| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Brian Eisenhauer |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Plymouth State University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Brian
Eisenhauer Director Office of Environmental Sustainability |
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 | No |
| Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills | --- |
| 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 | 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 | --- |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
Common Ground, the PSU student environmental and social justice organization is very active on sustainability issues.
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:
A very small organic garden exists at EcoHouse, and gives interested students the opportunity to engage in organic food production and gardening.
The garden is small, so the opportunities for students are limited.
Permaculture design courses are regularly offered, and several spaces on campus are designed and maintained by student employees and volunteers.
There is a strong desire for more student garden space on campus that we hope to accommodate in the near future. I am not sure if there is a size requirement for this credit and don't want to claim too much, but with the coursework and other opportunities available we are making a concerted effort to meet student needs in this area.
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 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:
We have an annual showcase of student work that emphasizes sustainability research in its offerings annually. We also have an environmental speaker series in which sustainability is a part of almost every presentation.
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:
Sustainability in Art presents a public show of their work annually.
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 PSU Outdoor Center is an experiential education-based program that serves as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. In addition to offering an equipment use program with skis, snowshoes, paddling, and camping gear, the Outdoor Center sponsors trips, clinics, and trainings run under a cooperative adventure model using human powered outdoor activities to connect students with their surrounding outdoor environment. Students experience empowerment, goal achievement, and group support by moving beyond their own expectations. Based on a challenge-by-choice philosophy, all activities are voluntary, empowering each person to perform to her or his potential, securely and without pressure. The Outdoor Center is located in the White Mountain Apartment Complex (#31).
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:
The Office of Environmental Sustainability develops and hosts multiple workshops for students each year, for example permaculture workshops are offered every year through peer education opportunities, and we also do project based workshops, such as making window inserts to increase a homes insulation values.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Office of Environmental Sustainability hires 8+ students annually for our work.
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.