Villanova University
EN-3: Student Life

Student Working Group, President’s Environmental Sustainability Committee- This group is charged with overseeing student efforts associated with sustainability and the goals of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/sustainability/about/Committees.html#question_faq_3   Villanova Environmental Group- A university student group for those who want to address environmental issues on campus and in the country. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/peaceandjustice/studentorgs/environgroup.html   Villanova Ecological Society- Founded in 1994 by a group of biology undergraduates; focuses on ecology and environmental science. Activities include: (1) meetings to share information about ecological issues and environmental action; (2) field trips to regional sites for natural history observation, environmental education, service, and recreation; and (3) sponsorship of invited speakers and other events with ecological and environmental themes. https://vugroups.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ecologicalsocietyofvillanova   Business Without Borders- Formed in 2008 within the Villanova School of Business; affiliated with Net Impact Undergrad, a higher-education program that seeks to encourage undergraduates around themes of corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, green business, and other topics related to the ways in which business can be used to make a positive impact on the world. The mission of the Villanova group is to equip, educate, and inspire Villanova School of Business students to use their business skills for lasting social and environmental good. To fulfill this mission, Business without Borders Net Impact Undergrad Chapter 1) empowers undergraduate students to use their skills to positively impact their surroundings, 2) helps them put their beliefs into action through sustainability efforts, and 3) enlarges their network with other like-minded individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to social corporate responsibility. https://vugroups.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/businesswithoutborders Net Impact (Graduate): Promote a positive change, educating, empowering, and preparing students to enter into careers addressing the complex problems of sustainability. We look to cultivate leadership employing a Whole Systems Perspective and a Social, Technological, Economical, Environmental and Political model. Providing them with the tools and networking to become world-ready. (https://www.facebook.com/Net-Impact-Villanova-Graduate-Chapter-694355197367082/timeline)   Environmental and Energy Law Society, Villanova Law School - Dedicated to exploring the effects and prospects of law relating to the environment and energy. The group is primarily concerned with US energy policies and the environmental consequences they produce.

Villanova is a drop off site for a Community Supported Agriculture program. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in the CSA. The President’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, student working group have been working to get a garden on campus for over five years. they were finally successful in getting the approval from administration spring of 2016. The garden now has funding from a donor and will be constructed over the summer of 2017. The garden will serve as a research and academic space for University course work and outside organizations. Additionally, the Villanova Community Garden student group coordinates visits to area farms for students to garden in.

There are no student-run enterprises on campus, but there is The Villanova Equity Society, a student funds management group on campus that invests money in socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens.

The Villanova Equity Society, a student funds management group on campus that invests money in socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens.

Every year we hold an Earth Day celebration that includes a guest speaker, as well as a poster session where students are able to showcase their sustainability projects done throughout the year.The celebration also includes a farmers market. Speakers have included: panel discussions on hydraulic fracturing and sustainable agriculture, and keynote addresses from Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia, Dean Carlson from Wyebrook Farms, Dr. Ben Horton from Rutgers, and Dominic Frongillo. In addition to the farmers market and poster session, students participated in an Earth Day service trip to a local farm to help with prepping the farm for planting. In addition to Earth Day, we participated in Campus Sustainability Week for the fourth time last year. Activities included campus tree tours, and the sustainable careers panel (VU alumni that have developed a sustainable career). Fall 2016, Peterson Toscano came to campus to give a talk on climate change and faith, as well as guest lecture in a few classrooms. The panel on the intersection of Faith and Environment was held in the Fall 2014. Panelist discussed the connection between sustainability and Catholicism. Richard Alley, the Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Penn State University, spoke on campus twice during the Fall 2014 semester. The Villanova Center for the Advancement of Sustainability in Engineering hosts a lecture series every semester on new technologies and research as it relates to sustainable engineering. http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/engineering/research/centers/vcase/lectures.html Lastly, many of our professors offer courses throughout the year that focus on different sustainability issues and invite guest presenters to come to campus as part of the class. When possible we open those presentations up to the entire Villanova community. In the Fall 2013 we had a series of speakers on sustainable business practices. For the 2014 Spring semester we had a series of guest lectures on local sustainable practices.

For Campus Sustainability Day (Fall) students collect trash from the two main dining halls on main campus and pill them on the center of campus. The installation is up for one day, and meant to raise awareness among students of their waste production.

Villanova's Outdoors Club hosts regular hiking, white water rafting, and skiing outings. The group is conscious of protecting the environment they are in and follow Leave No Trace principles.

For the 2016-2017 academic year, the Sixth Extinction was the chosen "One Book". All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to read the book, and all freshman are required to read the book. In the Fall, the author was brought to campus to give a keynote address. Throughout the year there have been a series of special events around the books topic, include a bio blitz, a group scavenger hunt to identify plant and animal species on campus.

Incoming freshman can register to live in the Environmental Leadership Learning Community. Though this learning community, students: -Take a specially-designed section of the humanities seminar Augustine and Culture (ACS) with other students in their Experience community, focusing holistically on the question of "Who Am I?" in relation to the natural environment and human culture -Participate in a one-credit workshop style class that meets weekly in the residence hall, called Villanova Experience (VEXP), which will explore: -Effective ways to communicate about a variety of issues relevant to the first-year college experience -Current issues, practices, and innovations that impact the natural world -Ways in which both local and larger communities can care for the natural world -Opportunities to work in small groups - Students in the community live together in Katharine Hall on the south campus -Enjoy an enriched academic and co-curricular experience because of student and faculty interactions in and out of the classroom, creating a stronger community for first-year students. Activities outside of the classroom include "movie and pizza" nights, on-campus lectures and special events, and off-campus field trips to locations such as organic urban farms, eco-housing developments, and manufacturers of eco-friendly products.

Facilities has one-two students a year to assist with office needs, about 70% of one workers time is spent on sustainability efforts.

Villanova started participating in the graduation pledge this past graduation, spring 2015. The pledge reads: "I pledge to apply sustainability learning and values from my Villanova experience as I explore and improve the social and environmental consequences of any organizations or communities in which I work, write and live." Opportunities to sign the pledge were made available during the graduation fair. Students who signed the pledge were given a recycled rubber bookmark with the pledge written on it.