Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.81
Liaison Chad King
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Denver
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.75 / 2.00 Chad King
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainbility
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 Yes
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 No
Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles Yes
Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences No
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 ---
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives ---

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

The DU Environmental Team is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students with goals to educate students on environmental issues and to make the campus more environmentally conscious.

Sustainability Committee of the Undergraduate Student Government - This is the main undergraduate organization focused on sustainabilty for the University. They use a portion of the activity fee to fund University wide sustainability efforts.

Students for Sustainable Food is an undergraduate group focused on the Real Food Challenge and education and outreach focused on local and sustainably produced food.

DU Vegan and Vegetarian Society highlights the benefits of a meat free diet.

Net Impact is a graduate group in the Daniels College of Business that focuses on sustainable business practices, hosting speakers and engaging in community outreach.

Ecoconscious is focused on engaging students in the Graduate School of Social Work on sustainability practices and local opportunities.

DU Sustainability Alliance is a graduate group of University College that provides educational opportunities and regional networking for students and recent grads.

Sustainable International Development Institute, a graduate group of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, focuses on international sustainable practices and the application of those practices on campus.

All student groups are self-governed.


The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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 University of Denver has the Bridge Community Garden on-campus. The community garden began in the spring of 2009. Garden plots are available to student, faculty, and staff. This is a partnership with Denver Urban Gardens. Student leaders help govern/manage the community garden
CSA programs began being offered in 2013, with Leffler Family Farm supplying vegetables and Ela Family Farm providing fruit shares for pickup through the Center for Sustainability to anyone in the DU community who wants to participate


The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:

Beans is a small student-run coffee shop in the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management which serves students, faculty and staff on campus. Sustainability is important to their approach: the café uses corn-based, compostable plastics, compostable paper cups for coffee, and recycled napkins and cardboard for coffee cup sleeves.
The PioGears Underground is a student run bike shop that provides services to students, faculty and staff, as well as managing the campus bike share program.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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:
---

A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

The DU Environmental Team, with USG Sustainability Committee funding, has sponsored the DU Sustainability Summit annually since 2010. This summit is student organized and governed, and brings in local and regional experts to discuss topics in sustainability. The summit annually draws over 100 students, staff and faculty.


The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
---

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:

Both our Environmental Sustainability Living Learning Community and Alpine Club follow the "leave no trace" principles. The ESLLC utilizes the resources of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, an educational nonprofit organization, to guide their classroom teaching as well as their outdoor field trips.


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

There are several first-year seminar courses focusing on sustainability topics, including food, waste, permaculture, and carbon footprints. There is also an Environmental Sustainability Living and Learning Community that engages student in an immersive year of study and action around sustainability.


The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

The Environmental Sustainability Living and Learning Community offers the opportunity for not only academic study, but application in life skills by engaging students in service learning activities that include participation in food purchasing initiatives, best practices in waste minimization, and participation in energy conservation through a green room certification program.


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:

Students are employed through the Center for Sustainability in a number of roles, as leaders and participants in a variety of campus projects. This includes managing zero waste athletic events and other waste minimization pilots, managing the campus bike shop, organizing community engagement opportunities, performing audits for the Real Food Challenge, etc.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
---

The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
---

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
---

The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

PioGears Underground bike shop
https://www.facebook.com/piogearsunderground


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