| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.65 |
| Liaison | John Gardner |
| Submission Date | Nov. 27, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kate
Nelson Chief Sustainability Officer Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
Conservation Club - The goal of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Conservation Club is to increase environmental literacy through the lens of conservation science within our campus. The education and volunteer opportunities present a benefit both to the environment and to the students. Conservation Club strives to provide an enhanced awareness of issues within local and global ecosystems. The club is welcome to all who have a passion for biological preservation.
Engineers Without Borders- The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB@UWM) works in coordination with EWB-USA, a non-profit humanitarian organization established to improve the quality of life in developing communities. Their work over the past decade at UWM has brought running water to rural villages in Guatemala, as well as access to rain water catchment in community gardens across Milwaukee.
Re-volv Solar Ambassadors at UWM- As UW-Milwaukee’s Solar Ambassador Team, the organization is an affiliate of RE-volv, a non-profit based out of San Francisco. The goal is to run a grassroots crowdfunding campaign to have solar systems installed on local non-profits and cooperatives. Projects include River Revitalization Foundation and Riverwest Co-Op, working to raise funds and supply community education and empowerment. The non-profits then pay back RE-volv monthly on their 20 year lease-to-own plan, while still saving money off of their typical electric bill. A percentage of those proceeds are transferred to the solar seed fund that funds future solar projects. Over time there will be no need for crowdfunding campaigns because the solar seed fund will be able to fully cover future projects creating a RE-volv(ing) fund.
Food Recovery Network (In partnership with University Christian Ministry)- Food Recovery Network at UWM recovers food from Sandburg Café and the Student Union Restaurants. We are partnered with the non-profit organization Just One More Ministry that recovers food from UWM, various companies, and local citizens. The food is then redistributed to over 40 other organizations around the greater Milwaukee area, who give that food to people that are in need of food assistance.
Fruity Nutty Club- The Fruity Nutty Club at UWM was formed 2017 with the goal to engage local community members of all ages and backgrounds in sustainable food production. Through establishing an on-campus fruit orchard, planted on Earth Day (April 22) of 2017, we will provide a beautiful space to reach out to the UWM community and get hands-on experience tending an orchard. Members take part in caring for the trees as well as hosting recreational and educational events. No experience is necessary. All who are interested are welcome to join.
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:
Extensively.
The UWM Food & Garden Club built 50 raised organic garden beds on the south lawn of the Physics building in May 2011. The raised beds were designed for individual students, faculty, and staff to garden as they see fit. In addition to individual plots, the Office of Sustainability also oversees educational gardens for research and curriculum. UWM's Restaurant Operations cultivates food gardens adjacent to the Sandburg community gardens as well as a rooftop garden. The campus hoop house, which produces compost year round from kitchen waste, is run by a student workers, with the help of 10-12 student volunteers per semester.
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 8th Note Coffee House is a student-run, volunteer based coffee shop and lounge on campus. It has been in existence for many years at UWM, and is run by students of the Union Activities Board. Fair-trade and affordable coffee is offered at the 8th Note.
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 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:
Share the Earth- For the past twelve years, the UW-Milwaukee Student Union has put forth the earth-friendly Share the Earth program which involves films, speakers, and special events. Share the Earth has hosted such guests as John Francis Planet Walker, Michael Pollan, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Ed Begley Jr. Events are run for students, but all community members are welcome.
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:
The UWM Union Art Gallery regularly features installations on water conservation, aquaponics, food security, and reuse within the built environment. Art History and Gallery studies focused on urban sustainable place-making in 2017.
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:
Outdoor Pursuits is dedicated to providing outdoor programming and equipment to facilitate challenging, educational, environmentally sound, and fun outdoor-based recreational experiences. Various trips include: rock climbing, canoeing, leave-no-trace camping and hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Outdoor Pursuits also hosts learning events/classes such as a wilderness first-aid course. Outdoor Pursuits espouses and promotes Leave No Trace principles in all programming.
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:
Common Read- Strong social justice theme year to year. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang, 2014: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, 2015: Meet Me Halfway – Milwaukee Stories by Jennifer Morales, 2016: Fear of a Black President by Ta-Nehisi Coates, 2017: Real Patriots Ask Questions by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, 2018: Fifty Years Ago, Protesters Took On the Miss America Pageant and Electrified the Feminist Movement, by Roxane Gay
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:
Waste and composting programs are held in our University Housing.
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 hires student workers, interns, independent study students, and service learning students.
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.