| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.34 |
| Liaison | Barry Schwalbe |
| Submission Date | Dec. 22, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Richland Community College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.25 / 2.00 |
Greg
Florian Vice President Finance & Administration |
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 | No |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | No |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on 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:
Richland's Student Farm is an outdoor classroom for research, demonstration and organic crop production. The site includes two production greenhouses (2,400 square feet), as well as two hoop houses (960 square feet) which allow for crop production through harsh winters. Resources also include a shrub nursery, an All American Selections Display Garden plus additional flower and perennial gardens (16,000 square feet), 16 farm plots (38,400 square feet.) with fruit trees, brambles, energy grasses and vegetables, a shade structure and student-designed and constructed walks, waterfall, retaining walls, patio and outdoor kitchen. All produce is grown using organic, sustainable farming practices.
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:
Richland's student-run coffee shop opened in June 2011 is a sustainable enterprise run by Richland students, focusing on teaching students sustainable business practices.
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:
Richland sponsors “Walking the Walk of Diversity,” a day-long regional diversity conference for colleges, universities, and businesses held annually. This program won a NCSD Best Practice Award for 2004. The Diversity Conference is a drive-in conference designed for professionals in higher education, public education, business and industry, and social service agencies. All RCC employees and students are encouraged to attend the day long training. RCC holds this conference annually. Examples of past topic sessions include:
• Beyond the Single Story: connections through Anti-Racist Multicultural Pedagogy
• We are Freaks: Contradictions and Consistency of Intentional Difference
• American Cowboy “Black Like Me”
• Diversity 101: What is Diversity and Why is It Important to Me and to My Organization?
• Understanding Christian Privilege: Promoting Spiritual Plurality without Losing Your Religion and;
• Highlight of Cultural Competence Through Inclusive Behaviors
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:
Campus Life and the Communications, Education, Humanities, & Fine Arts division sponsors programs throughout the semester to promote multicultural awareness.
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:
The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Richland Community College’s Saturday Produce Market takes place each Saturday from mid-May through mid-October from 8 am to Noon on the Richland campus and is open to the public. Offerings include plants, fresh fruits and vegetables grown by Richland students and local farmers, Amish baked goods, cheese, candy and fudge. Richland students are encouraged to participate and have booths to sell produce to the shoppers. Advertisements such as emails, flyers, and posters encourage faculty and employees to attend the farmer's market and support the students and the program.
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.