| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 43.58 |
| Liaison | Christopher Homeister |
| Submission Date | Oct. 30, 2023 |
Salisbury University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.75 / 2.00 |
Christopher
Homeister Director of Campus Sustainability Campus Sustainability |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Environmental Student Association - The Environmental Students Association is an activity-oriented group of environmentally-minded students working to build community, achieve campus sustainability, and improve our relationships with the natural world.
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The Gardening Club began in early 2012 with the original purpose to establish and maintain the front vegetable garden located near the corner of Camden and College Avenues. Since then, it has evolved into an expanded community garden with the goal of learning how to garden sustainably in a suburban setting. Entirely student-run, operated, and maintained, membership is open to all members of the SU community regardless of gardening experience level. Members get to share the delicious results of their labors too!
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
On May 25, 2023, SU hosted the Youth Environmental Action Summit (YEAS). YEAS is a community-based environmental education program that works on the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland in Wicomico, Worcester, and Somerset counties. YEAS’s mission is to support young people in taking action on hyper-local environmental issues and to build up their capacity to lead and make the change they want to see in their community. YEAS hosts an annual Youth Summit each spring, supports a year-round youth leadership program called the YEAS Student Ambassadors, and provides tools, resources, partnerships, and funds to support student-led action projects.
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
The Environmental Student Association organized a trash fashion show during the Spring 2023 semester. The ESA used the event to spread awareness of the overuse of single-use plastics.
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
SU offers a B.A. and a Minor in Outdoor Education Leadership.
Outdoor education leadership courses at Salisbury University take learning beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom to help students develop a broad variety of practical skills in an atmosphere that combines discovery and adventure. Core components of the program include stewardship of the environment and the development of adventure-based leadership skills. Experiential learning techniques are used and key objectives include:
Equipping – students with essential skills for safely planning and leading outdoor excursions. Courses are available in Wilderness First Aid, Navigation, Canoeing and Kayaking, Camping and Backpacking, Scuba Diving, Outdoor Leadership Techniques, Camp Management and Leadership, and Adventure Based Leadership.
Engaging – the natural world in classes that facilitate a better understanding of and appreciation for the environment. Leave-no-trace ethics are taught and carefully observed as students learn simple and memorable techniques for stewardship.
Expanding – student aptitudes for self-reflection, interpersonal communication, peer-leadership and crisis decision making. These courses are specifically designed to push individual comfort zones. Participants should expect rigorous challenges, ranging from full-length research papers on leadership disasters to winter hiking and backpacking on the Appalachian Trail.
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Green Floor is a Living Learning Community dedicated to sustainability. It is located in Manokin Hall which is heated with geothermal energy. Freshmen who have identified as Environmental Studies minors or majors are welcomed to live and learn together on the Green Floor.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
SU hires four undergraduates each year to work as the recycling team. Students collect recycling from all academic and administrative buildings on campus except Academic Commons alongside our fulltime staff Recycling Coordinator. Students help with electronic recycling when it is scheduled with the IT department. They do outreach events including educational tabling, food waste event, recycle madness, student move in, and student move out. They also help with social media posts.
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.