| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.59 |
| Liaison | Chris Bond |
| Submission Date | Oct. 30, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Unity Environmental University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Steve
Kahl Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
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Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
| Yes or No | |
| Active student groups focused on sustainability | Yes |
| Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes | No |
| Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills | No |
| Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | Yes |
| Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | Yes |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | Yes |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | Yes |
| Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution | Yes |
| Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions | Yes |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | No |
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The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
1) Sustainability Assistants staff the Sustainability Office to support recycling and waste, farm and food, outreach, and energy work. 2) There is a student group called the Student's Climate Coalition that has been active and visible at events such as the NYC climate march in 2014.
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The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:
The Unity College campus gardens are a hub of sustainability activity on campus. We have a research and production greenhouse field station with a farm coming on-line. We grow organic produce for our dining hall on about 2/5 of an acre and an additional 1/2 acre is under cultivation by the hunger relief project Veggies for All. A smaller demonstration garden is utilized by faculty and students in the sustainable agriculture and horticulture programs. All students are introduced to our campus gardens through orientation and the first-year seminar. Many support campus gardens through course work, community service, and special projects. Work-study students staff the garden during the academic year and students are given preference for our seasonal Sustainable Food Production Assistant position. Though not certified, we utilize organic farming methods.
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The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
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A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
Students largely run the re-cycling program themselves through the Sustainability Office.
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The Lapping Lecture Series is offered to all campus and community members each spring semester. Lectures are offered to all students in the Core course "Environmental Challenge" and advertised regionally to encourage public involvement.
Unity students twice annually present their research and explore sustainability themes at the Unity College Student Conference: http://www.unity.edu/Academic/DistinctivePrograms/StudentConference/StudentConference.aspx
In 2010, Unity hosted the Sustainability Training Institute, inviting students from all over Maine to on-campus training in weatherization, community emissions accounting, and renewable energy technologies. More than 30 students from twelve Maine colleges attended. http://www.unity.edu/NewsEvents/News/STI310.aspx
Also in 2010, Unity College's Constructive Activist Club hosted the Maine Climate Summit: http://www.unity.edu/Visitors/SummerPrograms/Program4/ClimateChange.aspx
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The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
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A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The Unity College Center for Performing Arts is a campus and community facility that brings sustainability speakers and events to Unity. Climate and sustainability activist speakers are frequent.
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The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
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A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Outdoor Adventure Center was established to provide excellent outdoor programs and support to Unity College students, staff and faculty. The OAC uses adventure and outdoor experiences to help individuals discover and grow. The OAC follows and promotes Leave No Trace practices. In addition, The Outing Club takes advantage of the Maine Outdoors to recreate and learn about outdoor ethics. The club takes students white water rafting, rock climbing, backpacking, among others.
Also, the college hosts NOVA, the new student orientation. It is designed to support the transition to college life at Unity by emphasizing personal growth and promoting environmental stewardship.
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The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Sustainability themes are incorporated into the first-year experience. Last year's Unity Experience theme was "Living a Sustainable Life" with several sections focusing on local food. First year students have classes in the various energy showpiece buildings on campus.
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The website URL where information about the theme is available:
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A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Sustainability Office conducts classes in Terrahaus, our passive solar house and Unity 1, the net zero residence hall to educate students about what they can do for energy reduction and C reduction in their own lives.
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
About a dozen students work in the Sustainabilty Office each year and another dozen work in Sustainable agriculture programs including the greenhouses on campus and the off campus research greenhouse station and farm.
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The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
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A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
Unity College participates through the Graduation Pledge Alliance. Last year a graduating student in the sustainability office promoted the pledge, recorded pledges, and distributed green ribbons for graduation ceremonies to indicate those who had taken the pledge. Special mention was made to explain the program to the audience.
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Unity College co-curricular activities include a number of environmental, sustainability, and outdoor recreational opportunities for students to meet many interests of the variety of students enrolled at the college.
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.