Western Kentucky University
EN-3: Student Life

GreenToppers Students for Sustainability is an organization that promotes environmental education, sustainable living, and community service. The club seeks to bring sustainable practices to the local community by having a volunteer presence and spreading environmental knowledge through student-led educational opportunities.

WKU Food Recovery is a chapter of the Food Recovery Network. It is a student-run service organization that strives to solve the environmental problem of food waste and the human rights issue of food insecurity through recovering surplus food that would be wasted and donating it to people in need. WKU Food Recovery recovers food from campus restaurants every Monday through Friday during the semester. In addition, the organization has weekly meetings with fun activities and social events related to food and sustainability at the Office of Sustainability.

Members of the WKU Horticulture Club plant, propagate, and care for the various plant species in the WKU greenhouse. A few times a year, we sell plants, primarily succulents, on campus in order to raise funds for our endeavors. The club spends time volunteering at local places such as the Baker Arboretum doing work such as weeding, planting, and mulching. Our volunteerism not only improves our city, but also allows us to become more connected with our community. The WKU Horticulture Club is open to any WKU student regardless of experience and major. The club promotes a soothing environment in which students can learn about plant species, how to care for plants, and serve in their community.

SGA Campus Improvements and Sustainability Committee focuses on incorporating sustainability into university academics and demonstrating sustainability in operational practices as good stewards of resources and a model of exemplary practices for campus. This committee works on a myriad issues facing many college campuses and communities across the United States such as recycling, paper usage, renewable energy, reducing the university carbon footprint. Members collaborate on projects and events such as the annual Earth Day Festival. This committee is open to everyone. You do not have to be a member of Student Government Association to join.

WKU Water Professionals seeks to create a network of students interested in the field of water resource management. Water is the essence of all life. But along with water comes the management of its many forms. As water managers, we strive to understand and predict Kentucky and Tennessee's drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. They bring guest speakers to campus and support a selection of students attending professional conferences related to water resources.

WKU Chapter of the WaterStep Club responds to critical needs for safe water by evaluating and implementing solutions and teaching people to use those tools on campus.

The campus also has chapters of Agricultural Education Society, Habitat for Humanity, Student Rural Health Association, Student United Way, American Conservation Coalition (ACC), Ecology and Conservation Club, and Wildlife and Conservation Club.

The Office of Sustainability partners with other departments and local experts to connect students to off-campus volunteer opportunities to learn about sustainable gardening practices (Top Crops, Need More Acres Farms).
https://www.wku.edu/sustainability/garden_commons.php

WKU has owned an off-campus farm since 1934. The farm raises livestock and grows a variety of crops, allowing students to gain experience in their area of agricultural interest. Livestock enterprises consist of dairy, beef, and equine, preparing students for careers in both Animal Science and Pre-Veterinary careers. Crops include corn, soybeans, wheat, grass hay, and alfalfa, providing hands on experience for Agronomy, Plant Science, Horticulture, and Turf Management careers. The farm provides research opportunities in soil testing, USDA research, faculty research, and corn and soybean research trials. Students can learn innovative composting strategies by working in the farm's mulch yard. Students combine leaves, manure and campus food waste to create high-quality compost.
https://www.wku.edu/agriculture/wkuarec.php

WKU also hosts a pollinator garden in the middle of campus for student utilize and learn from that was created through a partnership through the Office of Sustainability, WKU Ecology Club, and Student Government Association.

The TOP IDEAS Entrepreneurship Challenge is a student competition sponsored by the WKU Gordon Ford College of Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Division to develop the best business ideas that "could make a difference."

The Office of Sustainability maintains a Green Development Fund. This fund is supported by donations and grant support. Students can apply for "seed" money from the fund to student projects and support new sustainability-related initiatives of the University. http://alumni.wku.edu/s/808/index.aspx?sid=808&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=1863&ecid=1863&cri=

Surplus sales are also used to fund sustainability projects on campus.
https://www.wku.edu/surplus/

The Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences department has hosted the following sustainability seminars:

Harnessing the Power of Biogeochemical Fingerprints of Metabolism in Modern Coral Reef Ecosystems, Dr. Isaiah Bolton, Vanderbilt, University Academic Pathways Postdoctoral Scholar in the Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences.

