Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.26
Liaison Gioia Thompson
Submission Date March 1, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Vermont
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Pat Brown
Director
Student Life
"---" 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:

Alternative Energy Racing Organization
Alternative Energy Racing Organization (AERO) is a student group at the University of Vermont that works for the advocacy, research and development of alternative energy drive systems. They are committed to finding technological solutions to address our society’s dependency on non-renewable energy sources and to apply their education to this purpose.
http://www.uvmaero.org/
Books For Equality
Books4Equality aims to provide equal access to textbooks for everyone. For FREE! They lend students books for the semester at no cost, so students can focus on classes. http://www.books4equality.com/

Enactus
Enactus is a community of student leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better more sustainable world. They do this through community service projects throughout Burlington and surrounding areas. https://thelynx.collegiatelink.net/organization/uvmenactus

OXFAM America Club at UVM
Oxfam America is a non-profit organization working to create sustainable solutions to global hunger, poverty and social injustice.  https://thelynx.collegiatelink.net/organization/oxfamuvm
Renewable Energy Network
Connecting and preparing students for a future in the clean energy industry through networking events and applicable tours. https://renewableuvm.org/
Society of American Foresters
They aim to further their members development into capable and qualified Forestry Professionals while serving and educating the public with and on sustainable forestry practices. The Woodsmen Team Competes in sporting events. They seek SAF accreditation. https://blog.uvm.edu/hvoelkel-vermontforestry/

Climate Change Adaption and Relief Efforts
Climate Change Adaptation and Relief Efforts (CARE) is a student organization at UVM that organizes environmentally conscious students to take part in volunteer projects that directly increase community resilience to climate change related impacts. https://thelynx.collegiatelink.net/organization/CARE

Common Ground Student Run Educational Farm
Common Ground is an educational community centered around teaching students about organic agriculture and providing the opportunity for students to practice farming themselves. They manage the gardens around Jeffords Hall for teaching and demonstrations. https://thelynx.collegiatelink.net/organization/common-ground-student-run-educational-farm/about

Horticulture Club
This organization was founded in 1997 to bring together students interested in horticulture so that they may increase knowledge for themselves and others in the community. Activities include trips to local gardens, numerous hands-on workshops, etc.
http://www.uvm.edu/~hortclub/

UVM Bikes!
UVM Bikes strives to increase bike accessibility, knowledge, and infrastructure for the shared benefit of our physical and environmental health. Check out their free bikeshare program + bicycle education center in the basement of Hills. https://thelynx.collegiatelink.net/organization/bug

VSTEP
The Vermont Student Environmental Program (VSTEP) is an organization of concerned individuals dedicated to coordinating environmental activities on the UVM campus. VSTEP's goals are to increase student awareness of prevalent environmental issues, and to promote and help institute sustainable university policies in order to maintain a socially- and environmentally-responsible institution. https://www.uvm.edu/~vstep/

Real Food Revolution
Real Food Revolution is a student organization that was created to tackle a number of food systems issues on a number of different scales. They have a political streak that sets them apart from other food groups on campus. Join them in the fight for real food! https://www.uvm.edu/foodsystems/?Page=realfoodgetinvolved.html&SM=realfoodmenu.html

Campus Kitchens
Campus Kitchens at UVM is a student club that works with Dining Services and local farms to salvage unused food, turn it into nutritious meals, and serve those meals on Sundays to members of the Burlington community.
https://campuskitchensuvm.wordpress.com/

FeelGood
A student-run non-profit organization working to end world hunger by exchanging locally sourced, gourmet grilled cheese for a donation to the sustainable end of world hunger.
https://www.facebook.com/feelgoodworld

Slow Food UVM
Slow Food UVM is a local chapter of an international organization emphasizing the importance of Good, Clean, and Fair food. Slow Food stands against the modern industrialized food system and works to educate people about alternative food systems. https://thelynx.collegiatelink.net/organization/slow-food-uvm

VIA-Food Salvage
The Food Salvage program provides a healthy meal to hungry people in the Burlington community every Sunday evening. Created in response to the absence of Salvation Army dinners on Sundays, the program usually serves about 120 people per week. http://www.uvm.edu/sga/?Page=clubs.php&SM=menu_clubs.html


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:

Common Ground Student Run Educational Farm
Common Ground is an educational community centered around teaching students about organic agriculture and providing the opportunity for students to practice farming themselves. They manage the gardens around Jeffords Hall for teaching and demonstrations. https://thelynx.collegiatelink.net/organization/common-ground-student-run-educational-farm/about
Horticulture Club
This organization was founded in 1997 to bring together students interested in horticulture so that they may increase knowledge for themselves and others in the community. Activities include trips to local gardens, numerous hands-on workshops, etc.
http://www.uvm.edu/~hortclub/


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:

Feel Good--
The country's first ever, student-run, non-profit deli is proud to be up and running at UVM. Offering gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches made with local Vermont products, the UVM chapter ofFeelGood is a great place to grab lunch and, while you're at it, help end world hunger.

FeelGood's ingredients are donated by local businesses such as Klinger's Bread Company, Shelburne Farms, and Red Hen Bakery. Because of these sponsors, all of the money that is collected goes directly to The Hunger Project. THP is an international organization that is passionate about finding a sustainable end to world hunger. They follow a grassroots, bottom-up empowerment model and are currently operational in 23 countries worldwide.


