Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 78.50 |
Liaison | Marina Zdobnova |
Submission Date | Aug. 16, 2018 |
Executive Letter | Download |
University of California, Berkeley
EN-3: Student Life
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jack
Chang STARS Assessment Fellow (ERG) Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Student Groups
Yes
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
UC Berkeley offers more than 45 student sustainability related groups. They include:
The ASUC Department of Sustainability serves as the bridge between student government, faculty, staff, administration, on-campus student organizations and off-campus organizations. The main function is to help students navigate the ASUC space (i.e., bill writing), develop and carry out environmental projects and programs and serve as a facilitator for all sustainability-oriented initiatives on campus.
ASUC Sustainability Team (STeam)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalSTeam/
The ASUC Sustainability Team, or STeam for short, is Berkeley’s most prominent multi-issue environmental club. As a team, we create and implement a variety of projects that help establish sustainable practices and promote environmental awareness on campus. Project groups within STeam focus on areas from renewable energy to water usage, and we have a great time doing it! Leadership is shared throughout the organization, and for nearly ten years we have worked as a tightly knit unit to accomplish our goals.
Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative (BERC)
http://berc.berkeley.edu/
BERC is a multidisciplinary network of UC Berkeley students, alumni, faculty, industry professionals and advisors who seek to turn world-leading research into world-changing solutions by tackling tough and timely energy and environmental challenges.
More specifically, BERC’s mission is to connect, educate and engage its members to foster innovation and action. To that end, BERC:
Connects nearly 3,000 members as a part of a broad, cross-disciplinary network of students, faculty and professionals in the fields of energy and resources;
Educates students about cutting-edge work in energy and resources through organizing events, lectures and treks; and
Engages members by providing opportunities to address global energy and resources issues and collaborate on real-world projects.
Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative Undergraduate (BERCU)
http://www.facebook.com/bercundergrad
Establishes discussion about energy and resources and provide an opportunity for thinking, connecting and sharing on those issues.
Berkeley Environmental Economics and Policy Students (BEEPS)
BEEPS brings together students of the EEP major through conceptualizing, collaborating, networking, learning and socializing.
Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy (BOAA)
http://calboaa.webs.com/
The Berkeley Organization for Animal Advocacy is the campus’ only social justice group dedicated to raising awareness about issues of animal oppression. We, at BOAA, firmly stand against the abusive, gendered and exploitative nature of the treatment of animals in our society. We believe that the ills of factory farming are felt not only by non-human animals, but also by the environment, people of color, low income people and the health and culture of our society. As a group, we are dedicated to raising awareness and promoting compassionate, socially just, and sustainable diets, and advocating for the liberation of animals, people and the environment from systems of human oppression.
Berkeley Student Food Collective (BSFC)
http://www.foodcollective.org/
Eat, Educate, Empower: The Berkeley Student Food Collective works to provide healthy, sustainable and affordable food for the East Bay community. A nonprofit volunteer-run grocery collective, the BSFC is a local hub for both leadership development and food-related education for its members.
Berkeley Water Group
https://www.facebook.com/berkeleywatergroup
The Berkeley Water Group, now in its third year as an IdeaLab, focuses on issues, projects and ideas related to clean water, sanitation, hygiene and international development. The group links undergraduates with graduate student mentors and faculty; supports student work for the Big Ideas competition and other social ventures; collaborates with faculty to start a Water Science, Sustainability and Policy minor; launched a weekly digital newsletter on water news and employment opportunities; forges new relationships between campus and community entities; and is working to produce an academic journal with student papers on water-related topics.
Biofuels Technology Club
https://btc.berkeley.edu/
The club is a student organization inspired by the unbounded potential and sustainability of biofuel technologies and driven to explore beyond classroom theory. Its dream is to utilize all the biowaste streams of UC Berkeley by implementing cutting-edge biofuels research into a scaled bioenergy manufacturing plant and ultimately bring clean and renewable energy back into UC Berkeley and the surrounding city.
Boalt Environmental Law Society
http://els.boalt.org/
The society aims to promote awareness of environmental concerns, issues and problems within the legal community; provide law students with opportunities to engage in legal outreach, supervised by environmental law faculty members; enhance the law school experience for students interested in environmental issues confronting California, the United States and the world.
Building Sustainability at Cal (BS@C)
https://www.facebook.com/BuildingSustainabilityAtCal
The Building Sustainability @ Cal Program trains and utilizes students to help reduce the environmental footprint of campus buildings by educating building inhabitants and identifying structural and operational changes that can be made to buildings and the campus as a whole.
