Virginia Tech
ER-T2-1: Student Group

Many student organizations at Virginia Tech actively focus on sustainability issues. Total, there are over 600 different student organizations on campus. The student organizations listed below are among the most active sustainability-focused groups on campus.

1. The Environmental Coalition (EC):
The EC is the most active sustainability focused organization on campus. The EC consists of students (undergraduate and graduate), faculty, and community members. The mission of the EC is as follows, “To advocate for a sustainable future by uniting, educating and motivating community members to serve at the local, state and national levels.” The EC places equal emphasis on education and action, offering speakers at meetings, field trips, and local volunteer opportunities related to sustainability. The EC is the lead organization that plans the annual Earth Week events and festivities at Virginia Tech. Additional EC activities include participation in the following: Powershift, campus cleanups, stream cleanups, camping trips, mountaintop removal coal mining site field trip, fundraisers and others. For more information about the EC, please see: www.theecvt.wordpress.com

2. Oxfam at Virginia Tech:
Oxfam at Virginia Tech is a campus club that supports Oxfam America initiatives, raises awareness, and helps local communities in need. Oxfam at Virginia Tech’s mission is dedicated to finding lasting solutions to hunger, poverty, and social injustice. Founded just a year and a half ago, Oxfam at Virginia Tech has nearly 40 active members and has raised over $10,000 for their causes. Activities to date include holding a Hunger Banquet to raise awareness of the nearly one billion people suffering from chronic hunger. For more information about Oxfam at Virginia Tech, please see: http://www.oxfam.org.vt.edu/

3. Sustainable Food Corps:
The Sustainable Food Corps at Virginia Tech is a student organization that encourages the production and consumption of local and regional foods that are healthy and nutritious. The mission of the Sustainable Food Corps is “To promote economic development within our community, to support a resilient, sustainable, locally-owned food system which provides improved citizen access to local and regional food.” For more information about Sustainable Food Corps at Virginia Tech, please see: http://vtsustainablefoodcorps.wordpress.com/about-the-corps/

4. Students for Clean Energy:
Virginia Tech Beyond Coal and VTGreenpeace are now joining forces as Students for Clean Energy to work towards the goal of ending coal combustion on campus by 2020! We advocate for a 100% clean energy transition at Tech which may include wind, solar, geothermal and energy efficiency measures. Their mission is " to convince and commit the Virginia Tech Administration to transition from coal at the campus steam plant to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2020. We believe that as a top research and engineering institution, we can and should lead our country in establishing the clean, safe, and renewable energy economy that we deserve. Our organization focuses on public media events, educational presentations, petitions to the school administration, and building and strengthening a coalition of students, faculty, organizations, and town members to move beyond coal at VT." For more information about Virginia Tech Students for Clean Energy, please see: https://www.facebook.com/VTforCleanEnergy

5. Seek Education Explore DiScover (SEEDS) – Virginia Tech Student Chapter:
SEEDS is a local non-profit educational organization that creates inquiry-based, discovery oriented activities for everyone. SEEDS has a Student Chapter at Virginia Tech that strives to teach children to be active citizens in a sustainable society. For more information about SEEDS, please see: http://www.seedskids.org/

6. Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) – Virginia Tech Student Chapter:
SWCS is a nonprofit organization that advocates the protection, enhancement, and wise use of soil, water, and related natural resources. The Virginia Tech Student Chapter of SWCS participates in a variety of service and social activities throughout the year, including Save Our Streams Biomonitoring at local streams, educational workshops, stream clean-ups, hiking, and other conservation activities. For more information about the Virginia Tech Student Chapter of SWCS, please see: http://ww2.bse.vt.edu/swcs/

7. Engineers Without Borders - Virginia Tech Chapter:
Engineers Without Borders is a service organization that works to connect engineers with communities that need help, all over the world. Their mission is to “partner with disadvantaged areas to improve their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally, equitably, and economically sustainable engineering projects while developing internationally responsible engineers and engineering students through education, encouragement, and experience.” For more information about the Virginia Tech Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, please see: http://www.ewbvirginiatech.org/

8. Chesapeake Bay Student Network (CBSN):
The CBSN is a student-led network for which students, educators, and organizations with interests in Chesapeake Bay restoration can communicate & form relationships. Virginia Tech students participated in CBSN’s efforts. The mission of the CBSN is “To facilitate professional student involvement towards Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.” CBSN is a fairly young organization and is beginning to recruit additional support and membership. CBSN activities to date include the “Alternative Spring Break with Chesapeake Bay Foundation” and partnership with other student organizations.

9. Leadership Tech – Society & Environmental Sustainability Team:
All students have the opportunity to join Leadership Tech, a co-curricular program that fosters student leadership development through experiential learning and student involvement. Students with junior or greater standing can join the Engaging Leadership teams, one of which is the Society & Environmental Sustainability Team. The Society & Environmental Sustainability Team is for those interested in creating more sustainable society, including issues such as community and campus sustainability, ecosystem protection and restoration, and/or creating a fairer and just society. Students participate in weekly group activities that connect to their theme area and work as a team to create community engagement projects. For more information about the Leadership Tech – Society & Environmental Sustainability Team, please see: http://www.studentcenters.vt.edu/leadership/leadershiptech.php

10. Environmental Student Organization:
The Environmental Student Organization (ESO) at Virginia Tech is devoted to promoting the importance of environmental stewardship and awareness through service, education and enjoyment of the outdoors. The club is geared toward students with an environmental interest and is open to all majors. They provide a comfortable outlet for students to share activities, projects, and ideas. For more information about ESO, please see: http://www.cses.vt.edu/current-students/environmental-science-organization.html

For an article highlighting how students have been directly involved with sustainability initiatives at Virginia Tech, please see: http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/innovation/2010-05-17-sustainability/sustainability.html

Due to the scope, variety, and continual growth of student sustainability initiatives at Virginia Tech, the activities and accomplishments of each student group are continuously evolving. Please see the individual websites of each student group listed above for their most recent initiatives, activities, and accomplishments.