| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.12 |
| Liaison | Matthew Williams |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Florida
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Liz
Storn Program Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
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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 | --- |
| 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 | Yes |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | Yes |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | --- |
| 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 | Yes |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | --- |
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The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
There are over 20 student groups at UF focused on sustainability or similar areas (such as the UF Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Wetlands Club, etc). Some of the most active groups that broadly focus on sustainability include:
- Gators Going Green: a student government agency responsible for advocating for sustainability issues and programming across campus. Gators Going Green’s core mission is to create and implement policies and programming that will support a more sustainable campus and community at the University of Florida.
- Greeks Going Green: Greeks Going Green is a campaign started by environmentally conscious Greek students at the University of Florida. Our vision is for the efforts within the campaign to be collective. Greeks Going Green is depending on the leadership of all the other Greek houses to govern the success of the efforts that drive this campaign. Our focus will be to educate the Greek community about climate change and sustainable living practices.
- Student Compost Cooperative: This group will serve as a place for interested students to learn about composting, ask questions about the SCC, and to make suggestions.
- UF Enactus: The University of Florida Enactus team is a social entrepreneurship organization composed of academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better more sustainable world. Through 9 projects, Enacturs develop essential skills in the areas of project management, social entrepreneurship, leadership, and professional development
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The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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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 UF Organic Garden rents plots for semester periods. Members of the cooperative plant vegetables and flowers of their choice on their plots, and are responsible for up-keep. They are expected to practice organic gardening methods and to participate in community workdays several times each semester. Water, manure, and some seeds are provided, and various tools are available onsite.
In addition, the Student Agricultural Gardens are managed by the UF Agronomy and Soils Club and rents two plot sizes on an annual basis. This garden provides students, faculty and staff space in which to pursue and experiment with food production, gardening and sustainability. It is garden policy that no synthetic pesticides or herbicides be used, and organic practices are preferred.
UF supports a CSA program as well, coordinating with several local farms to offer a pick-up location on campus for interested students, faculty and staff.
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The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
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A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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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:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The Office of Sustainability, other colleges and department, and student groups regularly host conferences, speaker series and symposia with students as the intended audience or that include both students and faculty/staff and the general public. Below are a listing of just a few typical events
- The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference is held annually at the UF Law School and targets both law students and professionals in the field.
- The UF Water Institute hosts an annual Symposium for students and professionals interested in sustainable water resources, as well as a variety of seminars intended for students
- Bob Graham Center
- The Florida Climate Institute regularly hosts speakers and events for students and the public, such as the recently held lecture by Dr. Naomi Oreskes
- The UF Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics & Science hosted a Social Media & Sustainability Conference in 2015.
- The Tropical Conservation and Development Program’s Center for Latin American Studies hosts an Annual Conference
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The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
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A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The Crossroads Project is a partnership between science and art that aims to blend performance art with one of the great conversation of our time — human civilization’s growing unsustainability and the quest for truly meaningful response. Blending compelling and poetic science, evocative imagery and powerful music, Rising Tide unfolds in a series of vignettes exploring both natural and human systems, and juxtaposing two very different paradigms. The result is an inspiring and deeply personal contemplation of the paths before us. A Q&A session will follow the performance.
The Gainesville performance is supported by the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs; Frank 2016; UF Center for Adaptive Innovation, Resilience, Ethics & Science; UF Center for the Humanities and the Pubic Sphere; UF College of the Arts; UF College of Journalism and Communications; UF Department of Biology; UF IFAS; UF Office of Sustainability; and UF Student Government.
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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:
The Travel and Recreation Program is a volunteer, student run organization that is part of the Center for Student Activites and Involvement and the Reitz Union. Our mission is to plan and lead adventure and leisure based trips for affiliates of the University of Florida and the community of Gainesville.
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The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
A number of our common reading programs books have been related to sustainability issues. Not only are all freshman expected to read the book, but it is incorporated into courses and a variety of co-curricular programming throughout the year.
A full listing of past books is available through the website below
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The website URL where information about the theme is available:
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A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Office of Sustainability employs paid student interns to assist with programming related to campus sustainability initiatives related to: student body outreach, alternative transportation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, composting, recycling, office and lab certification processes
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The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
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A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
Gators Going Green is proud to announce the Green Gator Challenge. This challenge is designed to encourage individuals to become involved in the sustainability movement during their time here at UF. This challenge is open to all students. Individuals who complete the Challenge by the semester of their graduation will receive a cord to be worn during graduation. Are you up for the challenge?
Green Graduation Pledge
UF encourages students to make a commitment to sustainability that extends beyond their time at the university. This site serves as a repository of signatories so graduates can be part of a virtual community to connect and reflect on sustainability in a global context, as well as stay informed and involved with sustainable developments at UF.
"I pledge to explore and take into account the social and ecological consequences of my decisions. Furthermore, I pledge to use the knowledge I gain at UF to improve the sustainability of the communities in which I live, learn, and work."
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.