BS@C meshes the academic and the operational aspects of the university and is a unique collaboration of students, faculty and staff. The program works closely with Capital Projects, the Office of Sustainability, Physical Plant‐Campus Services and other relevant campus entities.
Cal Dining Sustainability Team
https://www.facebook.com/caldining
We are a team of 4-5 student interns responsible for proposing and developing new sustainability programs, coordinating educational events and projects, monitoring sustainability in the dining commons and working with other campus sustainability groups. We are devoted to making Cal Dining as sustainable as can be while working towards the UC-wide goal of Zero Waste by 2020.
Cal Environmental Team
https://enviroteam.berkeley.edu/
Cal Environmental Team is a civil engineering competition team that participates in an annual wastewater treatment competition. Given a scenario, the team designs and builds a sustainable wastewater filter using only common household materials.
California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG)
https://www.facebook.com/berkeleycalpirg
CALPIRG Students is an independent statewide student organization that works on issues such as environmental protection, consumer protection, and hunger and homelessness. For nearly 35 years, students with their campus PIRG chapters have been making a real difference in people’s lives and winning concrete changes to build a better world.
We give students the skills and opportunity to practice effective citizenship. Both here on campus and out in the world, we mobilize students to investigate big social problems, come up with practical solutions, convince the media and public to pay attention and get decision-makers to act.
California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC)
http://www.sustainabilitycoalition.org/about/contact-us/
The California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) is a network of students across University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges campuses working to unite and empower California’s community of higher education to collaboratively and nonviolently transform ourselves and our institutions based on our inherent social, economic and ecological responsibilities. CSSC offers biannual student convergences, internship and job opportunities, as well as ways to get involved in the larger statewide sustainability movement through various campaigns.
Climate and Health IdeaLab (CHIL)
https://www.facebook.com/chilberkeley/
Interested in climate change, public health, global health or protecting vulnerable populations? Looking for a space to think creatively about developing climate policy or effectively communicating climate change concepts? The Climate Change and Health IdeaLab (CHIL) is a collaboration at UC Berkeley focused on research-sharing and innovation around these issues.
By bringing together students, researchers, practitioners, groups and projects, we are reshaping the dialogue around climate change and health; and inspiring new policies to significantly mitigate climate change while protecting the health of the most vulnerable–through innovations in climate models, groundbreaking research on the health effects of pollutants, new designs for more energy efficient technologies, policy analysis on land use and efforts to more effectively communicate the co-benefits of climate change mitigation.
Common Cause of Berkeley
https://www.facebook.com/berkeleycommoncause/
Common Cause of Berkeley is a campus group under the umbrella of Common Cause, a national interest group dedicated to making government more open, accountable and responsive to the public. We are a nonpartisan political group that does not directly advocate for policy issues. Rather we advocate for simply making government work better. Whatever your particular political goals are, whether it be expanding renewable energy or legalizing gay marriage or increasing access to financial aid, the issues that Common Cause advocates will almost certainly help you achieve your goals by allowing you to work with a government that is more transparent and responsive to the public and less indebted to wealthy interests. Since we are a student group, we particularly focus on advocating for good government reform that increases the accessibility and responsiveness of government to students.
Conservation & Resource Studies Student Organization (CRSSO)
https://nature.berkeley.edu/crsso/
The purpose of CRSSO is to foster community among past, present and future Conservation and Resource Studies majors by providing academic support, networking, volunteer and social opportunities.
Engineers for a Sustainable World at Berkeley
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1525670277648596/
The mission of ESW-Berkeley is to forge innovative, lasting solutions to local and global sustainability challenges. To accomplish this mission, we design and implement sustainable projects, educate and train individuals and organizations on sustainable policies and practices and work to build a global network of communities with a shared culture of sustainability.
Environmental Consulting Group (ECG)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1549087978643552/
ECG consults with corporations on their corporate social responsibility & environmental education pages. The first consulting project is developing a webpage that is interactive, graphically inviting and a part of an LED marketplace that is being marketed to millions of Americans. The page will explain what is happening to our environment and share interactive diagrams and graphs that will provide consumers easy to understand knowledge about environmental stewardship. Each team member will network with company leaders, managing directors of banks and global research institutes.
