| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.39 |
| Liaison | Brad Spanbauer |
| Submission Date | July 9, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Brian
Kermath Sustainability Director Sustainability Office |
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 | No |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) has been an active participant in campus sustainability efforts, and events. The Social Justice club is devoted to diversity, inclusion, and social justice. The Student Garden club plans events and practices sustainable farming techniques on campus.
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 Third Avenue Gardens area includes an area set aside for individual student garden plots. One of the main rules is no chemical use. The Student Garden Club organizes the student gardeners to distributes plots, maintain the site and report issues to Facilities Management (e.g. pest control). The university provides materials for mulching to control weeds.
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:
Green Fund
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
The Green Fund is a student generated fund using student money for student projects. Empowerment of the student body to engage in sustainability is the number one priority. The Green Fund at UWO is funded by segregated fees and built and run by the Oshkosh Student Association (OSA) student senate.
$60,000 or a little less than three dollars per student per semester (based on full term enrollment (FTE)) will be pooled in order to provide opportunities for students to create a legacy of sustainability on campus. This can be accomplished through building infrastructure, upgrading and efficiency, educational campaigns, innovation and technology pursuits, speaker series, and much much more. The Green Fund is meant to empower students with the financial means to use their education and knowledge to be bold and strive to be champions in sustainability.
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:
Each Semester has a week-long event week: the Earth Charter Community Summit in October, Earth Week, and Social Justice Week in April. The Sustainability Office provides at least one day of programming specific to campus issues like alternative transportation, landscaping, green building, alternative energy, waste management. Panel discussions have included updates on campus sustainability plans and coordination with city and school district sustainability plans. The Sustainability Office has also been a financial supporter of promotional materials and for events that bring new perspectives to campus sustainability, such as the Building a Stronger Community contest.
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:
The Gail Floether Steinhilber Art Gallery is committed to the enrichment of cultural life on campus, in the community and throughout the Fox Valley. The gallery exists primarily to serve UW Oshkosh students and present work that is intriguing, inspiring, thought provoking, and at times socially challenging, yet always in keeping with the university's institutional excellence.
Works by local, regional and nationally recognized artists, as well as by the university's students, faculty and staff are exhibited in the gallery.
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:
The Xpeditions office, of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, organizes outdoor recreation opportunities for students. They provide training and equipment. Trips vary by season and include biking, hiking, camping, kayaking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Activities in natural areas follow Leave No Trace Principles.
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:
Through the new USP students are learning sustainability as one of the three essential questions and learning outcomes of the University. The USP courses are designed around the three themes of sustainability, intercultural knowledge, and civic learning. For more information go to point AC-2.
The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The community advisers in every residence hall are trained in sustainability to offer advise and training to students living practices. Programs are created each semester to focus on conservation of resources.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Sustainability office offers six different STEP intern positions focused on different aspects of sustainability on campus. Intern positions are also available at the Environmental Research and and Innovation Center (ERIC). Students are able to gain experience working both in and out of the lab doing water quality testing, biogas potential, and custom research. The Renewable Energy Institute (REI) which helps promote sustainability and connect people on campus has a STEP internship position focused on promotion across the campus and Oshkosh community.
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:
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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.