| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.64 |
| Liaison | Casey Meehan |
| Submission Date | Dec. 22, 2020 |
Western Technical College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.25 / 2.00 |
Casey
Meehan Director of Sustainability and Resilience Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Green Energy Efficiency Club (G.E.E.C.)-The purpose of Green Energy Efficiency Club is to:
1. Assist and promote sustainable building practices, energy efficiency upgrades, and building science principles
2. Advocate for environmental sustainability
3. Create opportunities for Club members to participate in Club activities and additional learning experiences
4. Connect Club participants with local and surrounding communities to enhance Club and personal development
Landscape Horticulture-The Landscape Horticulture Club aims to further the education of the students involved with a variety of horticulture related activities. The club tours regional arboretums and landscapes to stimulate appreciation for the horticulture field. Funds for these trips are raised by growing and marketing plants at our spring plant sale, as well as additional fund raising events. In addition to planting trees around campus, the club grows plants for local community gardens, and helps maintain the landscape at the Historic Hixon House, and supports other non-profit properties. The Landscape Horticulture Club is proud to contribute to the beauty of the Western Technical Campus by adding to the palette of trees, shrubs and flowers. The Landscape Horticulture Club also contributes to the community through their involvement in landscape design, and some installations and maintenance for charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Hillview Life Center, City of La Crosse Parks, and other agencies. The club awards a minimum of two scholarships each year to members who have demonstrated commitment to the club and the profession.
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Western Technical College possess a green house where students learn techniques for growing different plants and organic vegetables used in our restaurant. Students in our sustainable food systems class learn about this, as do our horticulture education students.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
In October 2019 we hosted sustainability activist Rob Greenfield on campus. Rob met with our horticulture education students, hosted a lunch and learn open for all students, and gave a talk open to the public.
Western runs an annual sustainability focused event called Sustainapalooza each April. Students and the community learn about sustainability efforts at Western and local businesses and organizations.
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
• We have recycling bins provided in every resident suite, and in all common areas. We educate students passively (through e-mail and community signage) and actively (at in person meetings, and RA lead programming) on how to recycle
• We hold our annual Give and Go campaign at the end of each term to divert usable goods from the dumpsters, and repurpose the donated goods within our community (by providing them to new students in need or using them as all-hall amenities) or donating them local agencies
• Through our Citizenship learning outcome, each RA is required to do one active program a term that centers on sustainability, community service, or civic engagement
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Two work study positions are offered within the sustainability department. These positions work on many different projects and events that the department is currently working. Students receive first hand work experience dealing sustainability initiatives in an organization.
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.