University of Maryland, Baltimore County
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
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2.00 / 2.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Student groups
Yes
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
1) Environmental Task Force (ETF) is the first student organization at UMBC that inspires students to take action on sustainability issues through service-based activities. We are an organization founded on the idea that service can create change. https://www.instagram.com/umbcetf/?hl=en
2) Sunrise Movement UMBC is a student-run organization that is affiliated with the Sunrise Movement. The organization has the goal of decarbonizing campus by 2030 and implementing zero-waste policies that prevent our waste from going to the local incinerator. https://www.instagram.com/sunrise_mvmt_retrievers/
3) Greenpeace UMBC is a student-run organization focused on confronting and exposing environmental and geopolitical issues through activism and service so that the UMBC community can help preserve the well-being of the Earth and human society for future generations. https://www.instagram.com/umbcgreenpeace/?hl=en
2) Sunrise Movement UMBC is a student-run organization that is affiliated with the Sunrise Movement. The organization has the goal of decarbonizing campus by 2030 and implementing zero-waste policies that prevent our waste from going to the local incinerator. https://www.instagram.com/sunrise_mvmt_retrievers/
3) Greenpeace UMBC is a student-run organization focused on confronting and exposing environmental and geopolitical issues through activism and service so that the UMBC community can help preserve the well-being of the Earth and human society for future generations. https://www.instagram.com/umbcgreenpeace/?hl=en
Gardens and farms
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The Garden is a hobby and social action organization dedicated to maintaining a community garden and food forest on campus as well as addressing problems such as food waste and food insecurity through community service events.
Student-run enterprises
Yes
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
OCA Mocha is a student run community engagement and coffee shop in downtown Arbutus, MD. OCHA Mocha is expected to serve as a catalyst that will more closely connect UMBC and its surrounding communities. Students proposed the idea in 2017 of opening a combined office of community affairs/coffee shop where members of the UMBC and local communities could gather to interact with and learn from each other, enjoy some coffee and live entertainment, and attend university- and community-sponsored events. The coffee shop is supporting a local and inclusive economy and only serves Chesapeake Bay Roasting Co. Coffee who is committed to To promote the importance of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed through the sale of our specialty coffees and to encourage local efforts to clean, educate, advocate and enjoy the resource of the Chesapeake Bay.
https://ocamocha.com/our-story
https://ocamocha.com/our-story
Sustainable investment and finance
No
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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Events
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Harvestfest - An environmentally themed event that happens every fall. Environmental student groups table in the student center to engage and educate fellow peers. "There is an array of student organizations and campus departments offering hands on games, crafts, trivia, and giveaways- including everyone's favorite- our local pumpkins and apples! We'll also have our annual photo booth and sustainability pledge!"
Ecofest- EcoFest is a weeklong series of events, celebrating Earth Day, organized by student organization such as Environmental Task Force, SGA, The Garden, Greenpeace, Sunrise Movement, WMBC, and more. All are welcome to the events including faculty and staff.
Ecofest- EcoFest is a weeklong series of events, celebrating Earth Day, organized by student organization such as Environmental Task Force, SGA, The Garden, Greenpeace, Sunrise Movement, WMBC, and more. All are welcome to the events including faculty and staff.
Cultural arts
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
UMBC's Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building (ILSB) opened in October 2019 and has several artistic and environmental features that are aimed to engage students with sustainability.
The ILSB's windows have a unique pattern etched on the glass designed to symbolize reeds and grasses on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The “fritting,” as it’s called, serves to deter bird strikes and reduces the energy required for heating and cooling. It’s a subtle way to honor our unique location and continue to protect it.
Furthermore, the curving brick pathway around the ILSB imitates a stream that once flowed across campus (it now runs underground), and all the plants you see are native to the region. (https://umbc.edu/stories/9-features-of-the-new-ilsb-not-to-miss/)
The ILSB's windows have a unique pattern etched on the glass designed to symbolize reeds and grasses on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. The “fritting,” as it’s called, serves to deter bird strikes and reduces the energy required for heating and cooling. It’s a subtle way to honor our unique location and continue to protect it.
Furthermore, the curving brick pathway around the ILSB imitates a stream that once flowed across campus (it now runs underground), and all the plants you see are native to the region. (https://umbc.edu/stories/9-features-of-the-new-ilsb-not-to-miss/)
Wilderness and outdoors programs
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Conservation and Environmental Research Area (CERA) is a 50-acre area designated for use as both a living lab and outdoor recreation. Leave no trace principles are incorporated into the usage of this area.
Sustainability-focused themes
No
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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Sustainable life skills
Yes
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The LEED Certified Patapsco Residence Hall addition features an innovative green roof research platform as part of its focus on sustainable design and construction. Supporting ongoing research efforts by UMBC faculty and students, the project features a green roof and an identically-sized control area, each with dedicated drainage systems and rainwater quantity and quality measurement devices.
UMBC researchers use the data from the system to document annual stormwater retention by the green roof, monitoring runoff from the green and control portions of the roof and comparing them in terms of quantity and quality. This research provides green roof performance data that will be specifically relevant to the mid-Atlantic region and is expected to contribute substantially to our understanding of long-term green roof performance. Stormwater retention totals and storm hydrographs are displayed in real-time in the building lobby and the monitoring facility is available for educational tours for faculty and students.
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sustainability/posts/22062
UMBC researchers use the data from the system to document annual stormwater retention by the green roof, monitoring runoff from the green and control portions of the roof and comparing them in terms of quantity and quality. This research provides green roof performance data that will be specifically relevant to the mid-Atlantic region and is expected to contribute substantially to our understanding of long-term green roof performance. Stormwater retention totals and storm hydrographs are displayed in real-time in the building lobby and the monitoring facility is available for educational tours for faculty and students.
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/sustainability/posts/22062
Student employment opportunities
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Eco-Ambassadors are a team of UMBC students partnering with university sustainability efforts to advance social responsibility and environmental sustainability in the student body. The team educates peers in residential, commuter, academic, and extracurricular settings about environmental solutions in order to empower UMBC to adopt environmentally friendly practices.
https://sustainability.umbc.edu/get-involved/ecoambassadors/
Additionally, Chartwells (our food service operator) hires a student sustainability intern each year to focus on sustainability within dining on campus. https://dineoncampus.com/UMBC/sustainability
https://sustainability.umbc.edu/get-involved/ecoambassadors/
Additionally, Chartwells (our food service operator) hires a student sustainability intern each year to focus on sustainability within dining on campus. https://dineoncampus.com/UMBC/sustainability
Graduation pledge
No
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
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Optional Fields
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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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