University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EN-3: Student Life

The Environmental Affairs Committee operates within the executive branch of student government. Environmental Affairs seeks to increase awareness of ways students can act in a more environmentally friendly manner, and works with the University to make campus operations more sustainable. This committee works on continuing projects including recycling efforts, green energy expansion, and collaboration among all environmental groups on campus. Current projects include expanding composting options, improving bike infrastructure, encouraging students to adopt more environmentally responsible behaviors, promoting a green seed fund, and expanding course offerings related to sustainability. The Environmental Affairs committee also helps coordinate all environmental student groups at UNC. Their official mission statement is: “To collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to create a more cohesive environmental presence on campus while promoting key environmental principles, encouraging sustainable lifestyles, and facilitating improved cooperation between student environmental groups and the University.”

The Carolina Campus Community Garden grew out of a partnership between the UNC Employee Forum, the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and the student-run Carolina Garden Co-Op. This organic garden on Wilson Street, close to the Carolina Inn, provides fresh vegetables and fruit to the lowest paid staff members at Carolina free of charge. Periodic cooking demonstrations show how to make healthy dishes from the harvest. Volunteer workdays include students, staff, faculty, and local residents.

Multiple courses and competitions assist students interested in turning their ideas for sustainable businesses and social ventures into viable enterprises. Launch the Venture consists of three half-semester modules that has helped launch a supplier of pasture-raised meats that now sells to Carolina Dining Services and an inventor of a patented port-a-potty that seals waste in a specially treated bag to improve sanitation and hygiene worldwide. The Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition is an annual contest among eight of the nation's top MBA programs and is sponsored by the student-run Net Impact Club in the Kenan-Flagler Business School. The Carolina Challenge is a student-run business and social venture competition that promotes entrepreneurship. Many of the winners are students who have developed business plans for a variety of sustainability-related enterprises. Launch the Venture: http://www.launch.unc.edu/

The Carolina Microfinance Initiative is a committee of the Campus Y devoted to poverty alleviation locally, domestically, and internationally through microfinance. The Fundo Apoyo de Comunitario International (FAC) is the first student-run microfinance bank in Latin America. FAC, and its two person staff, has lent to more than 100 entrepreneurs in Limonada, the largest urban slum in Guatemala. The repayment rate is 98%.

The University hosts many sustainability-related events on campus throughout the year. Types of events include: speakers, panel discussions, film screenings, exhibits, awareness days/weeks, conferences, workshops, themed meals, pledge events, and more. The multi-day Global Sustainability Symposium is one of many such events. Students host food and energy conferences and workshops for local and regional peers. The UNC Sustainability Office compiles and maintains a list of sustainability-related events on campus.

The three year Water in Our World initiative has hosted many art installations, films, and performances. Original music, dance, and multimedia presentations are geared toward students.

The University offers on Outdoor Education program, located at the Outdoor Education Center, a 20-acre wooded green space, located within walking distance of central campus, which challenges participants to reach beyond their perceived personal limits - physically, mentally and socially, fosters greater appreciation for our natural environment, and develops leadership abilities. Many different outings are offered, all of which emphasize safety and Leave-No-Trace principles. The Expedition Program offers weekend trips across the state and region for activities such as hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and climbing. The Outdoor Leadership Series offers intensive workshops for those interested in becoming an expedition instructor. Wilderness Adventures for First Year Students offers backpacking expeditions to help give incoming students a positive personal and social transition into college. Outdoor leadership programs are also provided for a variety of student academic and campus life leaders, including the Morehead-Cain Scholars and Freshman Camp counselors.

Water in Our World Drawing upon internationally recognized faculty expertise, Carolina mobilized around water through a three-year, campuswide academic theme. Key issues will include ensuring water is available to and safe for people around the world since that access affects their health, the economy and social development.

The Sustainability Living Learning Community in Morrison Residence Hall enables students to explore multiple sustainable life skills related to diet, resource conserving behaviors, transportation, and service. End-of-year capstone projects further the sustainability objectives of campus departments and organizations. Residential Green Games is a campus-wide competition that promotes sustainability awareness. Students earn points for their residence halls by participating in sustainability-themed service projects, hosting green-themed events and displays, attending tours and lectures, and designing sustainability-related bulletin boards. http://www.wastereduction.unc.edu/GetInvolved/ResidentialGreenGames.aspx EcoReps are trained peer-to-peer sustainability educators. They expand awareness of sustainability initiatives on campus and motivate sustainable behaviors. They offer 5 hour training to students twice a year and training counts as a Public Service Scholars credit. Following the training, EcoReps advertise their availability to give tours of high performance buildings and sustainable features on campus; customized or general presentations on topics related to water, energy, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable transportation options, and sustainable food choices; lead interactive games that inform other students about sustainability initiatives on campus; and staff informational tables at campus events. https://sites.google.com/site/uncchecoreps/

The Sustainability Office offers sustainability-focused internship opportunities throughout the year. Part-time, 10 hours/week, internships are available during the academic year and full-time, 40 hours/week, internships are available through the summer months. Internship opportunities include communication and outreach activities; data tracking and reporting; data interpretation; EcoReps coordination; and staffing and tabling special events. The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling offers part-time, 10 hours/week, internships through the academic year. Students coordinate Green Games activities, lead Green Events trainings, staff and table at special events, and develop communication and outreach materials for waste reduction and recycling efforts. Energy Management provides internships for students to assist and promote energy conservation measures throughout the university. Interns research and track energy use on campus and develop communication and outreach materials to encourage energy conservation.