| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.56 |
| Liaison | Ruairi O'Mahony |
| Submission Date | Feb. 15, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Massachusetts Lowell
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
James
Kohl Dean of Student Affairs & Enrichment Student Affairs |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Student Groups
Yes
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The following clubs are some of the most active sustainability-focused groups on campus. Please see the following links for descriptions of each club:
- Student Society for Sustainability- https://umasslowellclubs.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ccc
- Society of Environmental Scientists- https://umasslowellclubs.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/society-of-environmental-scientists
- Solar Energy Association (Solar Club) –https://umasslowellclubs.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/solarclub
- UML MassPIRG Chapter- https://umasslowellclubs.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/uml-students-for-masspirg
- Engineers for Change- https://umasslowellclubs.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/EngineersForChange
- Engineers for a Sustainable World UML Chapter- https://umasslowellclubs.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/esw
Some examples of their accomplishments are listed below:
1. During the Fall semester of 2015 university students formed the Climate Change Coalition a student group which worked to encourage the university to divest from fossil fuels. As a result of their efforts and the efforts of similar groups at the Amherst and other campuses UMass became one of the first public university systems to divest from fossil feuls.
2. Students that are part of the CCI are involved in the Climate Education in an Age of Media (CAM) program which integrates media production into climate change education. Students developed climate change education videos that were then broadcast to all audiences at UMass Lowell on billboards. As an additional part of the NASA grant (which funded CAM), CCI Faculty took part in interviews related to climate change and those videos were aired on local public broadcasting stations.
http://cleanet.org/cced_media/index.html
http://www.uml.edu/Research/Climate-Change/projects/Interviews-CCI.aspx
3. MassPIRG worked to support campus efforts around pollinator education in 2017-2018.
4. Society of Sustainable Students received grant money to support an interdisciplinary sustainability focused-lecture series in 2018. Furthermore, they have engaged other colleges who have active sustainability programs including Green Mountain College. They took an immersive fall trip to Poultney, VT to connect with students there.
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Gardens and Farms
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
UMass Lowell has a community garden and is actively working with Mill City Grows a local organization that fosters food justice by increasing community access to healthy, fresh food through the development of urban food production and distribution networks to create a partnership for urban agriculture.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Student-Run Enterprises
No
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
N/A
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
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Sustainable Investment and Finance
Yes
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
The university's Sustainability Enrichment & Engagement Development (SEED) Fund allows students (or anyone on campus) to apply for grants of up to $10,000. Should students win the grant they work to manage their funds as they go through their project. This teaches the students fiscally sound financial skills as they manage their awards.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Events
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
There are a number of conferences, speakers series and events completed in the last year. Some consist of:
Climate Change Teach-In
Sowing SEEDS for Sustainability
Spring and Fall into Recycling
Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference
World Climate Game Session
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Cultural Arts
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
The following is a blurb promoting an event about student-produced climate change videos:
"Our shared climate legacy: Student-produced film shorts and an inter-generational discussion about responding to climate change" - We are excited to present an evening featuring short, student-produced videos and an open, student-lead discussion about what we can do to create a better future in the face of our changing climate. With support from the NASA-funded Climate Education in an Age of Media (CAM) Project (http://cleanet.org/cced_media/), UMass Lowell students taking the Climate Change: Science, Communication, and Solutions course will present what they have learned, what they want to communicate, and the questions they have for each other and their community on how we can shape a future that responds to climate change while improving human well being. Members from LIRA, the Learning in Retirement Association are invited guests, along with the general public and UMass Lowell faculty, staff and students.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Wilderness and Outdoors Programs
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP), part of the Campus Recreation Center, seeks to offer a variety of outdoor trips for the university community. The trips are designed for beginners who may have never hiked, camped, or paddled before. They seek to offer trips to meet every person's skill level in order to challenge each person to grow through the experience but also to have fun and develop relationships along the way. Each of their outdoor programs leaves participants with a strong experiential understanding of Leave No Trace principles.
Current students, faculty, and staff members of UMass Lowell are eligible to participate in OAP trips and events. The program is not student-governed.
http://www.uml.edu/CampusRecreation/Outdoor-Adventure/TripInformation.aspx
Society of Environmental Scientists (SES)
SES is a student governed club which, among other objectives, aims to enhance student understanding of geological and environmental sciences through field excursions, which explore local geology and ecology. SES expands the skill set of its members by working with Wachusett Mountain State Reservation in collaboration with the Appalachian Mountain Club and by organizing frequent rock and mountain climbing trips.
https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/society-of-environmental-scientists/about
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Sustainability-Related Themes
No
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
N/A
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
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Sustainable Life Skills
No
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
N/A
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
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Student Employment Opportunities
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
There are student employee opportunities (internships) in the Office of Sustainability. There have also been student internships in the past in the Transportation Department. These internships involve recycling and overall sustainability program support, and renewable energy programs.
In addition, the Francis College of Engineering offers internships with leading companies in the region and across the globe.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
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Graduation Pledge
No
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Other Programs and Initiatives
Yes
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
Two additional examples include the co-curricular Peru projects that focus on renewable energy, energy conservation, and water improvements. There is also a co-curricular battery car competition.
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
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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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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.