| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.64 |
| Liaison | Sean MacInnes |
| Submission Date | Feb. 7, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Shanna
Eller Sustainability Coordinator for Operations Sustainability Office |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
UNCGreen is a student-governed organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and environmental awareness on campus. Members work with the Office of Sustainability to address a variety of campus sustainability issues. Members also collaborate with other UNCG student groups to promote events and activities on campus.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
* Adopt-A-Stream cleanups
* Vampire Energy Slayers Events
* "Green Fund" Sustainability Fee
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects 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:
The campus garden was started in October 2010. Faculty and staff, working with the Sustainability Office, were allowed use of the site of a demolished home to build the UNCGreensboro Gardens. The empty lot first contained 25 raised beds, constructed with boards salvaged from an old barn; this was expanded to more than 35 in 2012. Pathways are covered with wood chips from tree trimming and removal work that occurred on or near campus.
UNCGreensboro Gardens aims to build healthy, interactive communities through the collective production of locally grown, organic food. The UNCGG draws on the knowledge of various experts at the university and within the local community, including area master gardeners.
The Garden has been used by many classes, including Environmental Studies and a Classics course, “The Archaeology of Roman Daily Life,” in which students grew foods used by ancient Romans. "Environment in Anthropology" currently uses two beds, one for medicinal herbs and the other for edibles. Students are interested in ethnobotany and are looking at indigenous plants used in NC for healing.
Several staff groups have plots, and the Garden has also spawned a student gardening club. Dining Services has planted herbs in four beds for use in dishes they cater on campus.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives 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:
The Green Fund is a $2.22 student semester fee that supports sustainability initiatives on campus. It is governed by students with assistance from faculty and staff experts. This fund invests in campus infrastructure to help meet the goals of the UNCG Climate Action Plan, while also offering education, research and professional development opportunities for students. Proposals are submitted to the Green Fund and only the student committee members are allowed to vote on which proposals are funded.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
2018 Conversations on Socially Responsible Investing
2017-18 Ashby Dialog - Empowering Climate and Environmental Justice
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
UNCG has held the Sustainability Film & Discussion Series since 2006.
UNCG has held the Sustainability Shorts Film Competition since 2010.
Spring 2018 Sustainability Art Show
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Outdoor Adventures Program is the outdoor education and recreation component within the Department of Campus Recreation at UNCG. Outdoor Adventures is a program housed in the Student Recreation Center and serves the UNCG community with its three divisions: Adventure Trips, Rental & Trip Center (outdoor equipment rental) and The Edge (indoor climbing wall). Outdoor Adventures strives to blend recreation and education to offer a quality outdoor experience for every participant.
The mission of UNCG Outdoor Adventures is to promote healthy, active lifestyles through outdoor recreation activities for the UNCG community. Staff aspire to enhance participants’ environmental awareness and technical outdoor skills while fostering a sense of community and encouraging positive relationships.
Leave No Trace principles are followed on all trips. LNT is taught to all participants - it is a cornerstone of the program philosophy when traveling in wilderness and outdoor locations. Over the past several years Outdoor Adventures members have also conducted stream clean-up service projects on a two-mile stretch of Buffalo Creek just north of campus.
Information for this credit was received from Mike Ackerman, Assistant Director for UNCG Outdoor Adventures.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The common read books in both Fall 2015 and 2017 had sustainability themes: What Am I Wearing; Behind The Beautiful Forevers.
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Strong Residential Living Learning Community - Taking classes and building community help students in Strong College understand how sustainability can apply to local and global contexts.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Office of Sustainability is eligible to hire two (2) Federal Work Study Students to work 10 hours per week throughout each year. In addition, we also offer students internship opportunities for volunteer service hours or course credit.
Campus Dining Services offered a sustainability internship in 2017-18.
Parking and Campus Access Management engage multiple student interns focused on sustainable transportation.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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.