking and camping equipment. https://www.tntech.edu/recreation/fitnesscenter/outdoor_program.php
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:
All first-year students are required to take a University Connections class. In the fall 2018 semester campus Sustainability Manager, DeLayne Miller, spoke to students in many of the connections classes. Also, students have the option of taking ESS 1000- Introduction to Environmental Studies, which enables them to focus their learning on sustainability topics. Additionally, all freshmen and transfer students are required to attend an orientation in which they will hear from Office of Sustainability workers on the environmental opportunities and resources available on campus.
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:
The TTU Treehouse: Environmental Village is a residence hall that encourages students to live sustainably and prides itself in being the home base for TTU recycling efforts, Bike Share, and Student Environmental Action. The Treehouse's past activities include a neighborhood wilderness cleanup at Trog Sink, partnering with TTU Organic Farm to feed folks at Cookeville Rescue Mission, and educating students on recycling.
https://www.tntech.edu/reslife/learning-villages/treehouse.php
Further, the TTU College of Business provides a Business Professional Clothes Closet where students can borrow second-hand professional attire at no cost. Students who participate in this program learn the benefits of purchasing or renting clothes second-hand. https://cobstudentsuccess.com/professional-closet/
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:
The TTU Office of Sustainability seeks to hire students that have interests in sustainability, whether for work study or scholarship hours (4-6 per semester). The campus recycle program operates with paid student workers (6-12 per semester).
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:
There is a Green Pledge available to all students that can be accessed on the website of the TTU Office of Sustainability. The pledge encourages students to incorporate acts of sustainability into their daily life.
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 Oakley Sustainable Agriculture Center (OSAC) gives students the opportunity to obtain real-world, hands-on learning in a unique location. Opportunities exist at OSAC for students in Agriculture, Biology, History, Sociology, and other sciences. OSAC raises awareness of environmental issues around farming.
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.