| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.63 |
| Liaison | Konrad Schlarbaum |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Konrad
Schlarbaum Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Students for Environmental Awareness and Sustainability (SEAS)
SEAS was founded in 2003 and continues to "work toward creating a more conscientious campus community with regard to conservation of resources and creative, efficient ways of using them. The goal is to educate the campus about the meaning of sustainability, take steps toward making the campus more efficient and conscientious, and save resources and money." This group is student-governed.
Sustainability and Conservation Club
Student involvement in issues of sustainability and conservation on campus is limited to a select few organizations, such as the Green Action Fund Committee and S.E.A.S. "Sustainability and Conservation Club," which seeks to implement student ideas and projects on campus to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly campus. We also wish to create tabling events to help spread education on how to live more sustainably. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/sustainability-and-conservation-club
Green Action Fund | The Green Action Fund provides funding for students', faculty's, and staff's sustainability projects. The organization is supported by a fee of $5.67 per student per semester. GAF is managed by students and advised by a staff and faculty representative. The GAF Committee evaluates and awards funding based on these five pillars: Reduction of Ecological Footprint, Increased Student Involvement, Education and Outreach, Long-term feasibility, and Scope of Impact. Over the past ten years, GAF has awarded $1.5 million to over 150 infrastructure, research, and engagement projects. https://gaf.uccs.edu/overview/about.
UCCS Geology Club
The UCCS Geology Club is committed to learning about and exploring the geology of Colorado. This is done by developing a solid understanding of the physical processes that help to form our wonderful state. Individuals in the club are looking to expand their skills in understanding Earth's past life and geologic history. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/uccs-geology-club
Bug Club
Students may volunteer to participate in community engagement activities such as the Cool Science Festival, Fountain Creek Nature Center & Bear Creek Nature Center to help the public gain an appreciation for insects & other arthropods. Students will also gain knowledge through planned field trips to places like the May Natural History Museum & the Butterfly Pavilion. They can also gain experience and knowledge of places, urban and natural, to find and observe bugs. And much more! https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/bug-club
Geography and Environmental Studies Club
The Geo Club is an organization of students and faculty at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs based in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. All students and faculty are welcome to participate in the club. We have previously traveled to the Regional AAG conference and the National AAG. Every year in November, we celebrate National Geography Awareness Week with our award-winning GeoQuiz night. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/geoclub
The Outdoor Climbing Club
The Outdoor Climbing Club was created so that students of all skill levels can enjoy the world-class outdoor climbing found along the front range. Our mission is to give UCCS students the opportunity to safely learn how to climb and progress their skills through scheduled outdoor trips to Colorado's most popular crags. Our trips will focus mainly on sport climbing, top-rope, and bouldering, where climbs of all difficulties (5.3-5.14-) will be offered. Our biweekly meetings discuss upcoming trips, teach students the ins and outs of climbing, and answer any questions about the club or sport. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/uccsoccuwu
SEAS was founded in 2003 and continues to "work toward creating a more conscientious campus community with regard to conservation of resources and creative, efficient ways of using them. The goal is to educate the campus about the meaning of sustainability, take steps toward making the campus more efficient and conscientious, and save resources and money." This group is student-governed.
Sustainability and Conservation Club
Student involvement in issues of sustainability and conservation on campus is limited to a select few organizations, such as the Green Action Fund Committee and S.E.A.S. "Sustainability and Conservation Club," which seeks to implement student ideas and projects on campus to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly campus. We also wish to create tabling events to help spread education on how to live more sustainably. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/sustainability-and-conservation-club
Green Action Fund | The Green Action Fund provides funding for students', faculty's, and staff's sustainability projects. The organization is supported by a fee of $5.67 per student per semester. GAF is managed by students and advised by a staff and faculty representative. The GAF Committee evaluates and awards funding based on these five pillars: Reduction of Ecological Footprint, Increased Student Involvement, Education and Outreach, Long-term feasibility, and Scope of Impact. Over the past ten years, GAF has awarded $1.5 million to over 150 infrastructure, research, and engagement projects. https://gaf.uccs.edu/overview/about.
