| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.07 |
| Liaison | Janna Cohen-Rosenthal |
| Submission Date | July 3, 2023 |
University of Massachusetts Boston
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 2.00 |
Dennis
Swinford Director of Campus Planning & Sustainability Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
MASSPIRG:
MASSPIRG is a statewide student-directed group with chapters on campuses across Massachusetts. We work with professional staff like organizers, advocates, and lobbyists to help give students the tools and resources we need to make a difference on issues we care about – like protecting the environment, alleviating poverty, getting young people out to vote and more.
Right now, we’re recruiting our team of interns and volunteers who will work with us throughout the fall semester on our campaigns. Our top priority campaign is working to pass the 100% Clean Act to commit Massachusetts to 100% clean electricity, heating, and transportation. We’re also continuing our work to expand open textbooks on campus, working to pass same-day voter registration in MA, and fighting food insecurity on campus.
https://masspirgstudents.org/chapters/umb/
Sustainability Club:
The mission of the Sustainability Club is to promote and bring forth the Zero Waste movement at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, bringing the community towards an ethical, economical, efficient, and all-natural environment. To guide individuals in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles.
https://umb.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/sustainabilityclub
Beacon Voyages:
Beacon Voyages for Service (BVS) is an “Alternative Break” program that is part of a national movement to engage students in service. BVS involves students in a social justice movement by participating in week-long trips both domestically and internationally and through on-campus commitments throughout the year. BVS hopes to address social issues such as: Mental Health Stigma; HIV/AIDS; Border, Refugee & Immigration; Environment; Rural Poverty; Urban Poverty; Youth & Education; Domestic Violence; Disaster Relief; Health & Aging, etc.
https://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/oslce/students/beacon_voyages_for_service#:~:text=Beacon%20Voyages%20for%20Service%20(BVS,campus%20commitments%20throughout%20the%20year.
New England Scientists and Teachers for Sustainability (NESTS)
We were started in November 2015 by a group of chemistry graduate students here at the University of Massachusetts Boston. We exist to increase awareness of sustainable science in the Northeast region through advancement of sustainable research practices, teaching, promotion and outreach. Our vision is to be the leading authority on sustainable science initiatives within the Greater Boston Area and the Northeast region. As we are located in Boston which has over 50 higher education institutions and is home to over 250,000 students. Thus, NESTS events typically target young chemists aged 18 to 30 years old. We are also determined to reach students in middle school and high school as well as teachers at general education institutions.
https://www.umb.edu/academics/csm/chemistry/beyond_the_classroom/nests
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?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
UMass Boston hosts many events throughout the year which focus on sustainability. These events include the following:
- Nature Based Adaptation - Getting to Scale: Flooding risks, sea level rise, storm surges, and extreme heat are accelerating with a changing climate. Ecosystems are also at risk, along with the social, economic, and environmental benefits they provide. Nature-based climate adaptation approaches offer opportunities to bring people into greater harmony with ecology, secure and enhance ecosystem services for future generations, and cost-effectively reduce some flooding risks. Funders, regulators, adaptation professionals, and the public now view nature-based adaptation as no longer an aspiration, but a priority or requirement. Pilot projects are being scaled up to billions of oysters, miles of shoreline, and hectares of wetlands. But how feasible and effective are they? And how do we effectively regulate and build the capacity to plan and implement them at scales that match the urgency of risks, speed of climate changes, and our own expectations? Join us to learn about the opportunities and barriers to scaling up nature-based approaches to climate adaptation, from planning to permitting to implementation.
- Each year, UMass Boston hosts several events in honor of Earth Day. Every spring the School for the Environment hosts an Earth Day Symposium where individuals can present their research, education, and community activities related to Earth Day, Sustainability, Climate, Environmental Science, or Community Resiliency. Past Earth Weeks have also hosted clean-up events, film screening and discussion, environmental career panels, and speaker series.
https://www.alumni.umb.edu/s/1355/22/interior.aspx?sid=1355&gid=3&pgid=8910
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?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
"In partnership with the School for the Environment (SFE) at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Eureka Ensemble is proud to lead a series of performances and programs that raise awareness around the local impacts of climate change in New England by empowering young artists in Boston to be change-makers in their communities.
We believe that the best way to address issues around the changing climate is to bring together leaders from academic, business, and creative communities and inspire active dialogue by focusing on local, rather than global, impacts of climate change and what we can do as individuals and communities.
A group of 4 young composers and songwriters (Rising Tides Fellows) learned from local environmental experts and activists at the UMass Boston School for the Environment. The fellows then used their knowledge and experience to write original songs about the impact of climate change on their local communities. The fellow’s songs were performed by in collaboration with Eureka Ensemble as part of a virtual program presented to both schools and the general public. UMB Community members received free tickets to the first Rising Tides performance, as part of Earth Week 2021.
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Waterfront Recreation:
UMB students are eligible to rent kayas, sailboats, and paddle boards to explore Dorchester Bay. Participants of the waterfront recreation program must abide by the Marine Operations Safety Plan, which includes leave no trace principles.
https://www.umb.edu/marineops/waterfront_recreation_program
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
A blog called, "Living the Green Life", was created by a group of students, to provide the UMB community with several resources for sustainable living. Resources available include a packing list, tips to make your dorm or living space more sustainable, options for green dining, and house plants that effectively clean indoor air.
https://blogs.umb.edu/greenplanetllc/the-green-planet-living-learning-community/living-the-green-life/
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Several sustainability-focused employment opportunities exist for UMB students. The PACE Program offers paid on-campus positions where students develop industry-aligned skills connected to their career interests. Students earn one academic credit during their first semester through enrollment in the PACE Success Course. There is a PACE apprentice position with the Chancellors sustainability committee. The student completes research for the committee and develops responses for STARS. Another position is available as a sustainability apprentice for dining services.
https://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/career_services/pace_program/pace_apprentice
Living on Earth is a radio and podcast program which covers climate change and environmental topics through the lens of environmental justice, health, policy, literature, and more. Living on Earth is located in UMass Boston. Internships are available during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Interns assist in story production and are also encouraged to write and narrate two short segments for the radio or podcast.
https://www.loe.org/about/jobs.html
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.