| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.78 |
| Liaison | Kelly Wellman |
| Submission Date | Dec. 20, 2023 |
Texas A&M University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Ben
Kalscheur Sustainability Assistant Manager Office of 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:
Engineers for a Sustainable World: The purpose of this organization is to create a world of environmental, social, and economic prosperity through implementing engineering principles in philanthropic efforts to design, educate, and build for the community. Engineers for a Sustainable World, or ESW, is a national nonprofit organization with 40+ student chapters at universities across the country and a handful of professional chapters. The ESW Texas A&M Chapter was founded in 2016, and as a new organization, we aim to educate the next generation of engineers/scientists about sustainability through hands-on projects and community outreach programs. ESW will accomplish its three pillars "design, educate and build" through devoting the application of engineering principles to the betterment of society. Once per year, the local chapters of ESW gather at a national convention to discuss ideas, collaborate, and work together to bring their vision of a sustainable world closer to reality. https://maroonlink.tamu.edu/organization/ESW
The 12th Can: A student-run food pantry located at Texas A&M built to serve all students, faculty, and staff in need of assistance. We opened our doors in November 2013 and have been privileged enough to serve this community ever since! Please check out more about our organization, our mission, and how to use our pantry. https://12thcan.tamu.edu/
The Urban Howdy Farm is a student-run organic, sustainable farm at Texas A&M University.
Their mission is to grow healthy food and community, and to connect the two through experiential learning, interdisciplinary research, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
http://tamuhowdyfarm.weebly.com/
The Aggie Eco-Reps also fit into this category as in addition to being peer educators they take on projects of their own. Most recently they have established a swap shop for students to donate durable goods and for others to shop or pick up what they might need without the exchange of cash in any form. They piloted it last year as Pop Up Shops in residential communities which there is interest in continuing, but they have gained permanent space in Residence Life to keep regular hours. They also conduct Campus Clean Ups on a bi-weekly basis (twice monthly), taking different routes on each occasion.
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 student‐run farm project, the Urban Howdy Farm, began in 2009 by students motivated to create a student-run facility for organic agriculture, and ultimately a more sustainable campus. The farm offers volunteer hours, internship credits, and student organization officer positions to the students.
Their mission is to grow healthy food and community and to connect the two through experiential learning, interdisciplinary research, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
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:
The student‐run farm project, the Urban Howdy Farm, began in 2009 by students motivated to create a student-run facility for organic agriculture, and ultimately a more sustainable campus. The farm offers volunteer hours, internship credits, and student organization officer positions to the students.
Their mission is to grow healthy food and community and to connect the two through experiential learning, interdisciplinary research, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
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:
The Aggie Green Fund is a fund that empowers our campus to take action and bring about novel and creative sustainability initiatives to the Texas A&M University campus.
The Aggie Green Fund is a grant-making organization for sustainability projects at Texas A&M College Station campus, Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen, and Texas A&M University School of Law. It offers Major Grants on an annual basis and Micro-Grants on a rolling basis to empower students, faculty, and staff to take action and bring creative sustainability improvements to our campus. Since its launch in 2011, the Aggie Green Fund has awarded approximately $2.6 million to over 100 projects.
Projects are reviewed and selected by the Aggie Green Fund Advisory Committee. Any Texas A&M University student, staff member, or faculty may submit a project application. Projects must directly address sustainability on the Texas A&M campus, may not primarily address research aims, and must have publicity, education, and outreach considerations. The Aggie Green Fund is intended for sustainability projects that are not already funded by Texas A&M University. Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate the greatest reduction in Texas A&M University's sustainability impact in a cost-effective manner and/or to projects with strong student involvement. Any Texas A&M University student, staff member, or faculty member may submit a project application.
The Aggie Green Fund is administered by an advisory committee. It will review project proposals and oversee the allocation of funds. The Aggie Green Fund Advisory Committee is made up of student and faculty/staff representatives that are selected by a committee consisting of students and staff.
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:
2023 was the 23rd year of Texas A&M University’s nationally-recognized Ecological Integration Symposium. The Ecological Integration Symposium (EIS) is an annual interdisciplinary event that brings together a diverse group of leading scientists and students from the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation. The symposium provides an excellent opportunity for both local and visiting students to showcase their work and engage in meaningful dialogue with the invited speakers. Since its inception in 2000, EIS is a graduate student-run event that is open to the public and free to attend. This year’s theme was, "Ecology Through Time: Perspectives from the Past, Present and Future."