UCCS Geology Club
The UCCS Geology Club is committed to learning about and exploring the geology of Colorado. This is done by developing a solid understanding of the physical processes that help to form our wonderful state. Individuals in the club are looking to expand their skills in understanding Earth's past life and geologic history. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/uccs-geology-club
Bug Club
Students may volunteer to participate in community engagement activities such as the Cool Science Festival, Fountain Creek Nature Center & Bear Creek Nature Center to help the public gain an appreciation for insects & other arthropods. Students will also gain knowledge through planned field trips to places like the May Natural History Museum & the Butterfly Pavilion. They can also gain experience and knowledge of places, urban and natural, to find and observe bugs. And much more! https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/bug-club
Geography and Environmental Studies Club
The Geo Club is an organization of students and faculty at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs based in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. All students and faculty are welcome to participate in the club. We have previously traveled to the Regional AAG conference and the National AAG. Every year in November, we celebrate National Geography Awareness Week with our award-winning GeoQuiz night. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/geoclub
The Outdoor Climbing Club
The Outdoor Climbing Club was created so that students of all skill levels can enjoy the world-class outdoor climbing found along the front range. Our mission is to give UCCS students the opportunity to safely learn how to climb and progress their skills through scheduled outdoor trips to Colorado's most popular crags. Our trips will focus mainly on sport climbing, top-rope, and bouldering, where climbs of all difficulties (5.3-5.14-) will be offered. Our biweekly meetings discuss upcoming trips, teach students the ins and outs of climbing, and answer any questions about the club or sport. https://mlc.uccs.edu/organization/uccsoccuwu
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
UCCS has a one-acre farm and commercial greenhouse that provides high quality, organically-grown produce to UCCS's food service outlets. It also provides education to the campus community about new gardening methods and sustainable growing solutions. Through researching a variety of avenues of organic gardening, the UCCS Farm seeks to use innovative as well as traditional gardening practices. Our hope is that through education and outreach, the Farm can become a resource center for sustainable organic gardening methods while producing delicious, nutritious organic fruits and vegetables for the UCCS community. There are student employees and volunteers working at the Farm. The Farm is not student-governed.
https://farm.uccs.edu/
https://farm.uccs.edu/
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
Yes
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Some student-run initiatives and projects have become businesses, but students are not directly responsible for everyday financial aspects.
The Flying Carrot is an innovative mobile project that fosters food awareness and empowers individuals to improve the well-being of themselves, the community, and the planet by providing creative hands-on experiences, building cooking skills, and improving access to local, seasonal, and sustainable food.
The Flying Carrot curriculum is simple: "Take a locally grown vegetable or two, chop it up, then toss to create a Flying Carrot recipe. Once out of the skillet, taste it, then make it. Led by the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) Sports Nutrition graduate students, the Flying Carrot inspires everyone, promoting food literacy focused on healthy and locally grown food through taste education and cooking instructions with stories from seed to plate that "change the dinner table one carrot at a time."
The Flying Carrot Team delivers food literacy to everyone but it always starts at the farm, linking growers to eaters in venues such as schools, farmers markets, at community and sporting events, and of course on campus!
Food Next Door | UCCS Health Sciences students prepare around 150 delicious, local, and healthy meals, which are served at Roaring Fork Dining Hall. Weekly meal choices include your choice of a seasonal vegetarian SWELL Lunch, a homemade vegetarian burger, or a "protein-flip" burger, which is comprised of 50% local beef and 50% grains, beans, veggies, herbs, and spices. The produce for these meals is harvested each Monday morning from our UCCS Farm. Weekly harvest includes seasonal vegetables, greens, garlic, and fresh herbs. Most ingredients are grown locally on campus, in the nearest watershed (e.g., Fountain Creek, Arkansas River), and across the state of Colorado by farmers we know, including our campus farmers. Food SWELL Graduate Assistants manage Next Door's weekly cyclic process.
https://swell.uccs.edu/fnd
The Flying Carrot is an innovative mobile project that fosters food awareness and empowers individuals to improve the well-being of themselves, the community, and the planet by providing creative hands-on experiences, building cooking skills, and improving access to local, seasonal, and sustainable food.
