| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.71 |
| Liaison | Matthew Harmin |
| Submission Date | May 14, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Goucher College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
William
Lederer Special Assistant to the President; Chair of Goucher Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council President's Office |
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 | --- |
| 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 | No |
| Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions | --- |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | No |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
1. Goucher Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council (GESAC): GESAC is an official environmental advisory council, consisting of students, faculty, and staff members. This council meets at least three times a semester and advises the president and administration on environmental issues and policies. This is the only group in this list that is not governed totally by students. The Special Assistant to the President serves as chair, with a student serving as Co-chair. In 2013, GESAC established a process by which students can petition to the Green Fund, a student funded source for money to support sustainability-focused projects: http://www.goucher.edu/about/environmental-sustainability/advisory-council/apply-to-the-green-fund
2. GEAR (Goucher Energy Action Revolution): GEAR aims to engage the Goucher community in sustainable efforts that will allow the college to run on 100% renewable energy sources. This will be accomplished through a series of educational and community-building events, strategic action planning, and policy building.
3. Earthworks: Earthworks is an education and activism group that focuses on environmental initiatives and concerns. The group hosts annual events, takes trips to visit, learn, or volunteer with organizations taking action and promoting sustainability; initiates projects to better Goucher and its community; and takes part in larger movements outside the campus.
4. Marine Conservation Club: The Marine Conservation Club seeks to understand the current problems with the state of our marine ecosystems and to learn what can be done to help. The club also focuses on gaining an appreciation for everything the ocean offers in resources. Activities include marine clean-ups at beaches and the Chesapeake Bay.
http://events.goucher.edu/search/groups - includes all students clubs including those pertaining to sustainability.
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 Agricultural Co-op: The mission of the co-op is to raise awareness on campus of the benefits of sustainable agriculture through a specific composting and gardening project. The group reduces the amount of unproductive waste generated by Goucher by composting food waste from the dining hall kitchens and using this compost to aid the growing of herbs which are then purchased by Bon Appetit (Goucher's food service provider). This creates a sustainable life cycle supported by and occurring on Goucher's campus. This is a completely student-governed group.
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:
None.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
As mentioned above, the Green Fund allows students to petition for money to develop projects focused around sustainability. The Green Fund is run through GESAC, which is largely student governed. More information is available here: http://www.goucher.edu/about/environmental-sustainability/advisory-council/apply-to-the-green-fund
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:
While Goucher does not have a specific speaker series devoted to sustainability, the college has brought many speakers to campus whose main topic has been environmental issues. Examples are author Michael Pollan (2010), primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall (2010), Environmental Activist and Attorney Robert Kennedy (2009), and oceanographers Jean-Michel and Celine Cousteau (2010).
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:
Students have frequently presented works of art focused around sustainability. An example from 2012 was the multimedia student/faculty production, Attack of the Monster Crabs: http://www.goucher.edu/news-and-events/attack-of-the-monster-crabs.
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 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:
First-year students complete a seminar course in their first semester called Frontiers. Among the courses that can fulfill the Frontiers requirement is a course that includes sustainability: FRO 100.007 Oceans, the Forgotten Frontier: Submarines, Sea Slugs, and Slime.
The "Environmental Theme" for 2013-2014 focused on Goucher's mission to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020
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 Green House: As part of Goucher's optional special interest housing, the Green House is dedicated to extending the environmentally sustainable visions of Goucher to on-campus housing. Students support one another to practice eco-friendly habits and engage in campus and community initiatives.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
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 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:
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.