| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.31 |
| Liaison | Keaton Schrank |
| Submission Date | June 12, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Westminster University - Utah
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Meg
Wolf Sustainability Fellow Environmental Center |
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 | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | No |
| 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 | Yes |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
Eco Team: student volunteers who live in the residence halls and encourage sustainability on campus.
Sustainability Fellows: 2-6 student employees who chose two sustainability related projects to improve on-campus sustainability.
Westminster for Real Food: student group on campus working towards improving food on campus to be local, humane, organic and fair trade.
Bicycle Collective: a group of student employees working to help students commute via bicycle and help students with mechanical bike needs.
Organic Garden: student run organic garden that encourages local eating and sustainable gardening practices.
Chicken Co-op: student volunteers who take care of chickens and receive eggs in return.
Agriculture for the Sustainable Urban Farmer: a group on campus focusing on increasing awareness of aqua-ponics and alternative ways to grow food in a sustainable way.
Themed Housing: a floor in residence halls that focuses on green living, from composting and recycling practices to learning about social and economic sustainability in a residential experience.
Westminster Bee Hive: collecting honey and teaching students the importance of bee's in an ecosystem.
Westminster Organic Orchard: a start up initiative to create a Westminster Orchard where organic fruits will be grown along with student incentive to learn about sustainable tree growing practices.
All are student governed with supervision of the environmental center director, assistant director and residence hall advisors.
The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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:
Agriculture for the Sustainable Urban Farmer: student led club focused on aqua-ponics and encouraging education in alternatives to conventional farming.
Westminster Organic Garden: Westminster's organic garden is a space for students to collectively grow healthy local produce. The small garden includes raised vegetable beds, compost bins, a gathering space, and a chicken coop. Student volunteers maintain the garden, and the produce is available each week at a campus farm stand.
The full campus garden program also involves monthly cooking classes, a fall food film series, discussion groups, workshops, and a partnership with the Westminster for Real Food movement.
Westminster Chicken Co-op: The chicken coop is located in the Organic Garden. Students and faculty members in the Chicken Co-Op help take care of the chickens, maintain the coop, and collect eggs. In return co-op members receive a free share of eggs. This is a great way to learn about chicken keeping without the full responsibility of owning a flock.
Westminster Bee Hive: Westminster Honey Bee Program aims to develop research, teaching and extension initiatives that are locally responsive while globally relevant.
Westminster Organic Orchard: the initiative to start small with a few few fruit trees to provide fresh fruit on campus and encourage learning about sustainable orchard growing practices.
The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
N/A
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
N/A
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
Energy and Climate Film Series: Utah Clean Energy and Westminster College Environmental Center have partnered to present the Energy and Climate Film Series. This series of 3 films will encourage viewers to accelerate the school's transition to an energy-efficient and low carbon economy by examining our current situation and finding ways to make changes in our community.
Food Film Series: a fall film series focused on films that show the importance of eating local, organic, humane, and fair trade options. (Student governed)
Food Leadership Summit: the food leadership summit is an event hosted by Westminster where local farmers, chefs, and community member come together to collaborate on ideas on how to improve the food system in our communities. (Student governed)
Common Lands Speaker Series: The Westminster College Environmental Center and Round River Conservation Studies partner to offer the Common Lands Lecture Series, two speakers annually offering conversations on people, places, and the environment.
The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
Sustainability Art Exhibit: April 1st through 22nd, curated by students who want to display their artistic talents that outline sustainability, the sustainability art exhibit will be on display in the Bassis center.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Outdoor Recreation Program trip leaders are all certified in Leave No Trace policies, and all trips including climbing, backpacking, pack rafting, back country skiing and more all follow the Leave No Trace policy.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
N/A
The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Green Point Average: This is an online questionnaire and learning tool which assesses sustainable behaviors, offering "grades" based on current actions and information on how to improve scores and live more sustainably day to day.
Cooking Classes: Faculty share healthy, inexpensive meal preparation lessons with students. Many of the cooking classes offer vegan and vegetarian options and provide new ways of how to prepare sustainable foods.
Bee Keeping: The campus beehive holds workshops that aim to show how hives function, how honey is collected, and the importance of bees in an ecological ecosystem.
Herbal Products Workshop: this is a class that shows how to make sustainable herbal products.
Themed Housing: The green living floor is a sustainable living floor that advocates sustainable habits and living and provides an example for residence halls.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
Sustainability Fellows: encourage and implement sustainable projects on campus and help complete the STARS evaluation.
Garden Coordinators: run the campus garden and the Chicken Co-Op and encourage ways to grow food sustainably on campus.
Bike Technician Technicians and Coordinators: 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.
Energy Analyst: analyzes the mount of energy our campus uses annually and gives reports on where improvements need to be made.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
N/A
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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.
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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.