IYCK 2021: Explore, Understand, Protect. George Veni,President, International Union of Speleology and Director, NationalCave and Karst Institute

The Mammoth Cave Biosphere Region – Where Groundwater Connects Us All, Lee Anne Bledsoe, Secretary, US Biosphere Networkand Co-Coordinator, CaveMABNetwork

Hidden Landscapes: The Intersection of Clean Water, Culture, and Karst in southcentral Kentucky Dr. Chris Groves, University Distinguished Professor, EEAS, Director

Highlights of Recent Karst Research and Education at WKU - Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies, Dr. Jason Polk, Director Center for Human GeoEnvironmental Studies (CHNGES) and Dr. Leslie North, Director, Office of Sustainability and Associate Director of Outreach and Education, CHNGES.

High Latitude Hydrology, Water in a Changing World, presented by Jon Martin, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida.

Billy Van Pelt.American Farmland Trust, presents: Farming is our Future - Land, Practices, and People.
https://www.wku.edu/eeas/activity.php

As part of the President’s Speaker Series, Robert Ballard presented on campus about his work in oceanography, underwater archeology, and education.

The History Department hosted a screening of the movie Dirt for students to learn more about the soil.

Housing and Residence Life hosted Drag is Art on April 6th.
https://wkuherald.com/71410/life/drag-is-art-wku-hrl-hosts-annual-drag-show/

The WKU Feminist Student Union hosted a period products drive to ensure students who may need access to period products would have access.
https://wkuherald.com/71404/news/wku-feminist-student-union-holds-period-products-drive/

WISE hosted a period products drive to ensure students who may need access to period products would have access.

Sustainability night in Hilltopper Hall was hosted. This was a student led sustainability focused night in one of the on-campus dorms.

WKU Agriculture streamed Biggest Little Farm documentary at Baker's Arboretum for students to attend and learn more about sustainability agriculture.

Streamside field day/Down by the Creek occurs once a year in collaboration with the city of Bowling Green. Community members are encouraged to attend with their families and learn more about their local environment through organizations such as JCPARCC, UnderBGKY, and other local environmental stakeholders.

PCAL food campaign/donation campaign happens once per year at their fall festival, “PCAL Land”. They host a department wide competition to encourage students to donate canned and packaged goods to donate to the Office of Sustainability on campus. This recent year, PCAL hosted a donation drive for the International Center of Kentucky, seeking goods such as socks, hygiene products, and toothbrushes. These activities contribute to social equity and sustainability in the WKU and Bowling Green community.
https://www.wku.edu/pcal/fall_festival.php

Hilltopper Nutrition, in collaboration with WKU Restaurant Group and Campus Recreation and Wellness provides a variety of events and programming to support sustainability efforts on campus. Hilltopper Nutrition works with the office of Sustainability, supporting the campus food pantry and partnering with community partners and other campus departments to educate and encourage sustainable practices by holding events on campus throughout the school year.

Top Crops – promoted Top Crops program at Community Farmers Market event

Healthy Days 2023 (500 people) How to compost with green-to-go containers
Market on the Avenue 9.18.19, 10.16.19 Event in which Hilltopper Nutrition (formerly Wholesome) provided services of Full time Dietitian on campus available to students and provided healthier options on campus in the form of food samples and informative handouts.

The Kentucky Sustainable Living Homesteading & Preparedness Festival was hosted in October 2023 and is focused on building skills in the homesteading and preparedness realms. The festival includes hands on demonstrations in areas such as butchering, foraging and discussions about topics like marketing, land management and food preservation.
https://www.wku.edu/events/index.php?eventid=79640&view=event

The 2022 KenTenn Weather Workshop was held in October 2022. KenTenn is a free event designed for Kentucky and Tennessee residents, but it is open to all! Topics included the historic December 10-11, 2021, tornado outbreak, including a Keynote Presentation from the Mayor of Mayfield; the 2022 Eastern Kentucky Floods; and the 2021 Waverly, Tennessee, Flooding.
https://www.wku.edu/events/index.php?eventid=78171&view=event

The annual WKU Cultural Enhancement Series (CES) provides the campus and community the opportunity to meet some of the nation’s most influential artists and intellectuals. The goal of the series is to challenge audiences, to expose them to new ideas, and give them new perspectives on our world. Attendance is free and open to all and students are encouraged to attend through a variety of incentives.