The Flying Carrot curriculum is simple: "Take a locally grown vegetable or two, chop it up, then toss to create a Flying Carrot recipe. Once out of the skillet, taste it, then make it. Led by the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS) Sports Nutrition graduate students, the Flying Carrot inspires everyone, promoting food literacy focused on healthy and locally grown food through taste education and cooking instructions with stories from seed to plate that "change the dinner table one carrot at a time."
The Flying Carrot Team delivers food literacy to everyone but it always starts at the farm, linking growers to eaters in venues such as schools, farmers markets, at community and sporting events, and of course on campus!
Food Next Door | UCCS Health Sciences students prepare around 150 delicious, local, and healthy meals, which are served at Roaring Fork Dining Hall. Weekly meal choices include your choice of a seasonal vegetarian SWELL Lunch, a homemade vegetarian burger, or a "protein-flip" burger, which is comprised of 50% local beef and 50% grains, beans, veggies, herbs, and spices. The produce for these meals is harvested each Monday morning from our UCCS Farm. Weekly harvest includes seasonal vegetables, greens, garlic, and fresh herbs. Most ingredients are grown locally on campus, in the nearest watershed (e.g., Fountain Creek, Arkansas River), and across the state of Colorado by farmers we know, including our campus farmers. Food SWELL Graduate Assistants manage Next Door's weekly cyclic process.
https://swell.uccs.edu/fnd
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
Yes
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Green Action Fund |The Green Action Fund provides funding for students', faculty's, and staff's sustainability projects. The organization is supported by a fee of $5.67 per student per semester. GAF is managed by students and advised by a staff and faculty representative. The GAF Committee evaluates and awards funding based on these five pillars: Reduction of Ecological Footprint, Increased Student Involvement, Education and Outreach, Long-term feasibility, and Scope of Impact. Over the past ten years, GAF has awarded $1.4 million to over 170 infrastructure, research, and engagement projects. https://gaf.uccs.edu/
Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Sustainability Summit (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
The annual UCCS Sustainability Summit connects and celebrates with others on campus, supporting innovative, engaging projects and programs. Sustainability addresses many issues, including reducing our carbon footprint, supporting diversity and inclusion, promoting health and wellness, and much more.
UCCS Lead Day of Service and Activism (2022, 2023)
The UCCSlead Days of Service and Activism program aims to serve 200 attendees on April 22, 2023, successfully. This accessible and inclusive civic engagement and leadership development event provides food, transportation, community engagement, and sustainability-focused educational opportunities. On Earth Day, this event brought the campus together to celebrate nature and sustainability while learning how to enrich and contribute to our environment. Campus volunteers will disperse to five different sustainability-themed service locations following breakfast and the delivery of activism and sustainability content to achieve program goals and learning objectives. https://gaf.uccs.edu/staff/uccslead-day-service-activism
The annual UCCS Sustainability Summit connects and celebrates with others on campus, supporting innovative, engaging projects and programs. Sustainability addresses many issues, including reducing our carbon footprint, supporting diversity and inclusion, promoting health and wellness, and much more.
