| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.55 |
| Liaison | Keaton Schrank |
| Submission Date | Aug. 16, 2022 |
Westminster University - Utah
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Keaton
Schrank Environmental Center Manager Environmental Center |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
The Environmental Center offers several student groups that focus on sustainability.
EcoReps: student employees who live in the residence halls and encourage sustainability on campus.
Sustainability Fellows: 3-4 student employees who provide peer-to-peer education related to sustainability.
Bicycle Collective: a group of student employees who run a do-it-yourself bike shop an free bike rental program on campus.
Organic Garden: student run organic garden that engages students in learning sustainable gardening practices.
Westminster Bee Hive: student run program that maintains 2 hives and teaches students about beekeeping and pollination.
Climate Solutions Club: climate activism focused student club on campus.
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:
Westminster Organic Garden Program: Westminster's organic garden is a space for students to collectively grow healthy, organic produce. The small garden includes raised vegetable beds, compost bins, and a gathering space. Student employees and volunteers maintain the garden, and the produce is available each week to student volunteers and at a campus farm stand. The full campus garden program also includes cooking classes, a small orchard, and a beekeeping program.
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:
N/A
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:
N/A
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:
Environmental Center offers several sustainability events each year. In the past two years, the Center has hosted guest speakers, political action training sessions, films, and hands-on workshops.
The Environmental Center and the Environmental Studies department hosted a 4-day Climate Teach-in event in conjunction with the Bard Worldwide Teach-in on Climate and Justice. The event consisted of panels that included faculty and community members, workshops, a film screening, and art gallery.
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:
The Environmental Center hosts the Earth Love Gallery for the month of April. This gallery hosts artwork with sustainability and Earth love themes submitted by students, staff, and faculty. The Environmental Center also employs an Environmental Arts Coordinator who works to help programs engage students in sustainability topics through art.
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:
The Outdoor Program trip leaders are all certified in Leave No Trace policies. All trips, including climbing, backpacking, pack rafting, back country skiing and more, follow the Leave No Trace policy.
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:
All first-year students are enrolled in a Learning Community. A Learning Community is composed of courses in different areas linked by a common theme. You will take classes with the other students in your cohort, and the faculty teaching the classes become your academic advisors. Each year, at least one of the Learning Communities focuses on sustainability and social justice. For example, in the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year, one Learning Community focuses on the food system and one focuses on issues of oppression, power, and social justice.
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:
Green Grade: This online self-assessment and learning tool helps student measure and improve sustainable behaviors. It offers "grades" based on current actions and provides information on how to improve scores and live more sustainability day to day.
#WasteFreeWestminster Workshops: this educational series provides information and supplies for students and staff to reduce or eliminate the personal waste they generate.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Environmental Center employs approximately 10 students each year, and all of these positions focus on sustainability in some way.
Sustainability Fellows: encourage and implement sustainable projects on campus and help complete the STARS evaluation.
Sustainability Coordinator: students who are in charge of supporting and coordinating student sustainability work across campus.
Garden Coordinators: run the campus garden, compost, and farmstand.
Sustainable Food Coordinator: responsible for working with campus food services to improve overall sustainability of campus dining.
Waste Minimization Coordinator and Recycling Coordinator: work together to maintain and improve campus waste reduction programs.
Bike Technicians: Help students fix bikes and distribute bikes to students as part of the bicycle collective.
Environmental Center Assistant: help in the environmental center where ever needed, often on projects related to sustainability.
EcoReps: residential students committed to spreading sustainable practices in residence halls and teaching sustainable behaviors.
Environmental Justice Coordinator: helps integrate and prioritize justice concerns in environmental center program and offers workshops and materials related to the topic.
Environmental Arts Coordinator: helps the Environmental Center incorporate art as a way to increase sustainability knowledge and awareness on campus.
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):
N/A
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Environmental Center: The Environmental Center on campus provides opportunities for students to do research, be a part of sustainable projects, and identify sources of funding to realize their sustainability ideas. It encompasses the Westminster Bike Collective and the Organic Garden, as well as employs Sustainability Fellows and offers many workshops and events that educate the campus in sustainable matters. The center is the main force for sustainability planning, implementation, and assessment on campus. Moreover, it involves students meaningfully in each of these aspects.
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Many environmental programs can be found at this website: https://westminstercollege.edu/student-life/environmental-center/index.html
Many environmental programs can be found at this website: https://westminstercollege.edu/student-life/environmental-center/index.html
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.