Environmental Science Student Association (ESSA)
https://www.facebook.com/ESSAcal/
The mission of ESSA is to bring together students from the environmental community in a welcoming social environment. Students from the Environmental Science major are strongly encouraged to join but students from every major are welcome. ESSA events include short hikes (Indian Rock, Botanical Garden, Tilden), camping (Big Sur, Yosemite), local community service (Strawberry Creek restoration, Berkeley Project, beach cleanup), academic advising (Telebears meeting near registration time) and other social events. We are always open to suggestions. Meetings are biweekly at 5pm in 260 Mulford – the day of the week varies by semester.
Feeding Forward
https://www.facebook.com/FeedingForward
We connect those with excess food to feed those in need through technology. Our mobile platform enables businesses and companies to post donations that are instantly matched and delivered to human service organizations (food banks, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, etc.) in need. Find out more about us at feedingforward.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Fossil Free Cal (FFC)
http://www.fossilfreeuc.org/divest/uc-berkeley-cal
At Fossil Free Cal, we know that the fossil fuel industry is both driving catastrophic climate change and harming communities through the extraction and burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Our campus’ campaign is calling on UC Berkeley and the UC system to divest their commingled and direct holdings in the top 200 fossil fuel companies with the largest reserves of carbon. We expect and demand that the Berkeley Foundation and the UC Regents foster a future of opportunity for their students through not only their programs but their investment practices as well. Investing in climate chaos is not in line with any kind of viable future, and must stop. Beyond the campaigns at each UC campus and the UC-wide campaign (Fossil Free UC), over 500 campaigns already exist at universities, cities and religious institutions across North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and momentum is only growing.
Global Water Brigades at Berkeley
https://gwberkeley.wordpress.com/
GWB is an international nonprofit organization with global health and sustainable development initiatives in developing countries. The GWB group offers Berkeley students the opportunity to volunteer in developing countries — our most recent projects have been in Honduras where students worked in rural villages to improve access to clean water by developing a sustainable water infrastructure with community leaders. Many of our students are also Global Poverty and Practice minors and use their volunteer experience with GWB as part of the practice experience required for the minor.
GradFood
https://gspp.berkeley.edu/student-life/gspp-student-groups/students-in-nutrition-and-agriculture-policy-snap
GradFood brings UC Berkeley graduate students from diverse disciplines together to learn and teach about something that affects everyone: FOOD! Food is more than meets the eye, and we delve into issues that make food both an intellectually stimulating field and central to our daily lives. Our monthly dinners are a forum to discuss food and agriculture issues from a variety of perspectives, and topics include everything from health to agroecology to economic development (and beyond!). The group provides opportunities to meet students from other departments, collaborate on and present research and network with the sustainable food systems community and the Berkeley Food Institute. We emphasize education that can inform both public policy and grassroots food systems change.
Greening the Greeks
https://www.facebook.com/greeningthegreeks
Greening the Greeks promotes environmental awareness and sustainability within the fraternity and sorority community, especially in housing facilities and at Greek-sponsored events.
Net Impact Berkeley
https://nib.berkeley.edu/
Net Impact at Berkeley is a campus management consulting organization, with a focus on helping businesses become more socially and environmentally responsible. Our organization consults for companies ranging from small nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies, on initiatives that lead to greener and more ethical practices.
PowerSave Campus
http://www.ase.org/projects/powersave-campus
PowerSave Campus is a student-run internship program under the Alliance to Save Energy that works to increase campus sustainability by bridging the gap between students and institutional energy costs. Interns work to save energy on campus by increasing general awareness, incorporating energy conservation and efficiency into course curricula, and implementing projects targeting energy use.
Public Service Center
http://publicservice.berkeley.edu/
The Public Service Center connects Berkeley faculty, community partners and alumni with student leaders — through jobs, internships and courses that support a more just and equitable world. The Center also works with faculty and graduate students to integrate community-based learning into teaching and research. Through the Center, students, faculty and communities work together to promote transformative social change and grow our next generation of civic leaders.
Society for Conservation Biology (Berkeley Chapter)
https://nature.berkeley.edu/consbio/
We promote scientific research, dialogue and policy awareness on matters related to the conservation of biological diversity. Our group focuses on connecting conservation-minded Berkeley students with conservation professionals and activists in the broader Bay Area community through talks, workshops, volunteering and outreach.
Solar Decathlon
http://berkeleysolardecat.wixsite.com/rise
This is a group of UC Berkeley and University of Denver students who are constructing a sustainable, net-zero home.
