| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 81.87 |
| Liaison | Rania Assariotaki |
| Submission Date | Feb. 21, 2023 |
The American College of Greece
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Ourania
Assariotaki Sustainability Manager Office of Public 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:
ACG Sustainability Leaders
The ACG Sustainability Leaders group is a, newly founded, team of student volunteers who participate in diverse activities and events aimed at motivating, inspiring and raising awareness towards a culture of Sustainability both on and off the ACG campus.
The ideal Sustainability Leader candidate is not necessarily the one with the most knowledge about the sustainability. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic about learning about and promoting sustainable living. If you are reliable, good-natured and excited to be a sustainability advocate in your residence hall, we want YOU! Part-time or full-time students from all majors are welcome to apply.
As a Sustainability Leader you will participate in activities, such as the ACG Community Service Days, awareness raising campaigns (e.g. #ACGgoesplasticfree and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!), reforestation of Mount Hymettus, and many more!
https://www.acg.edu/current-students/student-services/student-life/getting-involved/student-organizations/acg-sustainability-leaders/
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.
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:
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 Herbs gardens ( through the Office of Sustainability - Public Affairs and Pierce College Gardening and Bee-keeping Club) focusing on the small-scale cultivation of organic herbs and vegetables. In addition to the previous, a small mound named the ACG Community Garden contains organically grown domestic and endemic herbs.
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/
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:
SPES Herbs Kit Project
The "Spes Herbs kit" is a collaborative, interdisciplinary collaboration between the Environmental Studies and Marketing Societies. This project was supported by the Office of Sustainability - Public Affairs and the Center of Excellence in Sustainability with the donation of the CES Herbs garden. Students from both societies got to practice what they have learned academically. They have experienced the necessary steps for having an end product. The students from the Environmental Studies Society were in charge of the planting, harvesting and preserving the herbs and the students of the Marketing Society were responsible for the design of the packaging, logo as well as the promotional activities until the launching of the product. The proceeds of this project have supported and will continue to support various charities selected by the students.
Student Lounge cafe
With the support of the Deree Student Affairs office, students from the Deree societies operate a cafe in the student lounge. Each week a different is society is responsible for its operation. Students are responsible to decide on which type of products they will be offering at which price. They are also responsible for the products' supply i.e. purchase them or bake them themselves. The proceeds of this initiative support projects/initiatives and charities chosen by each society. In the context of our #ACGgoesplasticfree campaign, students are encouraged to use only reusable, environmentally-friendly or biodegradable take away items.
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/
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:
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:
Several sustainable events and talks are taking place within the academic calendar. Below you will find some of the events organized by the Office of Public Affairs in collaboration with partnering networks and/or ACG departments, academic societies etc.:
ACG Community Service Days - "Baking for a Good Cause"
ACG Blood Drives
Climathon Agia Paraskevi@ACG
Education 4 Sustainability
ACG celebrated the World Environment Day with the half-day conference Sustainability: The Future is Now (June 2022)
The role Greek Higher Education Institutions in promoting the SDGs
For more information refer to:
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/news-events/
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/news-events/sustainability-news/
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:
Within the context of the #ACGGoesPlasticFree the Francis Rich School of fine and performing arts designed a short exhibition on installation and sculptural arts. Works were kept on display for the duration of 2019 in the foyer of the School.
In 2018 the School held the "Rag to Riches" exhibition from contemporary artists partially themed on sustainability that was displayed for the duration of the Spring Semester.
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:
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.
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:
Each year in the context of raising awareness campaigns, we organize weekly info sessions and other activities on educating our members on how to adopt sustainable consumption practices.
#Reduce- Reuse- Recycle
#ACGGOesPlasticFree
#ReduceYourFoodPrint
Each year in the context of the #ACGGoesPlasticFree campaign we celebrate the ACG Plastic Free Day in collaboration with our catering provider. On that day our members are asked to carry and use only reusable items. In parallel, our members are educated on how to eliminate plastics and the benefits of doing so.
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/campaigns/
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:
Sustainable Living Guidelines
In the context of promoting the adoption of a sustainable lifestyle and creating a sustainability culture on campus, we have introduced the “Sustainable Living @ACG” guidelines. ACG members can have access to the guidelines through the Sustainability@ACG website, as well as the ACG intranet. In addition, these guidelines are presented during the new students’ orientation.
https://www.acg.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ACG-Sustainable-Living-Guidelines-2019_Fin.pdf
Sustainability Tips
As there are many, small, steps we can all take individually in our daily lives to become more sustainable. On our website anyone can find a selection of sustainability tips divided in categories: Sustainable Transportation, Sustainability on Campus, Sustainability at the Office, Sustainability at Home, Sustainable Travel, Sustainable Christmas, Food Waste, Summer Tips etc.
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/community-engagement/sustainability-tips/
#ACGgoesplasticfree
In the context of our campaign for minimizing the single-use plastic items on campus, we have organized info-sessions for motivating and informing our members in using reusable items instead. Also, through our social media and website, we present reusable substitutes for the plastic ones.
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/campaigns/acggoesplasticfree/
Get Involved and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING @ ACG
Our college is working towards sustainable campus practices and solutions! Limiting waste and fostering reuse are at the core of sustainable practices. On our website ACG members can find some important waste prevention tips and best recycling practices to help them become a zero waste leader! The set guidelines aim to inform the college community on good practices for sustainable waste management. Also, the Center of Excellence for Sustainability with the support also of the ACG Sustainability Leaders organizes info-sessions to our members on the proper recycling practices and the proper use of the recycling bins on campus.
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/campaigns/reduce-reuse-recycle/
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Office of Public Affairs, which is responsible for the coordination of all sustainability-related activities and operations on campus employs student assistants on a 15hour/week contract for each. The student assistants undertake sustainability-related tasks like providing content for the Sustainability@ACG social media, assisting in the organization of sustainability-focused events/initiatives as well as volunteer activities and assisting with logistics of the sustainability-focused raising awareness campaigns. They work under the Senior Manager for Sustainability.
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/
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):
ACG graduates prior to the commencement ceremony sign the “ACG Graduation Sustainability Pledge” and carry a green ribbon on their gowns signifying that they have signed/taken the pledge.
ACG Sustainability Graduation Pledge
“I pledge to use the knowledge, values and experience I gained during my studies at Deree-ACG, acting as a responsible and engaged citizen and professional, in order to actively contribute towards a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable world.”
https://www.acg.edu/about-acg/sustainability-at-acg/community-engagement/sustainability-commencement/
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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.