| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.00 |
| Liaison | Lisa Mitten |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York at New Paltz
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Brendan
O'Brien Events Coordinator Student Activities & Union Services |
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 | 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 | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | Yes |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | --- |
| 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:
Students for Sustainable Agriculture - This club focuses on the role of sustainable agriculture in the daily life of a community. Members apply what they learn either hands-on in the campus garden and by promoting and advocating for the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture in the campus community. The club hold teach-ins hosted mainly by farmers and show films that educate members of the club and the student body about different farm and advocacy methods. They also attend and host workshops, as well as a winter conference which hosts a variety of farmers and professionals within the food industry. Their purpose is to help educate students, to learn from one another, and to provide a space devoted to sustainable agriculture.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Students-For-Sustainable-Agriculture/292427977550391
Student Organization for Business Ethics and Research - SOBER is a student-governed organization aiming to explore, learn and promote ethics and sustainability among business students and in the business world. The primary objective of the organization is to provide students with a vibrant test lab to expand their theoretical understanding and turn theory into sustainable business practices.
http://www.newpaltzsa.com/organizations/fall-2014/sober
Recycling Club - The purpose of Recycling Club is to promote recycling on the SUNY New Paltz campus and to raise awareness about environmental issues that affect students on campus and in the global community. As a club, we work to educate students, staff, and faculty about proper recycling rules and the benefits of leading a more environmentally friendly life. We hope this encourages people to choose and therefore engage in environmental and sustainable practices in their own lives. To achieve this, we hold programs, events, and demonstrations, collaborate with other organizations, put on media campaigns, and meet weekly. By making recycling easy, accessible, rewarding and fun the club works to maximize New Paltz’s recycling rates while minimizing waste, thus working to become a more environmentally sustainable school and community.
https://www.facebook.com/newpaltzrecycles
NYPIRG - NYPIRG is a non-partisan political student empowerment group that focuses on environmental issues, voter registration and mobilization, higher education accessibility, hunger and homelessness outreach, and consumer protection. Recent environmental initiatives include GMO awareness, banning hydrofracking in New York State, NYPIRG has been working on college campuses to preserve environmental integrity through reducing student exposure to toxic chemicals and promoting recycling. https://www.facebook.com/NewPaltzNypirg
Outing Club - The New Paltz Outing Club is a student run organization that provides opportunities and resources to students that are interested in outdoor adventure sports. The club runs numerous trips near New Paltz and in the tri-state area that are accessible to anyone that attends club meetings. Past trips have included hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, camping, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, slalom skiing (and snowboarding), backpacking, biking, and other fun and active outdoor endeavors. The Outing Club nurtures a collaborative community of students who share a respect for and connection to nature and the environment. One of the main skills taught students is leave no trace principles and practices.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SUNYNewPaltzOutingClub/
OxFam America at SUNY New Paltz is a social justice organization dedicated to fighting hunger and social injustice through a human rights based approach. OxFam has recently organized several field trips and events at local, sustainable farms.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfamamericasunynewpaltz/
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:
Student for Sustainable Agriculture manage an on-campus garden. They follow sustainable gardening practices including incorporating compost and lasagna gardening.
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:
NYPIRG organized "Combating Climate Change: Steps and Solutions" in December of 2014 to keep the momentum going following the People's Climate March in September of 2014.
Bill McKibben visited campus on September 16, 2014. American environmentalist and founder of 350<dot>org, Bill McKibben gave a talk about the impacts of climate change and what can be done about the climate crisis.
Hunter Lovins visited campus on October 23, 2014 and spoke to business students, the Economics Club, and other interested members of the campus community. The Economics Club co-organized this event.
Richard Louv was featured as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series on October 21st. He spoke about seven basic concepts that can help us reshape our lives. Louv believes that by tapping into the restorative powers of nature, we can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds.
Following a viewing of Gasland II in October of 2013, Josh Fox spoke about natural gas and hydrofracking to a standing-room-only crowd at the campus' largest lecture hall.
Following a viewing of the documentary Genetic Roulette in April of 2014, Jeffrey Smith of the Institute for Responsible Technology spoke on campus about GMOs.
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 University is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964 through a variety of events including lectures, hikes and educational panels. Students are encouraged to attend all of these events.
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 student run Outing Club engages students in a wide variety of outdoor pursuits and promotes Leave No Trace ethics in all activities. This club advocates for connection with and respect for the environment through outdoors hobbies.
The Athletic and Wellness Center's Outdoor Pursuits Program offers a variety of outdoor trips with guides who advocate 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 Farm-to-SUNY team is showcasing one local fruit or vegetable each month during the 2014-15 academic year.
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 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 Campus Sustainability employs student workers to coordinate sustainability programs. During the Spring of 2014, the office employed two student workers. During the Fall of 2014, the office employed six student workers.
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 Saturdays of Service program offers volunteer opportunities to students, many of which involve helping out on local farms that practice sustainable agriculture. This engages students in sustainability and gives them a chance to learn sustainable farming methods.
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.