| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.98 |
| Liaison | Kevin Miller |
| Submission Date | Feb. 3, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Goshen College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Glenn
Gilbert Retired - Utilities Manager/ Sustainability Coordinator Physical Plant |
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 | 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 | Yes |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | No |
| 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:
EcoPAX, the environmental peace club on campus, is an active and vibrant group of students interested in exploring the intersections between environmental issues and justice. The group has worked to make changes in campus policy and program in addition to raising awareness among students about ongoing initiatives on campus. This group is completely run by students. This group has helped implement and run a successful composting program in the cafeteria on campus. It has held many campus-wide events in the past three years, significantly, celebrating Earth Week every spring, with a variety of widely-attended events.
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:
There is an organic garden outside of Howell House, one of the on-campus houses. This garden is run entirely by students. There is also there is the AVI Fresh organic garden outside of Westlawn Dining Hall, used by Westlawn employees. Students from ecoPax have started a community garden plot on the edge of the campus. There is also an agroecology summer intensive program available to all students. In this program, students receive hands-on experience as well as classroom knowledge about organic agriculture and sustainable food systems.
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:
Java Junction is a student-run coffee business on campus. The Business Department runs and manages the program and has successfully integrated sustainability practices within the program, such as recycling and eco-friendly materials.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
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:
In 2009-2013, on the designated date in March, Goshen College participated in Earth Hour, turning off most campus lights for 1-2 hours and holding a sustainability-related ceremony and Drum Circle during this time.
In March 2013, Goshen College hosted Emmy-award-winning journalist Simran Sethi, speaking on "Bridging Divides Through Food, Faith and the Environment."
In November 2013, EcoPAX collaborated with local grassroots organizations in celebrating Share the Bounty week, which focused on food insecurity in a local context. As part of this, EcoPAX held a panel discussion on food insecurity.
The student-run PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) chapter included a speaker on sustainability in its lecture series in Fall 2013.
Goshen College hosts the Sound of the Environment meeting every month. This is an opportunity for students and staff to meet with local business people to discuss sustainability-related topics over lunch. Students are highly encouraged to attend.
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:
During the week of November 17-23, 2013, a pop-up show known as the Lexicon of Sustainability was displayed in the Union, a building with high student traffic. This collection of posters gives a fascinating and visually appealing view of the basic terms and principles of sustainability.
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 Boundary Waters May-term Canoe trip takes students on a 2 week camping excursion.
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:
The Sustainability Semester in Residence at the Merry Lea campus is a themed semester where interdisciplinary classes are offered on sustainability. Students live in intentional communities and work together.
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 website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Ecological Stewardship Committee (ESC) regularly employs students as sustainability interns. These interns have worked at communication and STARS research and reporting.
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:
All seniors are invited to sign the graduation pledge of social and environmental responsibility:
“I pledge to take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work.”
Students who sign the pledge receive a reminder card and a green ribbon to wear at commencement.
Learn more about the pledge at www.graduationpledge.org.
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
More about the agroecology program can be found at
http://merrylea.goshen.edu/sites/default/files/undergrad/agroecology/AE%20brochure%2009.pdf
More about the agroecology program can be found at
http://merrylea.goshen.edu/sites/default/files/undergrad/agroecology/AE%20brochure%2009.pdf
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.