| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.59 |
| Liaison | Maria Ayala |
| Submission Date | Dec. 26, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.75 / 2.00 |
Nathan
Digby Dean of Students Dean of Students |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The club EcoReps is an inclusive organization of students with the purpose of carrying out practices, workshops, and projects that contribute to the sustainability of the university, through the support of technicians specialized in the different fields of the environmental area and who work together with the innovation office and sustainability.
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:
USFQ’s Organic Garden is a mandatory class to agriculture introduction. The garden is located some 6 miles away from the University in a 2.4 acre leased piece of land.
Each semester there is generally between 7 to 10 students in the class where everything from seed planting to genetic research is carried out. Besides students, there are 3 fulltime workers that oversee the organic farm. Students stick to a scheduled production process and are required to assist daily.
Besides cultivating in season-produce, the organic garden also serves as a seedbed for native plants such as Chilca, Guabo, Santa Maria, Ajisillo and podocarpus, which are then transplanted to parks and ravines. Everything is organically managed, from the fertilizer made form quail excrement, to the red earthworms for compost as well as fumigating with trichoderma mushrooms for pest control.
Products sold have to pass a sanitary verification in order to be packed and shipped to the farmers market on Friday’s at noon. Leftover produce is fed to the rabbits and guinea pigs at the farm. All other organic left over’s are used for compost and re used as organic fertilizer. This is done with the students in the agriculture engineering department
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 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 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:
With the initiative of Amor Naturae we hope to contribute to society's development of a process of reconciliation and love for Nature. The events will be focused on providing participants (students, teachers and the public in general) with up-to-date and didactic information on environmental issues of importance to Ecuador and the world to promote the analysis and adoption of more environmentally friendly ways of life.
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 the area of cultural events, USFQ holds an event called the Vagina Monologues, which is a feminist event designed to empower women and advocate for feminist issues such as gender norms and sexual violence.
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:
Currently the University offers a Climbing/Hiking 3-credit class. The program started in 99 as a club and the then president of the club remains as class instructor today. The class is based on taking a theory in mountaineering, rappel and ropes. Besides attending all theory classes students have to take at least 3 weekend trips during the semester.
The class has a policy of leave no trace behind but has no theory on it. As for rock climbing the policy is to use previous bolts.
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:
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:
USFQ has held a workshop on zero-waste life and another on business social responsibility.
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:
Internships with the Office of Sustainability and Innovation developing benchmarking and other projects.
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:
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:
In addition, USFQ practices sustainable agriculture. Behind its kitchens, USFQ has an organic garden with the gastronomy club.
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.