Texas A&M University hosted its sixteenth annual Campus Sustainability Day in October 2023. The event has been turned into Campus Sustainability Month and offers numerous online and in-person events and activities created by and intended for students to learn more about sustainability and how they can get involved. The in-person Campus Sustainability Day event featured over 20 organizations that represented student groups, community partners, and a variety of TAMU departments that implement sustainable initiatives. More information can be found here: https://sustainability.tamu.edu/get-involved/csd.html
The Office of Sustainability hosted Texas A&M Earth Day & Month in April. The event is similar to Campus Sustainability Day and Month described above.
TAMU's Public Partnership and Outreach office help host a cultural event called Brazos Valley Worldfest with a local non-profit organization of the same name. The event celebrates the culture and heritage of all who live in the Bryan-College Station community by offering a variety of activities. Examples include international food samples, performances, and cultural displays. The event celebrates social sustainability and also utilizes a Green Chair on the planning committee to enhance sustainability efforts, such as recycling and waste disposal during the event.
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:
In the Liberal Arts and Arts & Humanities Building, there is a 50-seat performance theater for productions by the College of Liberal Arts. The Scene Shop is responsible for design and development of costumes as well as construction of sets for each theater production by the Department of Performance Studies. The theater group holds one performance per year that ranges from three to six nights and an average of 150-300 guests attend the show. Since 2011, the scene shop has been a Zero Landfill Scene Shop where all materials are reused or recycled. As part of the performance materials for the audience, information about the Zero Landfill Scene Shop initiative are included and promoted to attendees.
Every year, the International Student Association (ISA) unites students at Texas A&M University through International Week (I-Week) by giving them an opportunity to share and showcase the unique cultures of their countries with the A&M and Bryan/College Station community. I-Week is an excellent model of social sustainability in action. The goal of I-Week is to bring the world together.
https://isa-aggies.tamu.edu/
Fusion Fiesta is an annual student-run cultural event that celebrates all the cultures and student groups who represent those cultures. Students are able to enjoy free food from different cultures around the world, watch free dancing and singing performances, and learn about different regions around the world put on by different student organizations on our campus. Fusion Fiesta is an excellent example of social sustainability in action. https://dms.tamu.edu/event/fusion-fiesta-2022/
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:
Trip staff promote Leave No Trace principles during Outdoor Adventures trips, workshops, and clinics. As part of trip staff training, students complete a Leave No Trace Trainer Certification. Their goal is to always leave an area cleaner than they found it. All participants are expected to adhere to a strict Leave No Trace ethic.
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:
As part of the Sustainability Internship Program offered by the Office of Sustainability, student interns create workshops each semester that educate students about different life skills and topics related to sustainability. For example, workshop topics have covered making your own cleaning products and bike maintenance tips.
Aggie Eco-Reps also do presentations for residential students on financial sustainability in particular. They have recently been utilized to make that presentation in the freshmen seminar classes. Additionally, they are doing a number of presentations on food insecurity, an issue that is facing an increasing number of college students on the campus.
Sustainable Transportation offers bike maintenance resources and classes. https://transportation.tamu.edu/Alternative/bicycles/services.aspx
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Office of Sustainability offers employment opportunities through the Internship Program described in EN 1. Students initially earn course credit, and high-performing returning interns have the opportunity to receive pay. Graphic Design and Graduate Student positions are also offered.
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:
The Department of Residence Life has launched a Living Learning Community (LLC) focused on Sustainability. The Sustainable Aggies (SA) LLC has 14 students within it. So far they have toured an aquaponics farm, hosted vegetarian community dinners, and had a variety of guest speakers come discuss the 3 pillars of sustainability. Additionally, they participate together in a freshman seminar focused on sustainability and the UN SDG's for one-credit, through the School of Architecture, taught by Dr. Jorge Vanegas, former Dean and Professor, as well as Director of the Institute for Sustainable Communities.
Additionally, the Department of Residence Life has partnered with Chartwells (our on-campus dining services) since 2015, to promote and execute a bi-annual program entitled, "Project Clean Plate," which identifies and educates students in the Texas A&M Dining Halls about food waste and proper disposal.
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.