Western Michigan University
EN-3: Student Life

The WMU Clean Water Project is a student organization dedicated to fundraising and advocating for every human's right to clean water around the world.

BioClub - WMU Biology Club is a great way for students to meet professors and other students who share similar interest in the biological sciences. This club promotes study in the field of biology through campus and community involvement.

Students for a Sustainable Earth - The goal and mission of SSE to promote attitudes and behaviors on campus and in the wider Kalamazoo community that are environmentally and culturally sustainable. To accomplish this goal, SSE employs a variety of tactics including events, campaigns, and projects.

A) The Stadium Drive Community Garden is a 15,000 square foot garden operated by Western Michigan University. Garden plots are available to the campus community and the public. Community garden participants are encouraged to plant a row for the hungry and donate their extra produce to local food banks. In 2011, the Student Garden Organization partnered with nearby campus-owned Stadium Drive apartments so residents could co-manage the community garden. In 2012, the garden transitioned from a student project into a project of the Office for Sustainability. In both 2012 and 2013, the garden increased in size to accommodate the growing interest in growing on campus! After two years of management, the Office for Sustainability passed stewardship responsibilities to Students for a Sustainable Earth and the BioClub. (Student Governed)

B) WMU also has a Student Farm, or Production Garden, that has been operated at the Gibbs House and more recently adjacent to the Community Garden. A variety of heirloom and organic vegetables are cultivated and distributed through catering events, cooking classes (WMU Dietetics and Catering Services), and free giveaways to the campus community. The farm serves as a living laboratory for research on sustainable food systems, ecology, biology, composting, and permaculture. Campus and community groups may book educational tours or volunteer on the farm from early spring through late fall. (Student Governed)

The Campus Beet, is a sustainable campus lunch that features vegetarian and vegan meals for the campus community. In its current location at the Wesley Center the Beet offers a cafe' atmosphere and sometimes features live music.

https://wmich.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/thecampusbeet

WMU students pay a student sustainability fee, which funds annual Student Sustainability Grants. Up to $75,000 is available to fund student-authored proposals which promote a campus culture of sustainability and have the potential to benefit all WMU students. The SSG Allocations Committee is 100% student led and includes representatives from all academic colleges and both undergraduate and graduate students. (Student Governed)

The Office for Sustainability is a gathering place for information about campus and community opportunities for sustainability education. Any campus speakers, seminars, or events connected to sustainability are posted on the home page. Campus offices, departments, and student groups often collaborate to support and promote sustainability activities.

Students at the Office for Sustainability coordinate WMU’s annual National Campus Sustainability Day, which over the past three years has showcased a variety of free events such as a community roundtable discussions, expert speakers, and campus tours. (Student Governed)

Student groups led by Office for Sustainability collaborate to host an annual SustainabiliBASH at the end of each academic year. The BASH is a celebration of campus and community sustainability efforts, skill sharing, music, and activism. (Student Governed)

The Office for Sustainability hosts a revolving student art gallery. Artwork must be related (but not limited to); sustainability, nature, environmental justice, waste, community, culture, ecology, innovation, biodiversity, recycling, agriculture, energy, climate change, etc.

The Leaders Unplugged program consists of backpacking trips focused on personal exploration and leadership concepts. There is a weekend trip in the fall and a week-long trip in the spring.

The Open Bike Shop is a clearinghouse for non-motorized transportation education, advocacy, and policy efforts. It leads workshops, group rides, guided tours, weekly open shop nights, and research. The Bike Shop is run by students with the Office for Sustainability. (Student Governed)

Gibbs House Fellowships provide a year-long residential fellowship for students who want a more seamless sustainability experience with their education. Fellows participate in leadership and discovery-driven learning opportunities and are paid to research and work on campus sustainability projects and policies. Fellows live in the 150 year old Gibbs House across from Asylum Lake, which also serves as a community sustainability resource center.

The Office for Sustainability offers an average of 20 student "Green Jobs" a semester. These paid positions include part-time positions at the Office for Sustainability, Wesustain Internships, Gibbs House Fellowships, and graduate assistantships. The Green Jobs are funded by the student Sustainability Fee, and additional students are hired from a facilities operation fund to work on waste reduction and recycling efforts. All jobs are promoted on Handshake - WMU’s Career and Student Employment Service job database.

The Center for Sustainable Business Practices is housed in the Haworth College of Business. This group works to infuse sustainability throughout the business colleges' curriculum.

The group also completes the PRME report, which helps schools compare their progress on education towards SDGs in the following way:

Working through Six Principles, PRME engages business and management schools to ensure they provide future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic and sustainability goals, while drawing attention to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aligning academic institutions with the work of the UN Global Compact.

https://wmich.edu/sustainablebusiness/prmereport

The groups current published goals include:

Continue to roll out BUS 4500: Business Ethics and Sustainability moving from one section to eight sections;

Identify and provide resources for faculty to help integrate sustainability topics into their courses and to support sustainability research;

Explore innovative opportunities to expose more faculty to sustainability initiatives;

Collaborate with colleagues across the University to promote a culture that embraces sustainability;

Continue to promote sustainability study abroad opportunities:

Promote greater use of service-learning in the Haworth College of Business.