In February 2020, the WKU Museum launched the Gazing Deeply: The Art and Science of Mammoth Cave exhibit at the museum. Coinciding with the upcoming 50th anniversary of Earth Day, this exhibit is a timely look into conservation issues, the interdisciplinary and collaborative work of scientists and artists, and features artworks and narratives by WKU faculty and students. Visitors to the exhibition discover:
• How Mammoth Cave has formed and is explored, including how explorers study and document the cave;
• What international karst scientists saw when they looked at historic illustrations of Mammoth Cave;
• Artistic works by art instructor Julie Schuck and her students about Mammoth Cave and its inhabitants, informed by their tours of the cave and scientific studies;
• Mammoth Cave's sister parks and how YOU can help protect these vital regions; and
• How WKU is fostering applied, interdisciplinary learning and inspiring the next generation of Science+Art changemakers.
https://www.wku.edu/kentuckymuseum/exhibits/gazingdeeply.php

In October 2022, the WKU Kentucky Museum hosted its annual ‘Hammer In’. Hammer In, a free family-friendly community event, is a gathering of metalworkers endeavoring to preserve the craft and techniques of the blacksmith forge and foundry arts through demonstrations in both historic and modern day form.
https://www.wku.edu/events/index.php?eventid=78145&view=event

January-February 2023, an exhibit for Danielle Mužina was held. Mužina makes paintings that explore place, identity, and crisis, inspired by both personal lived and inherited familial experiences. She uses the homespace as a point of grounding and as a metaphor.
https://www.wku.edu/events/index.php?eventid=78138&view=event

The 7th Interfaith Dialogue on Earth Care was held in November 2023 and consisted of a screening of Dirt! The Movie followed by roundtable discussions on Religion, Science and Sustainability and how all three topics relate to the environment.
https://www.wku.edu/cebs/news/index.php?view=article&articleid=11619

The WKU Outdoor Recreation and Activities Center (ORAC) offers guided camping trips, floats, and other outdoor activities. All emphasize Leave No Trace and are student governed under the advisement of Intramural Recreational Sports. ORAC also maintains a challenge course and offers equipment rental and bicycle maintenance for a small fee.
Leave No Trace is also a significant element of many of WKU's Recreation courses.

Since the WKU Office of Sustainability is uniquely housed in a historic home on the WKU campus rather than a traditional academic or administrative building, in 2019, the Office of Sustainability was remodeled to feature sustainable "demonstration home" features. This elements are discussed on all tours of the house to teach students about how living spaces can become more sustainable through simple changes.

Resource Conservation has presented at RA training, assisted in move-in recycling efforts, offers sustainability resources to RA's and assisted in MasterPlan sustainability efforts.

The Office of Sustainability has partnered with WKU Athletics to feature sustainability-related talks during student athlete student life skills workshops. The Office has also partnered with the WKU Athletics Division to develop student-athlete led sustainability initiatives on campus.

WKU Healthy Days events focuses on providng information and opportunities to gain experience with healthier living on campus. This includes physical and mental health and includes information on sustainability as it relates to health.

WKU Hope on the Hill is an annual event focusing on providing free mental health resources, activities, food, and giveaways from campus partners including how sustainability can be a part of improving mental health.

Student engagement is a primary focus in all university efforts related to sustainability, with the idea that involving students in these initiatives in a practical and applied way prepares them for such efforts in their professional capacities. For example...

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Office of Sustainability offered four student employment positions. All four of these students are on scholarship. An additional 6 working for the office as ambassadors. These student received a scholarship for their assistance each academic semester.

The Department of Resource Conservation employs 5 student workers; two to assist in day-to-day operations and implement the Diddle/Smith Recycling Program, one to process electronic waste and make auction listings and two to facilitate the dining compost program.

WKU Dining Services employees a student to assist with WKU Food Recovery program and help develop sustainable dining programs. An additional student is employed to develop outreach materials related to sustainable food and dining services on campus. Workers go through sustainability training including waste minimization and sustainability best practices, work to gather compost each day, and specific employees work to gather food recovery materials each day

The Office of Sustainability partners with Housing and Residence Life, the Student Wellness (WellU) program, and Dining Services on programs that educate students about ways that they can reduce their personal as well as the university's environmental impact. These include topics such as energy conservation, local and healthy food, and waste reduction.

WKU Resource Conservation partners with Fashion Merchandising, GEOG 280 classes, HRL, SGA and various campus/community organizations to provide recycling and composting at events.

Resource Conservation partners with SGA to pass waste reduction legislation. Resource Conservation has provided recycling/compost bins at the Bowling Green International Festival and BG Science Fest. Since recycling was ended in the Warren County region, the county in which WKU resides, WKU has allowed free public drop-off of recyclable materials in large community bins we have placed on our campus.

In IDFM 321 "Professional Ethics & Issues Seminar" the focus is on the interdisciplinary study of social trends, professional issues, and professional ethics impacting careers including those related to sustainability.

In IDFM 426 "Design Market Trends" the focus is on understanding of the nuances of a trend and how it manifests on a global scale including trends in sustainability.