The American College of Greece
EN-3: Student Life

Environmental Studies Society The Environmental Studies (ES) Society was established in spring 2012 and is a student-run organization that embraces all Environmental Studies majors and minors. The Society helps ES students gain practical skills and experience in environmental studies fields and solve problems they may be confronted with during their studies. The Society also aims to promote awareness of environmental issues at the ACG in collaboration with the Center of Excellence for Sustainability and other College entities. The meet its goals the Society organizes and supports academic events and activities such as lectures, panel discussions, film screenings and field trips and participates actively in College-wide events such as the Sustainability Week. Volunteers for the Center of Excellence for Sustainability The Center of Excellence for Sustainability is a collaborative initiative, operating under the Office of Public Affairs, that brings together education, research and operations to advance sustainability on campus and beyond. Officially established in the fall of 2011 and, CES aims to: • Promote environmental awareness, education for sustainable development and sustainability research on campus; • Bridge educational activities and sustainable operations initiatives on campus while promoting experiential learning; • Facilitate collaboration between disciplines, faculty, staff and students; • Connect with other social actors in the wider community, i.e., the local municipality or select NGOs, increasing ACG’s social impact.

The Institution has installed and operates 4 Green Roofs for teaching and research Purposes through the Green Roofs Course and the Green Roof Project. The institution operates 2 vegetable gardens ( through the Center of Excellence for Sustainabilirty and Pierce College Gardening and Bee-keeping Club) focusing on the small-scale cultivation of organic vegetables . In a addition to the previous a small mound named the ACG Herb garden contains organically grown domestic and endemic herbs.

Several events and talks are taking place within the academic calendar. For more information refer to: http://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/sustainability-events/ and http://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/sustainability-news/ The most recent event was a series of lectures on sustainable growth entitled "Sustainable and Inclusive Growth: the Case for Green Entrepreneurship"

Sound, Music and Sustainability An interactive discussion with Dr. Jeff Todd Titon talked about the connection of sounds and music with the environment. It challenged participants to consider the relation of sounds with sustainable living. This event was collaboratively organized by the Music Department and the Center of Excellence for Sustainability. Routinely students within the Frances Rich School of Fine And Performing arts perform publicly works related or inspired by themes related to sustainability both as parts of course work as well as through exhibitions of art work.

Deree provides students, faculty, and staff with the opportunity to engage in outdoor recreation, as a healthy and environmentally sound leisure activity that generates a sense of well-being. The Recreational Sports Program provides various outdoor adventure-based experiential activities such as hiking, climbing, scuba-diving, biking, and skiing through organized trips while also providing the requisite equipment. Such activities initiate recreational, educational, and leadership learning opportunities and are a great way for students to learn a new skill, socialize, and explore their natural surroundings. Moreover, participants will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the SERF program designed to instruct them in what procedures to follow in an emergency fire situation. The Environmental Science major organizes field trips open to the entire ACG community that due to the diligence of the ES Faculty adhere to Leave no Trace principles. The most recent activity being a trip to Feneos and Stymfalia lake

Talking about Addictions March 21-24, 2016 The Center of Excellence for Sustainability participated in the event that was organized by the ACG Health & Wellness Center, Office of Student Affairs, in cooperation with the ACG Counseling Center and the Institute of Public Health about addictions. The CES participated in the event with 2 interesting board displays, adding the environmental and consumption perspectives of the topic. The 1st board was about wine addiction and how it can impact the environment. The 2nd board was based on the research of Stavros Goulakos – Deree Environmental Studies student - on the environmental impacts of coca cultivation and cocaine production; it was prepared by him, supported by the CES student assistants. Addictions week was supported by the Center of Excellence for Sustainability, the Deree Biology Club, the Psychology Society, and the DEREE Student Activities Board.

Get Involved and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! With the “International Campus Sustainability Month” in full swing and our new recycling bins placed in several spots around our campus, the ACG – Center of Excellence for Sustainability at the Office of Public Affairs is initiating a Waste Reduction and Recycling Campaign, in an effort to raise awareness and to guide you towards successful waste reduction and recycling daily practices! The campaign kick-off will take place on Friday October 27th with an interactive, fun exercise at the Deree Main Corridor, from 13:00-16:00. Our awareness efforts will run throughout this academic year and will be followed by select initiatives across all campuses (Pierce, Deree, Alba). Start by testing your knowledge through a quick digital sustainability game on our website, find useful tips and guidelines and/or follow us on social media. The Waste Reduction and Recycling campaign will be implemented in collaboration with the ACG Offices of Operations and Technical Services, Adjunct Preceptor of Environmental Studies, Maria Vitoraki, the Environmental Studies Program, the Environmental Studies Society, the Deree Student Government, and the Pierce Student Governments.

The Center of Excellence for Sustainability currently employs three student assistants on a 15hour/week contract for each. In addition the Office of International Student Services offer inbound students opportunities to work within the College on specific offices and research projects including the CES.