Strategies for Ecology, Education, Diversity and Sustainability (SEEDS)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009237033104
SEEDS is a club with a lot of words in its name, but we’ve found ways to make it all work together. We are a chapter of the national SEEDS program established by the Ecological Society of America. The ESA saw that diversity was lacking in the field of ecology, especially in the professional world. They decided to address this by encouraging diversity among younger generations of ecologists to create a sustaining and lasting change.
Strawberry Creek Collective (SCC)
https://callink.berkeley.edu/organization/strawberrycreekcollective
The Strawberry Creek Collective (SCC) aims to encourage widespread participation in the diverse and numerous activities involved in the ongoing ecological restoration of Strawberry Creek by promoting the cultural, democratic, educational and scientific processes important to fostering a wholesome and inclusive restoration effort.
Students for Environmental Education Development (SEED)
UC Berkeley graduate students educate East Bay K-12 public school students about the science of energy use and conversion using activity-based lessons and mentored, student-driven long-term projects.
Student Organic Garden Association
https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~soga/wordpress/
The Student Organic Garden Association (SOGA) is a democratic student association of garden stewards and educators committed to sustainable organic gardening grounded in direct experience. Our mission is to establish continuity of maintenance and support for the Student Organic Garden year round to provide a creative thriving space for democratic hands-on education and food justice for students and the greater community.
Students Against Fracking at UC Berkeley (SAF)
https://www.facebook.com/SAFUCBerkeley/
Students Against Fracking is a student coalition that unites students on the Berkeley campus and local communities to ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in California, and thereby promote the shift to renewable energy for a sustainable and just future.
Students for Economic and Environmental Justice (SEEJ)
https://www.law.berkeley.edu/students/student-organizations-old/students-for-economic-and-environmental-justice-seej/
Organized through the Law School, Students for Economic & Environmental Justice is dedicated to the just distribution of environmental benefits and the amelioration of environmental harms in communities of color and low-income communities.
Surfrider Foundation Club (Berkeley Chapter)
https://berkeley.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/surfriderfoundationclub
Our mission is the protection and enjoyment of oceans, waves and beaches through a powerful activist network. You can think about that as three concepts. “Protection and enjoyment,” we don’t want to put a velvet rope around a beach and tell people to keep off. We’re surfers, we’re beachgoers, we’re watermen … we enjoy the coasts. We’re a user group. Next up is “oceans, waves and beaches.” Think coastlines, we’re engaged with environmental issues that affect our coastlines. “Powerful activist network” speaks to how we go about this mission. We are a grassroots organization. We’re local in many coastal regions.
Sustainable Environmental Designers Interacting Networking Connecting (SEDInc)
SEDInc aims to bring together students in the Sustainable Environmental Design major for the purpose of connecting with others who share a common interest in sustainable design and helping guide students as they continue their life outside of UC Berkeley.
Tiny House In My Backyard (THIMBY)
https://www.facebook.com/caltinyhouse
THIMBY advances “tiny houses” as a model of affordable, environmentally sustainable living. Our team of UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students are designing and constructing a zero-energy, zero-carbon off-grid tiny house for entry in the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Tiny House Competition. The house is intended for UC Berkeley’s “Global Campus” in Richmond and will serve as a seed for a neighborhood of houses that use experimental design techniques to unite the Richmond and UC Berkeley communities in responsible, affordable development. The project, as well as the end result, will serve to educate group members, other students and local residents alike in the design and construction of sustainable tiny houses.
Words of the Watershed Journal
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Words-of-the-Watershed-Journal/1413193472259902?ref=br_tf
We are UC Berkeley’s undergraduate journal of local environmental writing and art. “Local” is meant to include both writing about Berkeley and the Bay Area by people who live here. We use “environmental writing” to indicate work that explores our relationship with the earth and all its inhabitants. This is a space where creative, academic and journalistic writing and art can dwell together on common ground.
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Gardens and Farms
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Clark Kerr Garden
https://food.berkeley.edu/programs/education/uc-berkeley-farms-gardens/
Established in 2010, the Clark Kerr Garden is the only garden affiliated directly with a residential dining hall. In fall of 2015, the Cal Dining Sustainability Team revitalized the garden to give produce to the Clark Kerr Dining Hall and the UC Berkeley Food Pantry. The Clark Kerr Garden has fruit orchards and raised beds located directly behind the Clark Kerr Dining Hall on the south side of campus. The Clark Kerr Garden offers weekly drop-in volunteer hours and periodic workshops, allowing interested individuals to learn about sustainable land use in an urban setting.
