University of California, Santa Barbara
EN-3: Student Life

UC Santa Barbara is home to forty-six student-led organizations that work on environmental or sustainability issues. Each of these programs is devoted to informing the campus and community about many aspects of environmentalism, including climate change, law and policy, ecology, energy, and sustainability. A description of each organization's primary functions and goals, as well as past and current projects, can by found in the included link below. For a quick glance at the organizations active as of March 2014, please see: 1 Alliance to Save Energy’s PowerSave Green Campus Program* 2 Aqua International 3 Associated Students Bike Committee* 4 Associated Students Bike Shop 5 Associated Students Coastal Fund* 6 Associated Students Community Affairs Board (CAB)* 7 Associated Students Environmental Affairs Board (EAB)* 8 Associated Students Food Bank* 9 Associated Students Food Cart Working Group* 10 Associated Students Human Rights Board 11 Associated Students Recycling* 12 Associated Students Zero Waste Committee* 13 Bee Conscious* 14 Bren Environmental Justice Club* 15 Bren Student Sustainability Committee (BSSC)* 16 CalPIRG – California Student Public Interest Research Group* 17 Department of Public Worms* 18 Economic Development Project* 19 Educating Leaders for the Future (ELF)* 20 Engineers Without Borders (EWB) 21 Excursion Club 22 Feel Good SB 23 Global Environmental Brigades* 24 Global Water Brigades 25 Greeks Gone Green 26 Greenhouse and Garden Project* 27 Interactive Campus Map – Sustainability Team* 28 Isla Vista Community Relations Commission (IVCRC)* 29 Isla Vista Surfrider Foundation* 30 LabRATS (Laboratory Research and Technical Staff)* 31 Living Lab* 32 PACES (Program for the Assessment and Certification for the Environment and Sustainability)* 33 Plastic Solutions* 34 Refuse, Recycling, & Research Center (R3C)* 35 Renewable Energy Initiative (REI)* 36 Santa Barbara Student Housing Co-op (SBSHC)* 37 Save the Mermaids 38 Student Coalition for Green Building and Architecture 39 Students for Sustainable Food 40 Sustainable Service Learning Initiative – Partners in Environment* 41 System Change Not Climate Change* 42 The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)* 43 The Wildlife Society 44 United States Green Building Council Student Chapter (USGBC)* 45 United Students Against Sweatshops 46 Weston A Price Foundation – Student Chapter The starred organizations are also members of our ECOalition at UCSB, a council of student organizations that comes to gather to jointly voice their ideas and concerns; and to share best practices and resources.

The University of California, Santa Barbara has a Greenhouse and Garden Project (GHGP) that allows students, faculty, and staff to maintain their own gardening plot. It currently has over fifty members, each with their own plot and full access to the greenhouse. The GHGP practices organic gardening, and, therefore, no pesticides or harmful chemicals can be used. Several faculty members use the grounds for research purposes as well, studying topics ranging from soil composition to sustainable agriculture. The university also offers a course in Small Scale Food Production, which covers the biological, ecological, social, and economic theory of small-scale food production and its application in our campus garden plots, Santa Barbara County, and the rest of the world. Students in the class become members of the Greenhouse and Garden Project for a quarter and manage their own plots. The class is cross listed in Geography, Anthropology, and Environmental Studies and is open to students from any discipline who complete the prerequisite course, World Agriculture, Food & Population.

The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) contributes approximately $150,000 a year. TGIF allocates funds to projects that increase the amount of renewable energy used on campus, increase energy efficiency, reduce water usage, and reduce the amount of waste created by our university, among other things. Portions of the fund will support education initiatives, student aid (via return to aid), and internships. TGIF is administered through a student majority governance board.

The University of California, Santa Barbara founded the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference(CHESC) and has been host to CHESC six times since 2002. CHESC is designed by and for campuses from each of the four systems of higher education in California, the Califoria Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and private and independent colleges and universities. As a result of this unique partnership, CHESC provides top quality sessions highlighting the most innovative best practices from the past year. Speakers include staff, administrators, faculty, and students from colleges and universities throughout the state, often speaking on teams representing the stakeholder collaborations which are the foundation of campus sustainability efforts. In 2011, we began the Central Coast Sustainability Summit. The Central Coast Sustainability Summit brought together local municipalities and community organizations to share best practices; to discuss common issues in energy, transportation, waste, and water management; and to promote local dialogue and pursue regional sustainability partnerships. We have also held a variety of colloquia featuring notable authors and environmental advocates.

UCSB has an outdoor program, the UCSB Adventure Program, that meets the criteria for this credit by practicing, teaching, and encouraging Leave No Trace principles. The UCSB Adventure Program is an outdoor program that organizes backpacking, camping, kayaking, canoeing, and other outdoor adventures. Trips, classes, and adventures through Adventure Programs are open to student, staff, faculty, and community members.

UCSB has chosen a sustainability-related theme several times for its UCSB Reads program. The UCSB Reads program is a common reading experience for the UCSB and Santa Barbara-Goleta communities that serves to encourage reading and to generate discussion amongst the communities about environmental issues and globalization. Some examples of the Reads themes related to sustainability: The 2007 UCSB Reads theme was Global Warming, Science, and Society. The chosen book was “Field Notes from a Catastrophe” by Elizabeth Kolbert. More information about the 2007 UCSB Reads program is available at http://ucsbreads.library.ucsb.edu/archive/2007/index.html In 2008, the UCSB Reads theme was "Globalization and Global Citizenship." The book of the year was “Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy” by Pietra Rivoli. More information about the 2008 UCSB Reads program is available at http://ucsbreads.library.ucsb.edu/archive/2008/index.html In 2012, the UCSB Reads theme was "Making an Impact." The book of the year was "Moby Duck" by Donovan Hohn. More information about the 2012 UCSB Reads program is available at http://guides.library.ucsb.edu/UCSBReads2012

At UCSB, we found such a high volume of traffic in our residence hall that it was necessary to set aside one room full time as our "green display room." This room is located in the Environmental Hall, within Santa Rosa Hall, so there are lots of students who help with the educational component when visitors tour the area. Some of the additional features in this hall are the energy and water competitions and various other sustainability outreach and educational events. In addition, UCSB Housing and Residential Services also offers a published Sustainability Guide online. This guide offers students valuable information on how to be "green" while living in UCSB Residents Halls. It includes sustainability tips, efforts, and opportunities to students. The link can be found below: http://www.housing.ucsb.edu/earth-friendly-living

The Sustainability Internship Program, based in the Department of Geography, offers students opportunities to gain experience in sustainability projects and make a difference on campus as well as in the local community. These include paid, academic credit, and volunteer-based internships and volunteer activities. The program also serves as a resource center for finding internships with other campus offices and off campus programs related to sustainability.

The Gaucho Certified Farmers Market is an avenue for staff, students, faculty, and the local community to access fresh, locally grown produce and artisan goods. It brings together all facets of sustainability, helping to educate the UCSB community on healthy eating and living. The market acts as a platform to promote the rich bounty of the Central Coast. It has farmers and artisans tabling to offer education and insight into sustainable food production. The market also invites student, staff and faculty groups to table with information on a variety of ways to be sustainable.