Towson University
EN-2: Co-Curricular Activities

https://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/environsci/studentorgs/club.html

https://involved.towson.edu/organization/seo 

The Student Environmental Organization (SEO) is a club where environmentally minded students can connect, share ideas, and contribute to sustainability initiatives on campus and in the surrounding community. SEO offers opportunities for students to earn service hours and gain hands-on experiences through service projects. All students who are interested in participating in environmental activities and initiatives are welcome!

• Korean Culture Club
• African Diaspora Club
• Filipino Cultural Association at Towson
• Black Student Union
• Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association
• Caribbean Students Association
• Latin American Student Organization
• Minority Association of Premedical Students
• Nepalese Student Association
• South Asian Student Association
• Society of Arab Students
• Vietnamese Students Association
• Young Democratic Socialists of America
• Bettering Black Minds
• Towson University Urban Farm 
• Food Recovery Network - Towson

https://involved.towson.edu/organization/towsonurbanfarm 

https://involved.towson.edu/organization/foodrecovery 

https://www.towson.edu/cla/about/diversity-equity-inclusion.html 

In collaboration with the Eco-Coalition, the Student Government Association hosts an Earth Day Block Party each year. Environmental-related clubs, the Office of Sustainability, the Energy Office, Parking and Transportation, Civic Engagement and Social Responsiblity, and environmental-related academic departments all table with information and activities. Students who visit at least 5 tables then receive a free plant-forward lunch. 

https://www.towson.edu/about/sustainability/getinvolved/ecoreps.html

The Office of Sustainability employs at least one student employee or intern per semester, who can work a maximum of 20 hours per week. The office also employs 2-3 drivers per semester who deliver food recovered by the University’s chapter of the Food Recovery Network. Drivers work between 1 and 2 hours per week. In 2024 the Office of Sustainability hired their first Sustainability Graduate Assistant. The Graduate Assistant works 20 hours per week and assists with sustainability reporting, including the STARS Report.

The Library employs both a DEIJ Sustainability Researcher and a Sustainable Collections Student Assistant.

Aramark, Towson’s dining provider hires one Sustainability Intern per year.

Job descriptions for sustainability-focused employment opportunities over the past 3 years:

Sustainability Marketing Specialist (Internship): The Office of Sustainability is seeking a dedicated Marketing Specialist to join our team. The Marketing Specialist will assist with marketing efforts, programming, and outreach events to foster the mission and goals of the office.  Duties include but are not limited to creating content for social media, defining content for targeted markets, developing marketing materials, and setting up the office newsletter. 

Sustainability Project Coordinator (On-Campus Student Employment): The Office of Sustainability is seeking assistance with tracking the university's progress towards carbon neutrality, waste minimization, and other sustainability-related projects. The position requires a basic understanding of sustainable development. Duties include but aren't limited to compiling, analyzing, researching, and reporting on sustainability data. 

Additional responsibilities include supporting Outreach and Education events, as well as communication efforts to promote a campus culture of sustainability.

Sustainability Internship - Dining (Internship):

General Description:

You will be working closely with the leaders in the Towson University Hospitality group developing skills and competencies to understand what is needed to be successful in the world of sustainability. You will gain valuable experience in the following areas: operations, marketing, administration, guest services, problem resolution, planning and implementation of innovation and client relationship skills. This internship involves hands on experience working in the world of hospitality which will guide you to your personal success in a career of sustainability.

Key Requirements:

• •          A love of the world of hospitality and a passion for sustainability  
• •          Interest in the service industry
• •          Attitude of a leader
• •          Enjoyment of inspiring others and sharing knowledge
• •          Good to better interpersonal skills
• •          General interest and knowledge
• •          Awareness to sustainability practices
• •          Must be undergraduate student

Interest in one or more of the following:

• •          Waste Management and Food Recovery
• •          Carbon Footprint and Labeling
• •          Circular Economy
  • Hydroponics
• •          Interest in creating a better community

Job Responsibilities (May include any or all):

• •          Research and Analysis of sustainable best practices
• •          Coordinate sustainable initiatives and visualizing the source of our food
• •          Results analysis: preparing metric-backed stories for Business Reviews and other touch points
• •          Inputting your business Unit’s operations data into reporting programs
• •          Financials
• •          Food Recovery Network Initiatives
• •          Executing operational standards
• •          Story telling: sharing metric-backed stories with reporting entities (e.g. AASHE STARS, GRA, etc.)
• •          Working in different settings within the world of hospitality: FOH, BOH, Catering, Admin
• •          Training dining team and students on sustainable initiatives
• •          Present findings in reports and presentations

Sustainability Graduate Assistant (Graduate School):

The Office of Sustainability is seeking a graduate assistant (GA) for a two-term appointment beginning in Fall 2024. This is a 20-hour/week position that includes tuition remission (up to 12 credit hours) and a bi-weekly stipend. The selected candidate will support sustainability programming and data management for various reports and commitments including the state recycling report and greenhouse gas inventories. The selected candidate is expected to have a strong background in sustainability and campus operations. 

Minimum Qualifications 

•          Conferred bachelor’s degree required to start employment.

•          Admitted to a Towson University graduate program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better during the time of application.

•          Maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 each term in all courses taken for graduate credit during the assistantship.

•          Register for at least 6 credits per term (eligible for up to 12 credits of tuition remission per term)

•          Generally interest in and knowledge of sustainability

Preferred Qualifications

•          Experience working in sustainability in a college or university setting is preferred.