Gill Tract Community Farm
https://gilltractfarm.wordpress.com/about/
The Gill Tract Community Farm is a collaborative community project between UC Berkeley and the surrounding community, focused on issues of food justice and urban farming. It is an urban farm where people can harvest food for themselves and their families in exchange for help with weeding, planting and watering. It aims to supply fresh organic food to anyone who lacks access to it in East Bay communities.
Student Organic Garden
http://berksoga.tumblr.com/
The Student Organic Gardening Association (SOGA) manages the UC Berkeley Student Organic Garden and provides information and resources for students interested in organic gardening. It is student-governed and sponsors classes and educational events.
UC Botanical Garden
http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/
The 34-acre UC Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse landscapes in the world, with over 10,000 types of plants including many rare and endangered species. Organized geographically, the garden features 9 regions of naturalistic plantings from Italy to South Africa, along with a major collection of California native plants. The Garden was established in 1890 and its living collections are invaluable resources for international research and conservation.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Student-Run Enterprises
Yes
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Berkeley Student Food Cooperative (BSFC)
http://berkeleystudentfoodcollective.org/
The cooperative's mission is to provide fresh, local, healthy, environmentally sustainable and ethically produced food at affordable prices to the Berkeley campus and greater community. The collective seeks to educate students about nutrition and food systems, empower new leaders and train youth to work in and manage a sustainable business. Through inclusive, democratic decision-making, the cooperative operates a café and market that promotes community-building and environmental stewardship.
Bay Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network
http://beacn.berkeley.edu/
The Bay Area Environmentally Aware Consulting Network (BEACN) is a nonprofit student-governed organization that specializes in sustainable business consulting in the Bay Area. BEACN's members are undergraduate students who come from a variety of majors, ranging from Business Administration to Environmental Economics and Policy, to Engineering. BEACN is dedicated to promoting not only the environmental but also the economic benefits of green business practices.
BicyCAL - Bicycle Cooperative at UC Berkeley
https://beeceecal.wordpress.com/
BicyCAL is a student-founded and cooperatively run organization at UC Berkeley whose mission is to empower UC Berkeley students, faculty and staff to integrate the bicycle into their daily lives. To that end we seek to provide a space where members of our community can learn how to maintain, operate and love their bicycles in an inclusive and safe place. We offer peer-to-peer bicycle repair and maintenance education in a radically positive environment.
EthiCAL Apparel
http://ethicalapparel.org/
This student-run organization designs and screen-prints custom T-shirts and apparel. To help end global poverty, the group's profits are lent to underprivileged entrepreneurs so that they may start their own businesses and achieve a sustainable source of income.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
---
Sustainable Investment and Finance
Yes
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Haas Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Fund
Reaching beyond a student training ground, the Haas SRI Fund seeks to contribute to the field of social investing by defining and exploring new ideas around unlocking hidden value based on companies’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. As such, Fund Principals believe that the less conventional their thinking, the more innovative their approach, the less correlation with the activity of other established SRI funds, the greater the potential to achieve this goal. Fund principals are MBA and MFE students interested in finance and corporate responsibility; therefore, the Fund is completely student-governed. Through the Fund, students have the opportunity to test the investment and corporate responsibility principles they learned in the classroom, and to experience the complexities, challenges and rewards of the investing world.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Events
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
The Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Sustainability (CACS) Summit
http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/cacs/pages/summits/overview.shtml
The Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Sustainability hosts an annual Sustainability Summit organized by faculty and staff. While the Summit is open to all, students and staff are the primary audience. Last year's summit drew a crowd - highlights of the event included the project poster session spotlighting 30 campus sustainability initiatives and awardees and grant recipients. CACS additionally held a speaker panel in Fall 2015 focusing on the changing definition of environmental justice in the modern world, with speakers from the Women's Earth & Climate Action Network and EcoViva, two prominent environmental action groups.
BERC Energy Summit
http://www.bercenergysummit.com
The Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative (BERC) hosts UC Berkeley's premiere energy event – the annual BERC Energy Summit. The summit includes an Innovation Expo featuring the Berkeley Cleantech University Prize (CUP), a U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored award worth $100,000 for student-based cleantech startups. Additionally, an all-day event draws transformational leaders from research, business and policy communities and over 600 other attendees on the UC Berkeley campus.
