University of Wisconsin-River Falls
EN-3: Student Life

The Student Alliance for Local and Sustainable Agriculture (SALSA) is a student group passionate about organic, sustainable, and local agriculture. We maintain the UWRF Student Garden, and are an educational outreach to the campus and community through providing guest speakers, opportunities for our members to attend conferences, interactive lecture series, and educational film showings. SALSA's activities are described further in the sustainable agriculture section below. Resource Management Club (RMC) provides training and volunteer opportunities in conservation work. Past events have included Leave No Trace trainings, river and pond cleanups, assisting in local prairie remnant restoration and maintenance, and volunteering with the US Fish and Wildlife Service's education days. The Environmental Corps of Sustainability (ECOS) club was founded in early 2013, originally called Fossil Free Falcons. The organization initially formed to educate, advocate, and lobby for divestment of UWRF endowment funds from fossil fuel-based investments. The club has expanded to broader environmental activism, both on campus and nationally. Members organized to educate other and protest the Keystone Pipeline. ECOS supports the work of SALSA and RMC. The Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice (SACJ) Club is a UWRF student organization made up of students who have an interest in affecting social, gender, and cultural equality, social justice, and criminal justice through a better understanding of society as a whole. The Student Social Work Association (SSWA) is a UWRF student-lead group for that encourages anyone interested in social justice to become involved in their community through resume-building volunteerism and awareness. We create and participate in many different and varied projects, big and small. This group encourages networking and relationship-building between people of all backgrounds and identities. The UWRF student chapter of the St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity is a club focused on housing justice in Pierce and St. Croix counties. The club is dedicated to helping our community to partner with people in need of affordable home ownership, by enabling them to acquire simple, decent, homes and improving their lives.

The Student Alliance for Local and Sustainable Agriculture (SALSA) has had a 40 ft X 60 ft Student Garden in the campus outdoor teaching plots since 2013. This spring will be the third growing season. The garden contains crops such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, and a herbs. The students grow produce to process and sell "salsa" as an organization fundraiser. Surplus produce is given to students and the local community food shelf. The students are maintaining a non-certified organic and sustainably grown garden. The Garden does not use synthetic chemicals, nor transgenic seeds.

Our Student Investment Team, in consultation with the CFA Society of Minnesota, has been researching renewable energy companies in the region as possible investments for our foundation. The Glenn Potts Financial Trading Room has been the nexus of our research (provided by Dr. Charlie Corcoran).

UWRF holds a vast array of events aimed at staff, faculty, and students. Examples include Campus Sustainability Day, the Just Local events, WE Bike River Falls, Earth Day Activities, Organic Valley Generation Organic Bus Tour, as well as others. Examples also include the 2010 UMACS Conference, Campus Sustainability Day, Focus the Nation, Synergy Conference, and Earth Partnership Luncheon. Also on Earth Day of 2012 UWRF hosted an event titled "Go Local" which included a group bike ride as well as a display of information regarding the importance of Local Living.

Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity (URSCA): The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is dedicated to providing opportunities and resources that foster student-faculty collaborative projects, enhance student development and promote a culture of Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity across campus. It is our goal to both continue and increase support to students, both during the academic year and summer sessions. We will enhance support for faculty and the infusion of URSCA in the curriculum. Fall Gala 2014 A fall showcase event to celebrate the research, scholarly, and creative activity of UWRF students. All disciplines are invited to present their work through posters, art and science displays, short films, and PowerPoint or Prezi presentations. Posters on the Hill 2014 Nationally, students are selected on a competitive basis to present their research posters at an event that hosts invited guests, including Senators, Congressional Representatives, Congressional Staff, federal agency program officers and the science press corps.

The University is an Educational Partner with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. UWRF Outdoor Education students enrolled in PED301 - Foundations of Outdoor Leadership will become Certified Leave No Trace Trainers. The University has outlets to connect students with nature, thereby heightening their appreciation for the natural world, including the services and spiritual connections it can provide. Falcon Outdoor Adventures provides free of charge rental items such as camping gear, cross country skis, rock climbing gear, snow shoes, golf clubs, and fishing poles and leads trips and excursions that range from afternoon and day-long kayaking, hiking, to skiing outings. The Outdoor Education Minor provides a series of outdoor experiences to develop personal skills to prepare students to teach outdoor activities. Leave No Trace principles are emphasized in this training. A new student organization called the UWRF Outdoor Adventure Collective was formed in Fall 2011 focusing on student-led wilderness trips that use LNT principles and have a focus on sustainable use of the outdoors. The faculty advisor is advised by Paul Shirilla. Student leaders are Outdoor Education minors and Falcon Outdoor Adventures employees.

In 2014, a CONNECTIONS Community was formed in one of the Residence Halls. Learning Communities have varied each year based on need and interests. This year's focuses on: Connections is a living and learning community for first-year students living in the residence halls. Participants are not limited by major so anyone is eligible to join, regardless of area of study. Connections offers increased support during the transition from high school to college. The community helps students connect with academic, cultural, and social resources, while providing opportunities to interact with some of the best faculty at UWRF.

Permaculture Design Certificate Course: http://www.uwrf.edu/SCISCD/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=333321 We do not have a specific model room dedicated to sustainability, but the model room we do have in Hathorn Hall for prospective students and parents to visit does have information on creating a green living space displayed (update for 2015 given Residence Life office remodel and change in use of this space).

-Kelly Cain, Director of St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development: 4 Undergraduate Research Fellows. 2 devoted primarily on STARS data collection and communications. 1 assigned to developing a digital sustainable campus map. 1 tasked to create a dynamic interface for students and staff to understand real-time energy use on campus. -Bethany Gapinski, Sustainability Coordinator: 1 intern for engaging and revamping the residence hall Eco-Rep program. 1 intern to collect data for the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Project. -Amy Lloyd, Service Coordinator: 2 Destination Interns to develop service-learning opportunities for students within environmental and social justice. -Karyn Wells, Featured Events Coordinator: 2 interns to implement the Wyman Series, a presentation series featuring multicultural performers and speakers covering social and environmental justice as well as wellness topics. -Ashley Olson, Sociocultural Coordinator: 2 PEACE interns (20hr/wk $8.50/hr) and 13 PEACE workshop co-facilitators ($700/yr stipend). Peer Empowerment and Community Education (PEACE) offers empowering experiences to create inclusive, sustainable, peaceful, nonviolent, just, democratic communities for all. -Mark Klapatch, Custodial Services: Student custodial employment assists with campus surplus sales and green cleaning.

The graduation pledge is a voluntary commitment made by graduating seniors to seek socially and environmentally responsible employment and/or to help positively change the ethical practices at their current employer (last done in Spring 2014). Students receive a wallet-sized card with pledge and resources, a green wrist band imprinted with "Graduation Pledge Signer", and access to additional resources.