Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.65
Liaison Jennifer Bodine
Submission Date Feb. 19, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Weber State University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Jennifer Bodine
Sustainability Specialist
Facilities Management
"---" 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:

In addition to the Environmental Ambassadors, listed under credit EN-1, WSU has a student chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which promotes and educates the campus on green building techniques.

WSU also has a student chapter of the Food Recovery Network which recovers food twice weekly and takes it to the Weber Cares Pantry on campus and the Lantern House, a homeless shelter, in downtown Ogden.


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:

A group of WSU students established a community garden in the summer of 2011. The garden has been volunteer run and open to all students, faculty, and staff that are willing to volunteer their time.

This year the Energy & Sustainability Office received student funding to hire a paid student community garden coordinator along with funding to operate and maintain the garden. This paid coordinator, along with student volunteers, will operate the garden to provide fresh food for the campus food pantry, Weber Cares.


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)?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
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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:

Since 2010, Weber State University has annually hosted the Intermountain Sustainability Summit (ISS). The Intermountain Sustainability Summit is an annual benchmark event where sustainability professionals from business, non-profits, government and education come together, along with the next generation of leaders, to learn, share, network and build momentum as we work to improve our communities, environment and economy. The 10th Annual conference will be held on March 21-22, 2019.

WSU is


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:

WSU hosts an annual Engaged Learning Series (ELS), which is a university-wide series of events designed to engage students, faculty, staff, and community in discussion, debate, dialogue, learning, and action around an issue of public concern. Each installation of the ELS features multiple facets, including a specific focus on sustainability. Art exhibits, installations, and performances have been incorporated into this series over the past several years.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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:

Weber State University has an Outdoor Program, through Campus Recreation, that organizes a variety of outdoor trips and opportunities including rock climbing, backpacking, etc. All WSU Outdoor Program leaders/teachers are required to take training courses that incorporate Leave No Trace principles. These principles are then incorporated into every WSU Outdoor Program outing or event. Leave No Trace brochures are also available in the Outdoor Program's Office.


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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

As discussed above, WSU hosts an annual engaged learning series which always includes sustainability.


The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
No

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
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Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:

Both the Sustainability Practices and Research Center and the Energy & Sustainability Office on campus run a paid student internship program. Currently 6 students are employed by these programs. These students are also involved in running the student Environmental Ambassadors Program, the Intermountain Sustainability Summit, community programs, and more.


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:

Shades of Green is a multi-disciplinary course covering sustainability perspectives from physics to philosophy, English to engineering and biology to business.

Offered as a 1-credit class, students, staff, and community members are also encouraged to just drop in — free of charge. This course runs over the lunch hour, making it a perfect time to bring a lunch and enjoy the discussion.


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.