Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 33.31
Liaison Katherine Straub
Submission Date Feb. 21, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Susquehanna University
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Katherine Straub
Professor
Earth and Environmental Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:

Community Food Action Team (CFAT): A student-run organization that partners with the SU Campus Garden and other groups to provide quality food to those that need it most.

Johnson Center for Civil Engagement (JCCE): allow students, faculty and staff to learn about and reflect upon their roles as active, informed citizens within the community.By fostering a campus culture that inspires civic leadership and social responsibility, the center continuously supports our mission.

Student Awareness for the Value of the Environment (SAVE) is a student club focusing on environmental issues.


The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
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Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:

SU has a garden located on campus with the goal of producing organically grown food for our community while giving SU students service and experiential learning opportunities. Produce harvested from the campus garden is donated to community partners who help distribute the fresh food to those in need.


The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
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Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
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Does the institution have 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

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
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Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:

The Earth and Environmental Sciences department and JCCE typically host several sustainability-related events for students each year. Examples include speakers from 1) the Sunrise Movement, which is an organization that advocates for regulation on climate change and defunding of political campaigns from the fossil fuel industry, 2) WGL Energy to talk about energy and their sustainability projects, 3) the Peace Corps, 4) Bob Musil from the Rachel Carson Council. In addition, sustainability events are held occasionally, such as the JCCE's Hunger Banquet and the SU GIVE service program.


The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
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Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:

Campus groups have hosted events that are directed toward students so they can learn more about sustainability. Examples include the screening of "An Inconvenient Sequel", a lecture by the CEO of the Rachel Carson Council, an indoor/outdoor art installation on plastic pollution.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:

Geoclub organizes camping and hiking trips throughout the year that follow Leave No Trace principles.


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
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Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:

In 2007-08, the University Theme was "Water," the common reading was Fred Pearce's "When the Rivers Run Dry: Water - the Defining Crisis of the Twenty-First Century," and Fred Pearce spoke on campus.

In 2010-11, the University Theme was "A Sustainable Future," the theme speaker was Chris Uhl, author of "Developing Ecological Consciousness: Path to a Sustainable World," and Kathy Straub organized a documentary film series with 13 films on sustainability that included a Skype Q&A with Josh Fox about "Gasland" and a lecture/visit by Ian Cheney of "King Corn."

The 2018-19 Theme is "Perspectives on Resilience." The common reading is an anthology (still in development) containing readings about resilience, including environmental resilience.


The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

The Sustainability House is an option for students to live in where they complete an individual project regarding sustainability. Projects have included a raised bed garden, installing a rain barrel, micro wind energy, and recycling signage.


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
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Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:

Jobs offered on campus include sustainability-focused positions with the Johnson Center for Civic Engagement, the campus garden, the Office of Sustainability, and summer environmental research positions.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
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Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledges:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
No

A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
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Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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