•          Excellent oral & written communication skills.

•          Knowledge of applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

•          Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Excel for data management and analysis.

•          Strong organizational skills, ability to multi-task, display flexibility, and work well under pressure.

•          Highly adaptable with a strong desire to learn.

•          Self-starter

Primary Duties 

•          Assist with data collection and management for various reports including but not limited to the annual greenhouse gas inventory, state recycling report, STARS report, and THE Impact Rankings. (40%)

•          Support the development of data reports and infographics to be shared with the campus community and other stakeholders. (35%)

•          Support various sustainability programs including the Urban Farm and the TU Food Recovery Network (15%)

•          Support outreach and engagement initiatives with various campus partners. (5%)

•          Represent the Office of Sustainability at university programs and promote a culture of sustainability at TU. (5%)

Additional Responsibilities

• •          Assist with general administrative tasks.
• •          Participate in regular one-on-one meetings with supervisor and general office meetings.
• •          All other duties as assigned.

Sustainability Project Coordinator (On Campus Student Employment): The Office of Sustainability seeks student assistance with projects and initiatives that support the university's environmental commitments and mandates. The position requires a basic understanding of sustainable development and systems thinking. Duties include but aren't limited to compiling, analyzing, researching, and reporting on sustainability-related data. The successful candidate will have strong communication skills and an understanding of GIS is required. Additional responsibilities include supporting Outreach and Education events as needed by the office.

DEIAJ Sustainability Researcher (On Campus Student Employment):

Cook Library is seeking a proactive and innovative student to join our team as a DEIAJ Sustainability Researcher. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to Cook Library’s strategy for improving sustainability and promoting environmental justice initiatives on campus.  

The student in this role will conduct thorough research, engage with the campus community, and provide a broad but focused overview of how environmental sustainability is being approached at Cook Library and help set a direction for our future goals and projects in this area. 

Background: 

DEIAJ stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Justice. The focus of this research project is on environmental sustainability in libraries, with an emphasis on climate justice and actions, programs, or initiatives that improve both sustainability and promote justice, equity, and wellbeing.  

Key Responsibilities: 

Develop Understanding of DEIAJ and Sustainability: 

•          Learn about sustainability in libraries, using the Sustainable Libraries Initiative webinar series and ALA’s New National Climate Action Strategy as guides

•          Learn how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Justice informs, educates, and is used in environmental sustainability efforts

 Research and Analysis: 

•          Attend meetings with Cook Library’s Sustainability Committee and work with members to determine research priorities and methods

•          Conduct comprehensive research on what other colleges, universities, and libraries are doing to improve environmental and DEIAJ-related sustainability efforts

•          Conduct interviews and stakeholder analysis with Cook Library departments, campus partners, and students to identify challenges, concerns, and opportunities for improvement

Reporting and Recommendations: 

•          Compile findings into detailed reports

•          Develop recommendations for possible projects, initiatives, or process changes that could improve Cook Library’s environmental impact or provide a service to the community

•          Evaluate said recommendations for cost, labor, impact, and long-term sustainability and scalability

•          Develop a presentation that provides a feasible DEIAJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Justice) environmental sustainability project or action plan to be implemented in 2-5yrs

Qualifications: 

•          Current undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at Towson University

•          Strong research and analytical skills

•          Excellent written and verbal communication abilities

•          Interest in sustainability and justice initiatives

•          Ability to work independently and as part of a team

•          Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or similar tools

•          Experience with data collection and analysis is a plus

Benefits: 

•          Gain practical experience in library sciences and sustainability research

•          Contribute to meaningful sustainability and climate justice projects

•          Build a professional network within the academic and library communities

•          Receive mentorship and guidance from experienced library staff

Sustainable Collections Student Assistant (On Campus Student Employment)

Cook Library is seeking a proactive and innovative student to join our team for the spring semester as a Sustainable Collections Student Assistant. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of a "Library of Things" for Towson University, with a focus on supporting sustainability and accessibility. The intern will conduct thorough research, engage with the campus community, and make impactful recommendations to enhance our collection and services. For more information on the concept of a Library of Things, please explore this:  

Libraries of Things: Understanding the Challenges of Sharing Tangible Collections and the Opportunities for HCI  

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Research and Analysis: 

•          Conduct comprehensive research on the concept of a "Library of Things" with an emphasis on sustainability and accessibility 

•          Investigate best practices and successful examples from other universities and libraries 

2. Reporting and Recommendations: 

•          Compile findings into detailed report 

•          Develop recommendations for items to include in our Library of Things based on data and community inquiries 

3. Community Engagement: 

•          Collect and analyze data from the TU community to identify needs and preferences 

•          Identify gaps on campus regarding items available for loan 

4. Inventory Mapping: 

•          Create an inventory map of items already available for loan on campus

•          Create an online resource that details the library’s current collection using Spring Share Libguides software (training provided)

•          Qualifications:

•          Current undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at Towson University

•          Strong research and analytical skills

•          Excellent written and verbal communication abilities

•          Interest in sustainability and accessibility initiatives

•          Ability to work independently and as part of a team

•          Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or similar tools

•          Experience with data collection and analysis is a plus

Benefits: 

•          Gain practical experience in library sciences and collection development

•          Contribute to meaningful sustainability and accessibility projects

•          Build a professional network within the academic and library communities

•          Receive mentorship and guidance from experienced library staff