| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.60 |
| Liaison | Mary Lucus |
| Submission Date | Feb. 26, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Belmont University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Mary
Lucus Director, IR Provost |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
1) Slow Food Belmont - Slow Food Belmont is a student-led organization as well as a nationally-recognized campus chapter through Slow Food USA; we have been established to "create a space of mutual learning, common work and collective experience", and by maintaining an urban garden, sponsoring various convocation events, linking to Service Learning classes, showing related films, partnering with the Dismas House and much, much more, we strive to live out and actively promote Belmont University's mission to "engage and transform the world"
2) Belmont Environment and Conservation Organization is an environmental club for students that leads efforts in student education about recycling and use of public transport.
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects 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:
Meant to be circular in character and constant in repetition, the Compton Avenue Community Garden will undergo a strict five-stage agricultural pattern which outlines the life of a healthy horticulture. They are Spring Planting, Summer Harvest, Autumn Planting, Autumn Harvest and Winter Sabbath, each lasting approximately more or less than two months; this cycle will continuously be experimented with since our experience in the field of urban gardening is more of a learn-as-you-go-along process.
Each year The Garden Club of America extends an invitation to qualified students at the undergraduate and post graduate levels to apply for one of their 27 merit based scholarships, fellowships, internships and awards. These scholarship offerings fund the study of diverse subjects in the areas of ecology, horticulture, the environment and more.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
We have created a marketplace with environmentally friendlier products which student commonly buy to bring to school. We also have geared some of our policies on appliances to be energy efficient. Residence Life sold about $150,000 worth of energy star and environmentally friendly products to students each August. They are looking to expand the product offering in the future.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives 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:
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
Participation in Earth Day events.
Belmont will be hosting the 11th Annual Environmental Science Lectures.
Chapel Speakers 2015:
Frank Verdi, Heartline Ministries (healthcare in Haiti focused on maternity care for women and post-natal care for babies).
Chapel, 2016:
Earth Week Chapel—Blessed Earth TN—explicit teaching about sustainability.
Chapel, 2017:
Cooking for Jesus - Brett Swayn - Utilizing culinary skill to reduce homelessness
Chapel, 2017
Earth Day - Green Revolution - Rev. Ben Lowe on Book "Green Revolution"
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The mission of the Outdoor Pursuits program is to provide outdoor adventures for the Belmont University community. It is our goal to educate the students, faculty, and staff of the University about the outdoors and all the wonderful recreational opportunities that it provides. We also strive to create an environment on our trips that is conducive to building new and lasting relationships among the participants.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Belmont's First Year Seminar regularly focuses on issues of equality and diversity. Students are asked to participate in a common reading and course work directed at understanding how they can use their passions to meet the world's needs.Belmont's First Year Seminar regularly focuses on issues of equality, with the past year's theme being specifically about wealth and poverty. Students are asked to participate in a common reading and course work directed at understanding how they can use their passions to meet the world's needs.
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Belmont University recently celebrated Earth Day 2018 with its inaugural Sustainability Week. Hosted by the University’s Sustainability Committee, the week-long celebration featured many events that provided opportunities for the Belmont community to engage in important conversations surrounding conservation.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
Belmont students have the opportunity to pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job they consider and try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which they work. Belmont’s Graduation Pledge Alliance (GPA) chapter and 100 other universities offer this voluntary, non-partisan, non-sectarian pledge at graduation rehearsal. Over 125,000 students in the U.S. and abroad have signed it. A student determines what his or her values are and what they consider is environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. Pledges decide the outcomes they would like to see and are mindful of the consequences of their actions.
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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.