Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 63.29
Liaison Geory Kurtzhals
Submission Date Oct. 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Notre Dame
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Mike Seamon
Vice President
Campus Safety & University Operatis
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:

GreeND is a student organization that coordinates energy and environmental efforts at Notre Dame. The GreeND leadership team strives to inspire and implement visionary “green” initiatives. GreeND collaborates with administrators, faculty, staff, and students to affect meaningful change at Notre Dame and beyond.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:

Notre Dame’s campus garden started in May 2010. Garden plots are 5’ X 10’ and their use is free of charge for individuals, families, groups of co-workers, or departments. Gardeners are free to do as they wish with the food they harvest. All gardeners agree to raise their crops organically. The campus garden provides its gardeners with compost, mulch, and grass clippings for cultivating the soil.


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)?:
No

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:

The Applied Investment Management course within the Finance Department blends traditional academic objectives with the practical experience of hands-on investment management. Each class inherits the portfolio handed over by the previous class, together with a set of working policies and guidelines. Subject to University restrictions that apply to all equity managers of endowment funds, the new class will review and amend the portfolio decisions and report to an advisory board.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:

The Office of Sustainability maintains a webpage with upcoming sustainability-related speakers, conferences, and events that are open to students and faculty of the University. In addition, the Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame sponsors a distinguished lecture series, featuring individuals from the energy industry, academia, and international organizations.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:

The on campus Snite museum consistently shows sustainability themed art pieces. From August 20th-November 6th this exhibition will focus on a major theme of American artist Willie Cole: his extraordinarily creative re-purposing of everyday objects such as steam irons, ironing boards, hair dryers, bicycle parts, and women’s shoes to create artworks that comment on diverse subjects such as African art, cultural identity, gender, and sexuality.
http://sniteartmuseum.nd.edu/exhibitions/upcoming-exhibitions/making-everything-out-of-anything-prints-drawings-and-sculptures-by-willie-cole/


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:

Outdoor Adventures offers trips for students to find adventure and challenge themselves off campus. Three to four trips are planned each year led by professional staff and experienced students. Current escape activities include backpacking and skiing/snowboarding trips, both of which follow Leave No Trace principles.


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

ND Energy conducts a series energy related seminars for the greater Notre Dame community every spring during Energy Week. The fall 2017 week includes: a talk and networking with personnel from EDF Renewable Energy, tours of the power plant and LEED buildings on campus, airing 'From the Ashes' a National Geographic documentary, a workshop on finding internships and careers in energy fields, and talk and networking with the President of a local solar energy company.


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?:
No

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
---

The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
---

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:

Each year the Office of Sustainability employs 6-7 student interns to work on sustainable programming for the campus. Students are also employed to conduct a gameday recycling program for each football homegame. They canvas the campus and remind people to tailgate sustainably and to recycle.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the graduation pledges:

As the seniors near graduation, the Center for Social Concerns encourages students to sign a Pledge of Social Responsibility, where seniors affirm that they will incorporate their concern for the common good into their work and private life in the years to come.


The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
Yes

A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:

There are campus groups that often tackle sustainability issues that align with their curriculum. We talk with and encourage students to find unique ways to take on these issues. A recent student group did a study on outdoor recycle bin design and placement, and how to improve it. Clubs that get involved include GreeND, Design for America, and Fossil Free ND.


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.