| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.20 |
| Liaison | Anne Duncan |
| Submission Date | Jan. 29, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wartburg College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Anne
Duncan Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability |
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 | No |
| 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 | --- |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | Yes |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
EARTH - Environmental Activists Reaching Toward Humanity
This is student-run group is dedicated to creating a sustainable campus and conducts various events throughout the year to increase environmental awareness on campus and in the community.
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:
After the Flood of 2008 the City of Waverly provided flood buyout property adjacent to the college property which has been adopted as the garden plot. The property is over 1/4 acre, which allows for expansion and growth, but current needs only require a 40ft x 60ft garden plot. We use organic practices to ensure the high quality food. Produce from the garden is used by the college’s dining services or donated to a local food bank.
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:
none
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
Wartburg College has a student investment fund managed by students in our BA338 Portfolio Management course. The students use R.Paul Herman's HIP Investor framework to analyze the funds' securities. The HIP Investor framework involves evaluating companies based on (1) several indicators related to social impact and environmental sustainability practices, (2) how well these practices are integrated into all levels of management, and (3) how or if the company integrates these practices into its financial reporting.
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:
Campus Sustainability Days, held in October, engages students to learn about sustainable living, provide feedback through a forum and learn from professionals. Speakers are also brought in throughout the year and schedules allow.
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:
There are several cultural activities on campus, but we are unsure of their connection to sustainability. We have many international students from school systems that are leaders in sustainability education, and have sustainability engrained in their curriculum. This causes many of our international students to make sustainability part of their efforts unintentionally.
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:
To provide our students with access to high adventure programming which exceed our capacity, we have partnered with the University of Northern Iowa Outdoor Programs. Our students are able to attend at a discounted rate similar to that of UNI students. Prior to departure students are required to attend a pre-trip meeting, at which LNT principles are taught.
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:
As part of our required first year course this book was chosen in 2010-2011 as a common reader.
It is the story of a woman who moves back to her hometown in Arizona to take care of her ailing father. She works as a biology teacher at the local high school and one of the major plot points is the town's struggle against a mining company to stop them from polluting the town's water supply and the orchards that are the town's livelihood. It is a great "real life" applicable example of environmental sustainability.
The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
We have a model room, but it is not occupied. We found this to be better for viewing.
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 department is given funds annually to hire students to help implement sustainability programming. The students implement the efforts of the sustainability department, under the leadership of the sustainability coordinator.
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:
Graduating Wartburg College seniors can sign a pledge of social and environmental responsibility. The pledge helps to remind graduating seniors to be socially and environmentally responsibility in their future careers. Those who take the pledge receive a pin to wear underneath their gown during graduation and will be recognized during the ceremony by President Colson. The pledge states:
“I pledge to take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work.”
Over 70% of the 2013 graduates signed the pledge. Each year education about the importance of the pledge has increased, as well as signatories.
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
Wartburg College offers many co-curricular opportunities, although we can not verify if they do or do not include sustainability. We are fairly confident there has been at least one, but we don't have details.
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.