Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.33
Liaison Brad Spanbauer
Submission Date Jan. 29, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Brian Kermath
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Office
"---" 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:

Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) & Community Gardens
SEAC is dedicated to working towards social and environmental justice through passive and active education to the campus and community. We believe that everyone acting locally will have a positive sustainable impact in a global perspective. Small Steps, no footprints. UWO Community Gardens also operates within SEAC as an opportunity for students to gain knowledge in gardening, pollinators, food security, and/or a more sustainable lifestyle. You don't have to be a master gardener-most of us are novices. We are learning together and helping each other out.

Wildlife Conservation Club
The Wildlife Conservation Club aims to educate its members on Wisconsin's native wildlife by collaborating with organizations like Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources, to implement hands-on experiences to those interested in wildlife management.


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:

The Third Avenue Gardens includes an area set aside for individual student garden plots. One of the main rules is no chemical use. The Community Gardens Club, through the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) 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 gardens are 100% maintained and operated by the involved student organizations .


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:

The Green Fund is a student-run committee funded through students’ segregated fees (appx $3/student/semester) for student projects for sustainable initiatives. This committee provides $60,000 to students for projects that promote sustainability on campus. Projects can be anything related to sustainability from social justice & climate change, to landscaping & food movements, or even business related projects. The bicycle FixIt stations by Reeve and the Rec Center were part of the first project approved by the Green Fund to increase cycling on campus. The UWO Free School was also funded by this student-run committee.


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?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
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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:

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 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?:
No

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
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The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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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:

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 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)?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
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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:

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 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:

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 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:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
Yes

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

Alternative Spring Break options are regularly available to various destinations.


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):
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.