Case Western Reserve University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Stephanie
Corbett Director Energy & Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Student Sustainability Council (SSC) is a student led organization that works directly to educate and promote economic, social, and environmental sustainability and equity to allow for a greater understanding and respect for our environment. SSC collaborates with other Northeast Ohio higher ed and community environmental organizations to promote sustainabillity for our campus and the greater Cleveland area. The Graduate Student Senate created a sub-committee focused on sustainability issues which has now become an independent group called the Graduate Student Sustainability Council (GSSC). The GSSC operates similarly to the SSC, focused on issues of importance to the Grad Student population. CWRU also has several student organizations working on food issues: Slow Food and the Food Recovery Network, that is working with our on-campus food service provider to donate unused food to hunger organizations, which helps to reduce the impact on landfills. There is a chapter of Net Impact active within the Weatherhead business school that engages students to work on sustainability issues with business.
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:
The Garden@Case, established in 2011, employs organic gardening techniques and is open to students, faculty, staff, as well as community members. Volunteers help with weeding, watering, and the upkeep of the garden, recording activities in a garden log. Produce is donated to a community partner, the Cory Hunger Center in Cleveland, OH. https://community.case.edu/garden/about/
CWRU also has a 400-acre farm with 3 acres currently under food production. Food produced at the CWRU Squire Valleevue Farm is sold to the on-campus food service provider and other local restaurants. Students are welcome as both volunteers and paid employees and to conduct food based internships, to help with the food production and sales program expansion and community connections. https://case.edu/farm/
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:
A environmental service company, Aropha, was launched in 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio by a Ph.D. candidate at Case Western Reserve University. It is a startup company pioneering the application of automation and AI to advancing the biodegradability testing and biodegradable material discovery.
https://www.aropha.com/about.html
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:
CWRU offers Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Programs to help students earn MS in Biology or Physics while starting their own company. The MS program in Entrepreneurial Biotechnology allows students to strengthen and showcase their talents within the field. Internationally experienced instructors will help students get prepared for real-world success.
See https://case.edu/step/ for more details.
A list of programs can be found https://case.edu/entrepreneurship/learn/undergraduate-academic-programs for undergraduate students and https://case.edu/entrepreneurship/learn/graduate-and-professional-academic-programs graduate students.
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:
Several university Centers host speakers or have symposia related to sustainability: The CWRWU Climate Action Network hosts Climate Action Week every Fall, the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit (Global Forum for Business as an Agent of World Benefit), Great Lakes Energy Institute (Energy Alliance Speaker Series), and the Inamori Center for Ethics and Excellence (International Ethics Prize and Symposium), there is also an Environmental Law Center and the Swetland Center for Environmental Health that have community and student speakers series and workshops that students can attend. The Office for Sustainability hosts both a "Big Green Event" in the fall to allow a forum for on-campus researchers and staff and students working on sustainability-related projects to report to the campus community, and a monthly Green Bag Lunch series that brings community experts in varying areas of sustainability to campus for lunchtime presentations.
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 University purchased pieces this year by artist Lauren Yeager, a 2009 CIA grad and also 2021 Cleveland Arts Prize Emerging Artist awardee. Lauren is one of the artists invited to represent the USA for the 2023 Venice Biennale in Architecture, opening this May. The commissioning organization for the USA Pavilion is SPACES Gallery in Cleveland, the smallest organization ever to be selected. The title of the exhibit is: Everlasting Plastics.
Lauren’s work is composed of recycled plastics – everyday objects -- which will, in one state or another, last longer than revered bronzes or marble pieces. Shown last year at Abattoir Gallery, the work had real attraction to us because it is composed of such familiar, easily purchased, ubiquitous and useful objects, well known by all of us– plastic coolers and tops.
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:
There is a student led Farm Adventure Club, a Wilderness Club and the University Farm which has hiking trails and recreation areas has a leave no trace education campaign and policies.
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:
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:
The Student Sustainability Council (SSC) also sponsors programming that educate individuals on living sustainably.
The Sustainability House, a residential living opportunity that began in the 17-18 school year, allows a small cohort of students to learn together and practice sustainable life skills, as well as green building and renovation information and they produce programming on their sustainable lifestyle commitment and encourage other University students to adopt their practices.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Sustainability-focused employment opportunities are available for students as Sustainability Ambassadors, who are trained by the Office of Energy & Sustainability on a range of issues effecting our climate footprint, and assigned different topic areas to work on sustainability-related projects. The Office also hires a number of interns in any given year to assist with a variety of projects.
The Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit is centered in the Weatherhead School of Management and hires students to work on sustainable business case stories, as well as a cohort of Fowler Fellows who assist any number of projects focused on sustainability in business. https://weatherhead.case.edu/centers/fowler/
Students can also apply for a position during the summer in the Summer Undergraduate Research in Energy & Sustainability program. Students work full time during the summer on sustainability or energy-related research projects across campus and within different disciplines, and meet weekly for enrichment seminars.
And the University Farm hires 3-5 students annually who work on many sustainability related projects.
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):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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.