| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.64 |
| Liaison | Jessica Bilecki |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of the Pacific
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jessica
Bilecki Sustainability Director Sustainability |
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 | Yes |
| 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 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | Yes |
| 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 |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
*Students for Environmental Action (SEA) is a group of students that want to make a difference on campus and within the community but also think globally by relating their actions to the bigger picture. SEA's purpose is to increase involvement, take action to improve sustainability, and to communicate environmental awareness. SEA participates in environmental cleanups and events, hiking trips, campus awareness and sustainability projects.
*Student body government (ASuop) Wellness Commissioner is responsible for representing the Associated Students in a variety of campus wide formats.
*The student Garden Club hosts garden workparties, field trips, and participates in the sale of garden produce at campus farmers' market days.
* Beginning in AY14-15, a Kitchen Co-op was funded by the Sustainability Project Investment Fund for a two year pilot, in which a fully equipped kitchen and dinning area is open to students, staff and faculty to reserve through a membership program.
*Beginning in Fall 15, the Pacific Green Team was established as an offshoot to the first Green Move In program done at Pacific. The Green Team is composed of volunteer students that assist at small and large scale events to reduce landfill bound materials and instead collect compostable materials while simultaneously educating guests on better solid waste disposal habits. Since its inception, the Green Team has reduced landfill bound waste at over 40 events.
The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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 Robb Garden advances a mission and campus-wide approach to sustainability. The garden makes inter-disciplinary and practical connections to academics. Through active participation in the Robb Garden, students, faculty, staff, and the greater Stockton community develop profound perceptions of the environment, society, and economy. The garden evaluates long and short-term implications for sustainability such as eating locally and nutritional benefits. Educational activities are curricular and co-curricular involving local organizations as well as Pacific's dining services.
AY15-16 the Robb Garden has continued with a Community garden aspect, allowing students, staff, faculty and community members to "adopt-a-bed" and grow their own personal garden during the different seasons. This has been coupled with having a production model area in which produce can be sold to Bon Appetit, food service provider, the Pacific community and the Stockton community.
The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
Students at Pacific are supported in gaining sustainable business skills through the Council of Social Entrepreneurs, the Eberhardt Student Investment Fund, and the Robb Campus Garden.
The Council supports students in social entrepreneurship.
The Eberhardt Student Investment Fund gives students hands on investment experience. The SIF fund has grown to over 3 million dollars (starting at 2 million) since its founding.
The Robb Garden provides experience in running a farmers market stand on campus.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
Pacific's Eberhardt Student Investment Fund began in AY11-12 to research and develop possible socially-responsible investment practices.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
April is designated as Sustainability Month at Pacific. Events of different types are organized that month by faculty, staff, and students with a focus on one or more aspects of sustainability.
April 2015 events were:
- Wild & Scenic Film Festival ( on 2 of the 3 campuses)
- Beehive Collective Storytelling
- California John Muir Day, April 21
- Green Fashion Show, April 24
- Stockton Earth Day, April 26
April 2016 events will be:
- Sustainability Art Show Exhibit and Performance
- The Low Carbon Lifestyle
- John Muir's Birthday Celebration
- Stockton Earth Day
- Calaveras Clean Up Day
- Green Fashion Show
- Film showing of Plastic Paradise
The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
*Sustaining Pacific teamed up with the Visual Arts Department and ASuop to create a sustainable art show where a guest ceramists will complete a performance highlighting birds from the endangered species list. On exhibit will be works of art by Pacific students and faculty.
* Pacific's annual Green Fashion Show features students modeling handmade, recycled clothing and jewelry made from unconventional materials like shopping bags, boxes, and aluminum cans. We work to show students that going to the thrift store to get an outfit is not far fetched or gross, but rather fashionable and sustainable.
* Showing the Film Plastic Paradise, students will be able to see the impact they individually and collectively have on the planet with the undaunted consumption of plastic products here in the USA and outside.
* Calaveras Clean Up Day provides a day in which students can actively work to beautify the area around campus while simultaneously providing the opportunity to see a natural area in a new way.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Pacific Recreation’s Tiger Escapes program seeks to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for students, faculty and staff, and the community. Our trip leaders promote and educate students on the Leave No Trace program. Leave No Trace is a national education program dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible recreational practices through education, research and partnerships. The Leave No Trace program is a partnership of federal land management agencies, outdoor educators, conservation groups, manufacturers, outdoor retailers, user groups and individuals who share a commitment to preserving and protecting our public lands. Participants will not only learn about the Leave No Trace, but how to truly care for and promote the care for our natural resources.
Tiger Escapes: A one-day adventure program that includes both kayaking and hiking trips. Offers all Pacific community members a variety of both leisurely and adventurous day-trips capitalizing on Northern California's remarkable outdoor opportunities. Trips include Day at Santa Cruz Beach, Hike Marin Headlands, American River Innertube Float, horseback riding, Snowshoeing at Tahoe, Alcatraz Tour, and Oakland A's Baseball Game. The Tiger Escapes program was launched in Fall 2011. While the principles of "Leave No Trace" were incorporated in these trips, they were not an explicit focus of participants.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
There is one key first year experience at Pacific that communicate a small bundle of important themes.
Pacific Seminar One is a required course for all freshmen in their first term at Pacific. Through a shared syllabus and reader, students in their first year have the shared intellectual experience of focusing on five aspects of a good society, one of which is a concern for and understanding of sustainability.
The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
*During each Freshman orientation, students are given a stainless steel canteen and information on how to create positive impacts for sustainable living activities, including but not limited to knowledge regarding water usage, contamination and the negative impacts of bottled water.
* Our food provider, Bon Appettit, provides educational information in regards to food and the choices of types of food and its impact.
*Garden Club works to put together field trips and programs open to all students to adventure into new and exciting concepts, projects and more regarding sustainability.
*Sustaining Pacific and Residential Life created a Sustainability Checklist for programming in which Resident Assistants use it as a guide when completing any programming they do in the residence halls.
* Green Move In and Move Out helps to make students aware of their solid waste impact, locally and globally. By having an active Green Team during Move In, students become familiar with how to properly recycle and can see, in total, the amount of recyclables and trash produced during a one week period by having large 20 yarders on campus. Green Move Out provides students the opportunity to donate any goods that would have otherwise been thrown in the trash.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
Sustaining Pacific in AY13-14 hired three Garden Coordinators that worked directly with the Robb Garden and Sustaining Pacific to create different projects, programs and community involvement.
* Sustaining Pacific in AY14-15 hired three Garden Specialists and two Co-op coordinators to work directly with the Robb Garden and the Kitchen Co-op, respectively. The specialists and coordinators work on marketing, projects, programs and getting Pacific and Stockton community involved in both the Robb Garden and the Kitchen Co-op.
* Sustaining Pacific in AY15-16 hired three Garden Specialists, three Co-op coordinators, and two Water Resource Educators to work directly with the Robb Garden and the Kitchen Co-op, and water education initiatives, respectively. The specialists and coordinators work on marketing, projects, programs and getting Pacific and Stockton community involved in both the Robb Garden and the Kitchen Co-op. While the Water Resource Educators work on putting together tools and resources to educate the Pacific Community on water needs and usage while working to make subtle culture changes.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
N.A.
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
*PacWell works in partnership across campus on programs that highlight emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual health development. Wellness Wednesdays and more events are targeted for all students, from freshmen to seniors, to assist in their holistic development.
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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.