UCCS Lead Day of Service and Activism (2022, 2023)
The UCCSlead Days of Service and Activism program aims to serve 200 attendees on April 22, 2023, successfully. This accessible and inclusive civic engagement and leadership development event provides food, transportation, community engagement, and sustainability-focused educational opportunities. On Earth Day, this event brought the campus together to celebrate nature and sustainability while learning how to enrich and contribute to our environment. Campus volunteers will disperse to five different sustainability-themed service locations following breakfast and the delivery of activism and sustainability content to achieve program goals and learning objectives. https://gaf.uccs.edu/staff/uccslead-day-service-activism
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Black Forest Institute
(Artwork apart of The Space(s) Between)
The UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art, a public sculpture program, has a guiding vision to engage our UCCS students, faculty, and community with experiences and lifelong learning opportunities springboarded from nationally and internationally significant public art projects amplifying diverse voices and approaches. The Black Forest Institute by M12 Artist Collective is an outdoor public art project operating as an experimental forestry school and a knowledge-sharing platform. This project focuses on regional fire history, including Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires. It features a series of dynamic speakers at UCCS Ent Center for the Arts outdoor sculpture green during the Spring Semester of 2021. The project began in the forest, working with CU students, forestry officials, and crews learning about and gathering firewood from burn sites in Black Forest north of Colorado Springs. The project's second phase happened with UCCS students from multiple departments at the Ent Center for the Arts, working to realize an installation of the gathered wood and a wood-burning stove on the green lower outdoor sculpture. The final phase of the project featured a series of outdoor “fireside chats” with guest speakers that were attended by a limited number of UCCS students, faculty, and community guests (per Covid regulations at that time) that was simultaneously live-streamed on the GOCAdigital.org platform as well as recorded and archived on the site. All programs will be free and accessible to all.
https://gaf.uccs.edu/projects/projects-funded/black-forest-art-installation
https://communique.uccs.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/9.28.21-Fireside-Dialogues-.pdf
https://entcenterforthearts.org/goca/exhibitions/the-spaces-between/black-forest-institute
(Artwork apart of The Space(s) Between)
The UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art, a public sculpture program, has a guiding vision to engage our UCCS students, faculty, and community with experiences and lifelong learning opportunities springboarded from nationally and internationally significant public art projects amplifying diverse voices and approaches. The Black Forest Institute by M12 Artist Collective is an outdoor public art project operating as an experimental forestry school and a knowledge-sharing platform. This project focuses on regional fire history, including Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires. It features a series of dynamic speakers at UCCS Ent Center for the Arts outdoor sculpture green during the Spring Semester of 2021. The project began in the forest, working with CU students, forestry officials, and crews learning about and gathering firewood from burn sites in Black Forest north of Colorado Springs. The project's second phase happened with UCCS students from multiple departments at the Ent Center for the Arts, working to realize an installation of the gathered wood and a wood-burning stove on the green lower outdoor sculpture. The final phase of the project featured a series of outdoor “fireside chats” with guest speakers that were attended by a limited number of UCCS students, faculty, and community guests (per Covid regulations at that time) that was simultaneously live-streamed on the GOCAdigital.org platform as well as recorded and archived on the site. All programs will be free and accessible to all.
https://gaf.uccs.edu/projects/projects-funded/black-forest-art-installation
https://communique.uccs.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/9.28.21-Fireside-Dialogues-.pdf
https://entcenterforthearts.org/goca/exhibitions/the-spaces-between/black-forest-institute
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
UCCS' Outdoor Program – Student Outdoor Leadership Expeditions (SOLE) seeks to provide the university community with outdoor recreation opportunities. Programs will emphasize skill acquisition, leadership development, team building, environmental awareness, safety, and fun. Furthermore, all programs will be inclusive to all levels and abilities and contribute to the university's holistic well-being and academic experience. SOLE offers numerous trips to UCCS students and affiliates throughout the year, such as fly fishing, backpacking, and mountain biking. All SOLE trips follow Leave No Trace principles and protocols and teach trip participants the importance of LNT. Green Action Fund provided funds for staff to be certified in LNT.
https://recwellness.uccs.edu/campus-rec/outdoor/educational-clinics
https://recwellness.uccs.edu/campus-rec/outdoor/educational-clinics
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
In the Fall of 2023, two Sustainability-related classes for first-year students were a part of the Gateway Program Seminar classes. The classes were "Restore" and "School in the Woods," which focused on the relationships students have with the natural environment.
Restore Class Description:
"Are you interested in learning about managing and restoring the forest environment near Colorado Springs? This course focuses on balancing the ecology of a sustainable forest with the needs of human users. Through lectures and field studies, you will investigate the relationship between climate change, human influences, political perspectives, and the financial issues of forest management.