SERC Film Series
Each semester the Student Environmental Resource Center hosts students, faculty and staff for a short film series on sustainability. Each series includes screenings of sustainability and environmental education films as well as discussions with the filmmakers.
SERC Career Series
http://serc.berkeley.edu/career/
The Student Environmental Resource Center, the Career Center, and the College of Natural Resources have partnered to hold events geared towards students with environmental and sustainability career interests. This past semester, the Career Series offered students the opportunity to meet with sustainability-focused companies such as Sungevity and the Lucid Design Group as well as to provide networking and interview workshops.
Berkeley Food Institute Events (The Food Exchange Series)
http://food.berkeley.edu/the-food-exchange/
Each semester, the Berkeley Food Institute holds events focusing on food justice, urban gardening and agriculture. These events are open to the public and are held to promote sustainable practices throughout the campus. Each event hosts panel series with a wide variety of guest speakers. This semester, the organization plans to hold two panel events: "Innovative Business Models in Food Systems, Aiming to Increase Equity, Sustainability and Health," and "Cultivating Justice in Food Systems: People, Power, and Policy."
Each year Earth Week inspires a wide range of on-campus events, many created by students for students. The program includes professionally focused workshops, nature tours and performing arts.
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Cultural Arts
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) opened its doors at a new location in 2016 and presented the exhibition “Architecture of Life.” In partnership with BAMPFA, and in collaboration with the many scholars, artists, and departments across the UC Berkeley campus, a series of public talks were offered associated with the Big Ideas course - Thinking Across the Arts and Design at Berkeley: California Countercultures. Lecture topics included close readings of essays and artworks, close viewings of buildings and objects and close listening and engagement with music, dance and theater. Guest speakers from the worlds of architecture, music, photography, theatre and dance shared their perspectives on big ideas.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Wilderness and Outdoors Programs
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Numerous outdoors programs are offered by Cal Adventures, which is run by the Recreational Sports Facility staff. These program teach students how to enjoy their natural surroundings and take care of the environment.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Sustainability-Related Themes
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Since 1985, the University has offered the UC Berkeley Summer Reading List for New Students as one of the welcomes to the incoming classes of freshmen and transfer students. It is also promoted to alums and UC Berkeley employees. The reading list includes sustainability-themed books. For example, the 2018 reading list includes "Climate Changed: A Personal Journey through the Science" and "The Handmaid's Tale."
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Sustainable Life Skills
Yes
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Global Environment Theme House (GETH)
http://themeprograms.berkeley.edu/geth.html
Even though it's called the Global Environment Theme House, GETH residents actually live together on the Clark Kerr Campus (CKC) which is situated below the beautiful Berkeley hills on the southeast end of campus. GETH is a student-governed association that helps students learn about green living, give back to the environment, grow as leaders, and form friendships that can last a lifetime.
The Residential Sustainability Program
http://housing2.berkeley.edu/my-room
A diverse group of students living in the residence halls are dedicated to the environment and promoting a sustainable lifestyle through peer education. The student-governed program’s goal is to instill a sense of environmental responsibility in our residential student population and to implement simple changes that conserve resources and help set a lifetime pattern of “green” living.
Nature Village
http://www.naturevillage.org/
Nature Village is a student internship program that works with waste, energy & water and education & outreach at University Village and promotes sustainability and resource conservation among residents. The program's goals include reducing the environmental impact of University Village, improving the knowledge and lifestyle practices of residents in relation to resource management, opening a new opportunity of Experiential Environmental Education for children and families and creating a stronger sense of community and life experience at University Village. The program accomplishes this through active participation in environmental programs and activities. Nature Village produced outreach and education materials in at least the four main languages spoken at UC Village: English (35%), Chinese (17%), Korean (15%) and Spanish (6%).
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Student Employment Opportunities
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Green Initiative Fund
http://tgif.berkeley.edu/
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is UC Berkeley's Green Campus Fund. TGIF provides funding, via grants, for projects that improve and support UC Berkeley's campus sustainability efforts. TGIF allocates funds to projects that promote sustainable modes of transportation, increase energy and water efficiency, restore habitat, promote environmental and food justice and reduce the amount of waste created by UC Berkeley. The fund also supports education & behavior change initiatives, student financial aid (via return to aid) and student internships. Students, faculty and staff may submit project proposals, which are selected for funding by the annually appointed TGIF Committee, consisting of students, faculty and staff, on which the students have the majority vote. Since its inaugural grant cycle in spring 2008, TGIF has awarded over $2 million in grants to over 150 grant projects. These projects have included the funding of 231 student sustainability internships, and student interns have worked an estimated 15,000+ hours on TGIF-funded projects.