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:

Clean Energy Fund
Sustained by a self-imposed student fee of $10 per student per semester, UVM’s Clean Energy Fund is designed to advance renewable energy research, education, and infrastructure on campus.


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:

Energy Action Seminar Series
A weekly seminar series exploring energy transitions in Vermont, the US and the World. Featuring world-class speakers on policy options, political controversy, costs and benefits, activism, and jobs. Free and open to the public. Get educated about our energy future


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:

Eco-rep Art Displays
Each year the Eco-reps program creates art installations in common areas around campus, including residence halls. In FY 2016, they mass produced an artistic sketch intended to generate discussion around the UVM hearts water campaign. The sketch was hung in all the residence halls. They also created several, large sidewalk chalk displays including one in front of the student center showcasing the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). Another chalk display later in the year featured information about carpooling and how to use a new carpooling ap.


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:

TREK Programs
Wilderness TREK provides students the opportunity to build lasting friendships, initiate self-discovery, and explore the people and landscapes that are Vermont. For more than 30 years Wilderness TREK has been creating adventurous beginnings for student development at UVM.
As a TREKKIE, you will spend six days with your future classmates, hiking the rugged footpaths of our Green Mountain Long Trail, canoeing the rivers and lakes of the Adirondacks, sea kayaking the islands and unspoiled shoreline of Lake Champlain, climbing in Vermont and the Adirondacks. Biking TREKKIES can now experience the beauty of the Champlain Valley from a bicycle. While white water kayakers travel to the lengendary "Forks" of Maine.
https://www.uvm.edu/orientation/wilderness_trek

Service TREK
Working in small groups of 8 TREKKIES and 2 TREK Interns (experienced students), Service TREK participants engage in direct service while learning about the value of community involvement, leadership skills, developing great friendships, and living and working as a team.
You don't need any special skills to participate in Service TREK, just an open mind and a sense of adventure. TREK Interns and site hosts provide all necessary training and special equipment. https://www.uvm.edu/orientation/service_trek

Outing Club
The UVM Outing Club provides affordable wilderness trips, instruction, leadership training and certification opportunities for students. We also provide a comprehensive array of affordable rental equipment to the UVM community. It is our further goal to promote enjoyment, safe use and responsible stewardship of the environments we travel in through practice of Leave No Trace principles. We openly invite all UVM students to come to the OC house, sign up for a trip, eat some food and stay for a meeting! http://www.uvm.edu/~outside/

ALANA GEAR
Seeks to provide ALANA students and those with little to no experience or accessibility to outdoor activities with the skills they need to get involved in the outdoors.
http://www.uvm.edu/~alanager/


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:

AY17 - The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
AY 15 - Cooked by Michael Pollen


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?:
Yes

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

Greenhouse Residential Learning Community -
GreenHouse is one of UVM's Residential Learning Communities, providing environmentally-themed programming for over 200 students from a range of majors. Established in fall 2006, the GreenHouse is located within the University Heights South (UHS) Residential Complex—a LEED-certified building designed to be energy efficient and incorporate local and recycled construction materials. GreenHouse is a truly interdisciplinary community involving students, faculty, staff, and mentors from across campus and the greater Burlington area.


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:

Office of Sustainability Internship Program
The Office of Sustainability offers a few paid and work study internships during the academic year and summer. Interns get involved in projects that relate to programs the Office of Sustainability coordinates both on and off campus. Our interns get to work in a professional environment and gain experience through projects generated by our department and by the interns themselves.
The goal of our internship program is to provide real world experiences and professional development opportunities while meeting our Office’s mission: to foster sustainable development and promote environmental responsibility at the University of Vermont by strategically bridging the academic activities of teaching, research, and outreach with the operations of the University.
http://www.uvm.edu/sustain/sustainability-internship-program

Eco-reps Program
The eco-rep program engages undergraduate university students in sustainability through peer-to-peer education that not only spreads awareness, but inspires behavioral change. Through this primary task and the research required to carry-out these tasks sufficiently, students gain professional and personal development skills (e.g. communication, leadership, organization, knowledge about sustainability topics) and facilitate progress toward university-wide sustainability goals.
http://www.uvm.edu/ecoreps


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?:
No

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?:
Yes

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

The UVM Horticulture Research and Education Center (HREC), also known as the “Hort Farm,” is the primary field laboratory site for applied teaching, research, and outreach activities on agronomic and horticultural crops. Education and research are conducted by CALS and Extension faculty and staff. Purchased in 1952, the 97-acre Hort Farm is the home of Catamount Educational Farm (a fruit and vegetable production farm), as well as being used for agricultural research and instruction of UVM classes. The farm is also used by professional plant organizations and gardening groups. For over 50 years, University horticulturists have been testing new and unusual plants for their adaptation to the Vermont environment, especially to our cold winters. In addition, the HREC hosts collections of ornamental plants of significance to the green industry, including legacy plantings of crabapples, rhododendrons and azaleas, flowering shrubs, shade trees, lilacs, and ferns.


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 performance year for this credit was FY 2016


The performance year for this credit was FY 2016

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.