Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.24
Liaison Jim Dees
Submission Date June 10, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Appalachian State University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 Yes
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 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 Yes
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives No

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

ASUSES is the Appalachian State University chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. ASUSES hosts workshops, special events, and other educational programs on campus and in the community to inform folks of the importance of renewable energy and sustainable living to our environment and future generations. Their purpose is to educate, enlighten, and inform students and the community about solar and other renewable energy applications, green building, and other aspects of sustainable living.


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:

The Edible School Yard (ESY) is a student-initiated and student-run garden located on campus outside of the Living Learning Center that promotes green living. The ESY was run solely through student volunteers during its first year in 2004. Now students can sign up for a class that teaches them how to grow organic food and make a positive impact on their community through sustainability efforts. While the class now serves as the main caretaker of the ESY other students do still have the opportunity to work in the garden on a volunteer basis.


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:

Students at Crossroad's Coffee aim to be a campus leader in local and global community outreach services, innovative entertainment programming and in sustainably managed facilities designed to foster community development, out of class learning and social interaction. Additionally, Student Programs strive to have a connection with every student, seek to strengthen academic and community partnerships, seek additional programming resources and inspire students to become change agents in their communities.
Crossroads Coffee offers the best varieties of coffee from Central and South America. the student-run enterprise offers the world's first family of shade grown coffees - Sanctuary Coffees™. Sanctuary sources only arabica beans grown on shade-tree coffee plantations along the migratory flight path from North America to South America. Because the coffee is grown in the shade, the beans mature more slowly, therefore producing a sweeter, more elegant cup. Not only do shaded plantations produce outstanding coffees, they also preserve a habitat for millions of migratory songbirds.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:

The Elbert V. Bowden Student Managed Investment Fund was established in January 2000 in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance at Appalachian State University with the dual purpose of providing students with an opportunity to obtain hands‐on investment experience and to provide funds to benefit the students and faculty in the Department. At this time, sustainability is not a focus.


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:

Every year we hold a big campus/town Earth day/week/month celebration.

There is an energy reduction, 'The Battle of the Plug', challenge pitting dorms at ASU against dorms at Western Carolina University.

The Center for Appalachian Studies and Dept. of Sustainable Development routinely arrange for speakers involved in sustainability to come and lecture on campus. Some 2014 speakers include: Award-winning conservationist and author Jay Erskine Leutze will present a public lecture titled “Standing Up Mountains: The Challenge Continues” on Oct. 6, and well-known climate activist Timothy DeChristopher will speak on Oct. 20, his talk, “A Movement with Soul,” is part of the university’s 2014-15 Forum Series, which has the theme “The Civil Rights Act After 50 Years: Is There Justice for All Now?”


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:

The fifth annual Sustainability Film Series continues January 29 with films focusing on issues relating to sustainability. The Department of Geology, Belk Library, Appalachian Popular Programming Society (APPS), and the Office of Sustainability sponsor the series.The spring Sustainability Film Series is designed to raise awareness of current environmental issues and help provide solutions. Each film will be followed by a panel discussion with local activists, community leaders, academics and students who will answer questions and discuss ways of personally getting involved on local, national and international levels.


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:

At Outdoor Programs, we love adventure. We crave the challenges that come from engaging with the natural world. We value the gains that come from a life lived in awe - and greater understanding - of wild places. Outdoor Programs has offered ASU Students, Faculty and Staff a chance to get outside and seek challenge and adventure for nearly 40 years. We are NOT a club and there is NO membership required. We always have something going on from 3-hour team building experiences to 55-day International expeditions, state of the art indoor climbing center to rental gear, OP has something for everyone.


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:

"Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer" has been selected for Appalachian State University's Summer Reading Program for 2012.

The book chronicles journalist and author Novella Carpenter's experience "farming" in downtown Oakland, Calif. Incoming freshmen at Appalachian will be encouraged to read the book as part of their orientation to the academic life of a university.

Carpenter will speak at the university's Convocation in Sept. 6 and will open the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series held on campus.

Carpenter's adventures in urban agriculture began with honeybees and a few chickens, then some turkeys until a vacant lot as turned into a thriving farm called Ghost Town Farm, complete with fruit trees, vegetables, hogs and livestock as she revisited the "back to the land" movement followed by her parents.

It's Carpenter's message of sustainability and service to others contained in the book that led to its selection.


The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

The model dorm room is occupied by two "Appalachian Ambassadors," student leaders who serve as tour leaders for Admissions. The Appalachian Ambassadors show the model dorm room during open house events and on tours for incoming and perspective students.

Included in the App Ambassador's talking points are the ways in which the room residents implement sustainability and Appalachian State's commitment to sustainability.

The model dorm room has compact fluorescent bulbs, high output overhead fluorescent light fixtures, a power strip for electronics, salvaged items from the end-of-year collection sale, and in-room recycling bins. On the back of the door is a sustainability checklist including turning the lights and electronics off, plus any phantom loads when leaving the building.


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 Office of Sustainability routinely offers Graduate Assistantships in which students are directly involved a variety of operations and programs run by the office. Some responsibilities of assistantships include: helping to run and organize outreach campaigns, completing surveys and reports regarding sustainable practices affiliated with the university, communicating and organizing awareness events, providing technical support for renewable energies projects on campus, and increasing collaboration between the Office of Sustainability and other departments of the university.


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:

The Appalachian State Graduation Pledge is a voluntary commitment by our graduating students as part of the Graduation Pledge Alliance headquartered at Bentley College. It reads as follows, "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences, and the civic and community responsibilities, of any job or career I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."


The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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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