Office of Sustainability
http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/
The UC Berkeley Office of Sustainability's mission is to integrate cutting-edge sustainability policy, planning and practices into campus operations and to foster a culture of sustainability at home and in the world. We lead campus efforts to achieve carbon neutrality and zero waste with a focus on renewable energy, resource saving and stewardship, greening the built environment and inspiring resilient institutional change. The Office of Sustainability team includes undergraduate and graduate fellows who work part time on sustainable projects and initiatives.
Cal Zero Waste
https://facilities.berkeley.edu/departments/cal-zero-waste
Cal Zero Waste coordinates the recycling efforts for mixed paper, beverage containers, green waste, wood, plastic film, inkjet/ toner cartridges and mixed metal. The program provides general information on waste prevention, reuse of materials, purchasing recycled-content products and recycling other materials.The team is comprised of 10 student employees focusing on waste auditing, zero waste education and reuse.
Cal Energy Corps
http://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/energy/welcome-cal-energy-corps
The Cal Energy Corps is an undergraduate internship program that engages the best and brightest students from UC Berkeley in the design, development and delivery of sustainable energy and climate solutions around the world. Launched in February 2011, this new program seeks to provide tangible contributions that build on and enhance the students’ academic work, enabling participants to make a difference by contributing their talents to real-world projects while training and inspiring them for future careers and leadership. Cal Energy Corps placements are challenging, hands-on assignments with leading organizations in the private and public sector.
Other on-campus sustainability-focused student employment opportunities are available at Parking and Transportation, the Student Environmental Resource Center, Cal Dining Sustainability, the Berkeley Food Institute and campus Environment, Health & Safety.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Graduation Pledge
Yes
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
The Founder's Pledge asks Berkeley graduates to pledge to give back to the campus and its public service and education mission. To date 326 people who have made the pledge have provided millions of dollars back to the campus.
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
---
Other Programs and Initiatives
Yes
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
Alongside what was mentioned above, UC Berkeley has led sustainability initiatives through publications. This year's publications included:
• UC Berkeley Sustainability Website
• Campus Sustainability Annual Report
• Campus Sustainability Walking Tour
• Office of Sustainability & Energy BrightGreen News
• Office of Sustainability & Energy Facebook and Instagram accounts
• Energy Dashboards
• Cool Campus Challenge
• Every Drop Counts Water Conservation Campaign
• The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Website
• The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Facebook and Instagram accounts
• The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Annual Report
• The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Project Tour and Map
• http://tgif.berkeley.edu/index.php/funded-projects/project-locations
• Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) Website
• Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) Blog
• Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) Facebook and Twitter Accounts
• Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) Newsletter
• Berkeley Food Institute Website
• Berkeley Food Institute Newsletter
• Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative (BERC) Newsletter
• PowerSave Campus Newsletter
• Words of the Watershed Journal
• Berkeley Science Review
• Ecology Law Quarterly (ELQ)
• The Little Green Book (RSP)
• College of Natural Resources Poster Sessions
• Cal Dining Sustainable Food Signage
• Berkeley Student Food Collective Sustainable Food Signage
• Lawns to Meadows Conversions Signage
• Sustainability articles published by UC Berkeley News Center and The Berkeleyan
--
On top of clubs and organizations, UC Berkeley offers a unique co-curricular program called DeCal. DeCal (http://decal.org) is a student-run democratic education program at the UC Berkeley - here, students create and facilitate their own classes on a variety of subjects. Sponsored by faculty, this past year's DeCal program included numerous sustainability focused courses:
EcoFeminism
Sustainable Energy for a Greener Tomorrow
Cal Environmental Team
Solar Energy & Environmental Justice in East Bay
Stem Cells: Science and Society
Drought: The Law, Science, and Reformation of Water Policy in California
Engineering World Health
Intro to Organic Gardening and Food Justice
Berkeley Scientific Journal
Sustainable Building Design: Tiny Houses
Creating a Sustainable Campus Landscape
Socially Engaged Engineers' SEE-Cal
The Future of Our Energy
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Optional Fields
---
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.