WEDNESDAY: 8:00 AM - 10:40 AM / Section 031 / Instructors: Julie Albertson, Keith Worley, Nicole Juhl"
School in the Woods Class Description:
"This course will examine the relationship between self and the environment. How does the place we live affect us? How have people changed the environment of Colorado? This class will be organized around field trips and outdoor activities (including an overnight camping trip), readings, discussions, group work, a service project, and presentations that help us reflect upon our place in Colorado and how we and others interact with it.
Wednesday: 10:50 AM - 1:30 PM / Section 024 / Instructors: Christopher Ertman, Telma Frumholtz"
https://gps.uccs.edu/fall-courses
Restore Class Description:
"Are you interested in learning about managing and restoring the forest environment near Colorado Springs? This course focuses on balancing the ecology of a sustainable forest with the needs of human users. Through lectures and field studies, you will investigate the relationship between climate change, human influences, political perspectives, and the financial issues of forest management.
WEDNESDAY: 8:00 AM - 10:40 AM / Section 031 / Instructors: Julie Albertson, Keith Worley, Nicole Juhl"
School in the Woods Class Description:
"This course will examine the relationship between self and the environment. How does the place we live affect us? How have people changed the environment of Colorado? This class will be organized around field trips and outdoor activities (including an overnight camping trip), readings, discussions, group work, a service project, and presentations that help us reflect upon our place in Colorado and how we and others interact with it.
Wednesday: 10:50 AM - 1:30 PM / Section 024 / Instructors: Christopher Ertman, Telma Frumholtz"
https://gps.uccs.edu/fall-courses
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Office of Sustainability is housed in the Sustainability Demonstration House (SDH). The SDH is a fully operational residential house on campus, open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-5:00 pm, and is open to the public. It is used as a meeting and workspace not just for employees of the Office of Sustainability but for classes, clubs and organizations, and community meetings. The goal of the SDH is to reach "Net Zero and reduce the use of all resources” and to encourage social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The house is equipped with various sustainable features through donations and partnerships with community entities. It is meant to be an "interactive, educational platform to engage our community on the impact their homes have on their carbon footprint." The house showcases new sustainable innovations that demonstrate the most cost-effective and low-impact technologies in the pursuit of net zero. Some features include low flush toilets, reused sustainable carpets, high insulation windows, solar panels, Energy Star appliances, a certified wildlife habitat, drought-resistant front yard xeriscape renovations, and more. https://sustain.uccs.edu/SDH
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Office of Sustainability employs five part-time student employees with the title of Sustainability Program Managers and Leaders.
Green Action Fund (GAF) employs one part-time student employee- the Grant Coordinator. GAF is a student-led committee with nine student members.
The Office of Sustainability also collaborates with departments, academic programs, and community organizations to provide the following internship opportunities:
1. Transportation Sustainability internship between Parking & Transportation Services and the Office of Sustainability.
2. WastelessCOS internship between the UCCS Office of Sustainability and the City of Colorado Springs Office of Innovation.
3. Compost internship between Geography and Environmental Studies directed study and the Office of Sustainability.
4. Ozone Garden internship between the Biology program and the Office of Sustainability.
https://sustain.uccs.edu/sustainability-office/staff
Green Action Fund (GAF) employs one part-time student employee- the Grant Coordinator. GAF is a student-led committee with nine student members.
The Office of Sustainability also collaborates with departments, academic programs, and community organizations to provide the following internship opportunities:
1. Transportation Sustainability internship between Parking & Transportation Services and the Office of Sustainability.
2. WastelessCOS internship between the UCCS Office of Sustainability and the City of Colorado Springs Office of Innovation.
3. Compost internship between Geography and Environmental Studies directed study and the Office of Sustainability.
4. Ozone Garden internship between the Biology program and the Office of Sustainability.
https://sustain.uccs.edu/sustainability-office/staff
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
Yes
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
UCCS has a Green Graduation Pledge taken from the Graduate Pledge Alliance.
I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work. It is voluntary, emphasized by the Sustainability Office, and needs to be communicated more to graduates.
https://sustain.uccs.edu/get-involved/green-graduation
I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work. It is voluntary, emphasized by the Sustainability Office, and needs to be communicated more to graduates.
https://sustain.uccs.edu/get-involved/green-graduation
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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