| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.88 |
| Liaison | Laura Young |
| Submission Date | Feb. 11, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Michigan State University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Lisa
Desprez Administrative Assistant IPF Strategic Initiatives |
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 | No |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | No |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | Yes |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
"Sustainable Spartans (formerly called Sustainable Energy Institute) is Michigan State University's main student sustainability organization. The group was founded during the summer of 1999 and has been active ever since. The group changed its name from ECO to Sustainable Spartans in 2012.
Sustainable Spartans works on the local, statewide, and national level to promote sustainability with tenets such as recycling, conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy. The group works closely with administration and other organizations on campus, including the MSU Sustainability Be Spartan Green Initiative and other student organizations such as the Student Sierra Club and MSU Greenpeace.The director of MSU Sustainability is the group's advisor.
Other student groups that focus on sustainability include:
EFFS: Ecological Food and Farm Stewardship
Fisheries and Wildlife Club
MSU Greenpeace
Spartan Sierra Club
Horticulture Club
LEAF
Outdoor Club
PAWS
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:
MSU’s Student Organic Farm (SOF) fosters sustainability, education and community engagement. With 16,000 square feet of passive solar green houses, the farm is able to sustainably support a 48-week Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program to 150 community members. In addition, a weekly on campus farm stand provides organic, local food to community members.
The farm stand runs six months out of the year and enables students working on the farm to cultivate knowledge in organic and sustainable food production in their peers and in other community members. All 5 acres of field and garden-scale production on the certified organic farm incorporate a strong emphasis on teaching and research.
Additional resources at the farm include an edible forest garden, laying hens, bee hives and a small mushroom production area. In addition, the Bailey Hoop house is an organic and student run green house which produces herbs and greens year round, supplying several of the dining halls with products. The Bailey Hoop House is run by students in the RISE program in Bailey Hall.
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:
The university’s Student Organic Farm provides students with educational opportunities in the fields and hoophouses, as well as in institutional contracting, marketing and business. Student’s who take courses and work at the farm learn about how to market their products and engage the community at their weekly farm stand, where produce and flowers from the student organic farm are sold.
Each Thursday from May through October, students set up the farm stand on campus and utilize the opportunity to engage community members and generate revenue for the farm. On average students generate $700 dollars per week at the farm stand.
Along with opportunities for hands-on learning in marketing and business at the stand, students also have the opportunity to participate in institutional contracting between the university residence halls and the Student Organic Farm. The farm provides organic salad greens to the residence halls, demonstrating the importance of local business contracting and providing further business experience for students taking courses at the farm.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
The Spartan Global Development Fund (SGDF) promotes sustainable economic development by enabling entrepreneurs in developing countries to help themselves. The project was launched on July 4, 2009, with four microloans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. To date, SGDF has made more than 500 loans in amounts ranging from $25 to $1,500, formed a nonprofit organization, and involved dozens of students each year from across campus – particularly business students and that number increases each month. This project includes important dimensions of business and service in the 21st century, including sustainability, entrepreneurship and international development. SGDF set and achieved goals for fundraising, outreach and portfolio management–in its first year, SGDF secured a corporate donor, raised over $4,000 and exceeded its goal of helping over 100 entrepreneurs while having a global presence. The fund helped 173 entrepreneurs and made loans in five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Africa and Asia). The default rate on the portfolio was 0% and is diversified across 42 countries and 13 sectors of the economy.
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:
There are several sustainable events held throughout the year. Information on events are posted on www.bespartangreen.msu.edu. In addition to these events, several college and departments hold sustainability-related speaker series and forums.
The events sponsored by the Campus Sustainability Include:
Eco-Challenge launched in October 2013 to engage student groups in sustainability by pledging specific actions. This event was sponsored by the Northwest Earth Institute and Campus Sustainability in collaboration with several registered student organizations.
RecycleMania is an annual competition (national). Campus sustainability organizes events, outreach, and education specific to students on resource conservation and recycling.
Campus Sustainability Week (October 2014) - MSU celebrates National Campus Sustainability week with a series of events designed to bring awareness and generate dialogue on sustainability issues. Campus Sustainability presented a week long series of speakers, events, tours, workshops, and other opportunities for students to engage.
Pack Up Pitch In Help Out Program - This program takes places during student move in and move out to collect items for community organizations and unwanted items for recycling or reuse.
Conversation with the President on Energy - this live stream event was the third one held, on April 8, 2015. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, along with other distinguished panelists , discussed how updates to MSU’s energy infrastructure and emerging partnerships will position the institution as a leader in sustainability among top research institutions. http://energytransition.msu.edu/
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:
The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum host exhibits, events and film screenings, some each year which support and promote a sustainability-related theme.
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 MSU Outdoors club focuses on exploring and enjoying the great outdoors.
The club organizes several large trips each year including white water rafting in West Virginia and ice climbing in Canada and Munising. Other fun trips to look forward are rock climbing, skydiving, backpacking, mountain biking and more.
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 website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
During academic summer orientation, MSU's Residential & Hospitality Services hosts a model room for new students and parents to tour. Sustainable living concepts are incorporated into the room setup and supporting literature is distributed.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
Campus Sustainability is active in creating work and internship experiences for MSU undergraduate and graduate level students. The employment opportunities include sustainability communications, student outreach and engagement, web and technical, sustainability leadership, waste reduction, etc. Campus Sustainability also works in collaboration with other departments and academic units on campus to connect students with cross-functional and interdisciplinary 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:
he Department of Community Sustainability (CSUS) is a multidisciplinary department that focuses on combining the natural and social sciences to address contemporary issues of sustainability in agriculture, recreation, natural resources, and the environment. The Department of Community Sustainability (CSUS) was formerly called the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation, and Resource Studies (CARRS). On January 31, 2013, Acting Provost June Youatt approved the new name because it better captures the essence of the goals of the department and creates a framework for its research and outreach programs of the future. This change was effective July 1, 2013.
Consistent with its mission to assist in the development of sustainable communities, the department offers the two undergraduate majors—Environmental Studies and Agriscienceand Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism. The CSUS graduate program enables students to co-create personalized programs of study in four focal areas that represent the teaching, research and outreach interests of the CSUS faculty—Community Food and Agricultural Systems, Education and Civic Engagement,Natural Resources and the Environment, and Recreation and Tourism Systems.
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.