| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.90 |
| Liaison | Paul Mathisen |
| Submission Date | April 16, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Liz
Tomaszewski Facilities Systems Manager/Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Department |
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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 | Yes |
| 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 |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | No |
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The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
Student Green Team: A student-governed organization with aims to increase sustainable efforts and awareness on campus through trips, events, and campaigns. Notable events from previous years are the Annual Waste Audit, the Sustainable Car Show, and the E-Waste Drive. Students for a Just and Stable Future (SJSF): A regional student-run organization focused on environmental responsibility and social justice through political action and campaigns. A notable event in the past year was their work with Better Future Project and 350 Massachusetts to lobby for a ban on coal use.
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The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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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:
PlantParenthood is a program associated with the Biology Department's greenhouse. This program involves students in greenhouse activities such as propagating plants by taking cuttings. Sustainable agriculture methods are employed.
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The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
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A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
Gompei's Goat Cheese is a student-run business headquartered at WPI that sells healthy goat cheese on campus. The cheese is produced on a nearby farm.
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The IGSD (Interdisciplinary and Global Studies Division) has regular speakers that focus their talks on sustainability themes. These talks occur several times per month, and topics have included: Projects and Life in the Himalayan Region and Land Tenure Matters in post-disaster Reconstruction.
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The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
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A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
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The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
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A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The purpose of the Outing Club shall be to: promote outdoor activity, organize group trips, provide a base for expeditions from WPI, provide instruction in outdoor activities. These purposes are consistent with the university mission by their intrinsically educating nature. Members will learn reverence for the environment and respect for their classmates. They will further their physical and mental fitness through teamwork and participation in groups. This group is student-governed.
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The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The Green Problem Seminar (GPS) is a key part of WPI's first year experience. In this two-course introduction to university-level research and project work, teams of first year students and faculty step outside their disciplines to solve Great Problems, the most of which are strongly connected to sustainability. For example, 2014 GPS topics included "Food Sustainability," "Living Cities," "Biosphere, Atmosphere, and Human Fears," and "World's Water."
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The website URL where information about the theme is available:
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A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Institute Hall is a themed residence - wellness, which incorporates living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. The residents have embarked on project to certify "green rooms" and conduct an energy campaign in their building.
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Student Sustainability Coordinator is a student job whose purpose is to assist the Sustainability Coordinator in planning sustainability events, updating the WPI Sustainability website, assisting with sustainability surveys. The Sustainability Summer Intern compiles data and develops the annual WPI Sustainability Report and assists in the development of the Sustainability Plan.
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The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
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A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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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.