| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.67 |
| Liaison | Jim Walker |
| Submission Date | March 21, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas at Austin
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.75 / 2.00 |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
| Yes or No | |
| Active student groups focused on sustainability | Yes |
| Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes | No |
| Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills | No |
| Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | Yes |
| Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience | Yes |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | No |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | No |
| Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution | Yes |
| Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions | No |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | Yes |
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The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
The Campus Environmental Center empowers the University of Texas at Austin community to reduce its environmental impact and foster a culture of sustainability through collaborative and constructive means.
Engineers for a Sustainable World mobilizes students through education, technical projects, and collaborative action to impact local and global sustainability challenges.
Ducks Unlimited Texas Chapter works to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl, while providing opportunities for the enjoyment of hunt and fishing activities.
Fossil Free Texas aims to have the University of Texas divest from fossil fuels.
The University of Texas Wildlife Association seeks to protect private property rights, hunting heritage, and conservation efforts of those who value and steward wildlife resources.
University Vegetarians provide a social outlet for vegetarians and vegans at the University of Texas at Austin and to encourage other students to adopt a vegetarian/vegan diet.
The Club for Environmental Outreach works with partner groups to plan and perform environmental projects focused on education, volunteering, and environmental accountability.
ASHRAE is a building technology club that focuses on building systems, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and sustainability.
Net Impact (Graduate) provides a form for members of the Graduate School of Business to discuss issues of social sustainability and social responsibility.
The Green Society provides a forum for students at the LBJ School to explore sustainability through a policy development lens.
Environmental Law Society promotes awareness of environmental law issues.
Global Environmental Brigades empowers students to promote sustainable solutions in rural communities in Panama in order to reverse degradation and preserve the natural environment.
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The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:
The University of Texas at Austin has a number of gardens and farms on campus. The Division of Housing and Food Services maintains two gardens on campus which supply food to the campus dining halls. These gardens are maintained in part by students employed through the Division of Housing and Food Services’ Green Corps program. The UT Microfarm is UT’s first student-run farm. The farm, located on campus supplies food to the dining halls as well as an on-campus farm stand and offers valuable student experience in the form of student employees, interns, and volunteer opportunities. The Concho Community Garden is a student-run community garden which allows students and student groups to rent plots and learn to grow their own food.
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The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
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A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
Hot Science Cool Talks is a lecture series organized by the Environmental Science Institute (ESI) in which researchers from the University of Texas and other universities present their work in an engaging manner to the University of Texas and greater Austin community.
The President’s Sustainability Steering Committee and the Office of Sustainability collaborate with the School of Undergraduate Studies to produce a sustainability-focused lecture that fulfills a Signature Course University Lecture Series requirement. The 2013 lecture was a discussion between Dr. John B. Callicott and Dr. Sahotra Sarkar regarding sustainability and the ethics of personally actions in the lecture titled Sustainability: 7 billion and counting. Why do my actions matter?
The President’s Sustainability Steering Committee with the support of the Office of Sustainability hosts an annual full day symposium dedicated to highlighting the scholarly and practical sustainability efforts of the university community.
The Energy Forum is a student run event with the goals of fostering interdisciplinary discussion on today’s most pressing energy challenges and convening the knowledge from across campus at UT Austin.
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The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
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A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The culminating event of the UT Safe Cycling Campaign was LIGHT | NIGHT a choreographed dance performance at dusk which used bike dancers wearing bike lights to educate about the importance of bike safety.
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The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
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A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Guide School is designed for individuals interested in acquiring backcountry guiding skills and outdoor leadership experience. Our emphasis is on backcountry safety, navigation, trip planning and preparation, leadership skills, camp cooking, providing excellent customer service, and team building. Participants who successfully complete the Guide School curriculum will be eligible to apply for employment with the UT RecSports Outdoor Recreation Program. A Leave No Trace trainer certification is included in the fees.
Through the Adventure Trip Program, UT Austin also offers several other outdoor recreation programs, led by trainers who have gone through the UT Guide School or equivalent
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The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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The website URL where information about the theme is available:
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A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
There are a number of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities on campus. The Division of Housing and Food Services employs five students in their Green Corps program. Students spend their time tending the DHFS campus gardens and conducting sustainability outreach. The Office of Sustainability employs interns for employment including: outreach, graphic design, and Green Fee. Many Green Fee projects employ students including battery recycling, Green Greeks, and the Microfarm. In addition, students can be employed in the Campus Environmental Center to work on a variety of projects including recycling, green events, and tailgate recycling.
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The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
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A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The Green Fee is a student fee that is collected with tuition each semester. Students, faculty, and staff are able to apply to Green Fee to fund a sustainable project on campus. Many of these projects are led by students and include student employment. Such projects include: the UT Microfarm, the UT Tree Nursery, Battery Recycling, Orange Bike Project, Biodiesel, and E-Waste Recycling.
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Second student-governed garden: http://utmicrofarm.wordpress.com/
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.