| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.94 |
| Liaison | Scott Morgan |
| Submission Date | Dec. 21, 2023 |
Evergreen State College, The
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Emma
Wright Graduate Sustainability Fellow Office of Sustainability |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Geoduck Student Union (GSU)
The Geoduck Student Union comprises all registered Evergreen students and elects 15 students each year to serve as representatives. The GSU's stated goals include "[educating] the campus on issues students are facing" and "[advocating] for the student body to faculty, staff, and administrators".
Link:
https://www.evergreen.edu/Student-life/student-activities/student-governance/Geoduck-student-union
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
Gateways for Incarcerated Youth
Evergreen's Gateways for Incarcerated Youth program (Gateways) includes seminars and academic mentorships that connect Evergreen students with young local community members who are incarcerated. The Gateways program emphasizes culture, empowerment, and individualized approaches for all incarcerated youth.
Link:
https://www.evergreen.edu/offices-services/gateways-incarcerated-youth/about
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
Center for Climate Action & Sustainability (CCAS)
The CCAS provides Evergreen students opportunities for involvement in research, internships, networking, and advocacy related to climate change. The CCAS Assistant Director additionally currently hosts a weekly "Climate Café" on-campus, which is open to all students, faculty, and staff and provides a gathering/meeting space for discussions related to climate change and climate justice.
Link:
https://www.evergreen.edu/academics/centers-institutes/climate
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
Clean Energy Committee
The Clean Energy Committee is a student-elect committee that allocates funds for sustainable projects on-campus.
Mission statement (taken from above page): "The mission of the committee is to support the success of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resource conservation at Evergreen. We carry the responsibility of representing the interest of the student body as we appropriate the Clean Energy Fund. The fund is designated to offset 100% of the electricity used by Evergreen through renewable energy credits. The committee allocates the remaining fund to students, staff and faculty with goals of reducing the campus carbon footprint through research, education, or implementation. The Clean Energy Committee supports the creation of models for climate solutions through collaborative on-campus research."
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
Organic Farm
The Evergreen Organic Farm self-describes as "a working small-scale USDA-certified organic farm that serves as a learning laboratory". It produces food that is sold and used on-campus, while providing students with hands-on experience in agriculture and husbandry.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
Community Gardens (SCARF Evergreen)
"Community Gardens aim to provide continuity of care to community agricultural spaces on campus and to inform students about resources in the food and agriculture pathway."
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
Student Governance
Evergreen's governance model requires student, faculty, and staff engagement in most planning and decision-making processes. Large capital projects include student input in pre-design and student representation on the design team. Students also have input on faculty and staff hiring, transportation and parking policies, utility contracts, and many other aspects of college operations.
In addition to groups which have direct decision-making authority, the institution relies heavily on *Disappearing Task Forces* (DTFs) to research, analyze and make recommendations on major policy and governance issues within the institution. Each year the president, vice presidents, and faculty agenda committee consult with one another in establishing the issues appropriate for formation of DTFs. Most DTFs include members from across the institution including the student body. Members are asked to serve based on unique expertise or diversity of viewpoint that they can bring to the deliberative process. Often the committee will develop processes for broad consultation across the campus community in developing their recommendations.
Link:
https://www.evergreen.edu/Student-life/student-activities/student-governance
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
Basic Needs Advocacy and Resource Center (BNARC)
The BNARC "[provides] an accessible space for students to receive supplies, food, hygiene items, and other basic needs at no cost". It also provides assistance with applications to the SNAP food program, free Personal Protective Equipment and hygiene items, and a Gender-Affirming Clothes Closet which offers free clothing to students of all gender identities.
Link:
https://www.evergreen.edu/current-students/emergency-resources
(section "Basic Needs Center")
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
Student Governance: Services and Activities Fee Allocation Board (S&A)
The S&A Board "is a group of students hired in the Fall Quarter to distribute approximately $1.8 million dollars of student fees collected annually". Students on the board have full control and responsibility over the allocation and distrubution of fee funds.
Link:
https://www.evergreen.edu/Student-life/student-activities/student-governance/s%26a-board
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
Center for Community-Based Learning and Action (CCBLA)
The Center for Community-Based Learning and Action (CCBLA) offers Evergreen students opportunities in local partnerships, work-study groups, and community-based service learning with emphases on social justice and civic engagement.
Link:
https://www.evergreen.edu/academics/centers-institutes/community-based-learning
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
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.