| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.20 |
| Liaison | Eric Boles |
| Submission Date | March 8, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Arkansas
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Eric
Boles Director Office for Sustainability |
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 | 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 | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution | --- |
| 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 | --- |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
GroGreen is a registered student organization that brings together people that are interested in learning about gardening and where their food comes from.
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:
A new University of Arkansas club, GroGreen, is providing organic garden plots for members at the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Extension Center on Ark. 112 north of campus.
The goal is to learn about organic production techniques and practice those in order to produce crops to sell to help finance club activities. The members are educating themselves and the campus community about organic and sustainable agriculture, healthy living and ecological-based lifestyles.
Members of the club are mostly students and some staff members. It is open to anyone associated with the University.
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:
Students Acquiring Knowledge through Enterprise is a student-run, non-profit business operated through the University of Arkansas' Walton College of Business. Students design products, outsource the manufacturing, and market them in cooperation with the University of Arkansas bookstore.
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:
Annually, a series of speakers was held at the University of Arkansas within the Earth Month to discuss preserving resources, protecting the environment and planning for a sustainable future. In recent years, this has been an extension of the Red Talks program, and was branded as Red Talks Go Green.
In the Fall of 2017, the UA Law Dept. is hosting an Environmental Law Symposium.
Other events include World Water "Thirstday" where water related businesses in the community are set up fair-style in the Arkansas Union and distribute information to students; Sustainability Vendor Fair where local, sustainable businesses introduce students to their products.
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 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 purpose of the Outdoor Connection Center is to meet the outdoor educational, recreational and personal development needs of the students, faculty and staff of the University of Arkansas. Outdoor Recreation enhances the Campus Recreation community by organizing diverse adventure activities and trips that follow Leave No Trace principles.
Outdoor Recreation provides the rental of camping and sporting equipment to the university community. It also has a Bike Shop offering a full service repair shop and bicycle rentals. The Program also sponsors outdoor educational seminars and clinics on such topics as canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, climbing, cycling, environmental issues, and outdoor opportunities in Arkansas and across the nation. Wilderness First-Aid, Leave No Trace, Orienteering and Search and Rescue courses are just some of the clinics and seminars offered through the OCC. The OCC also has a climbing wall and a bouldering wall that is free for students and HPER members.
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 Office for Sustainability and the Sustainability Council have adopted themes for every month of the year. Included themes are food, water, climate, alternative transportation, energy, disposal, well-being, and leadership.
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 University of Arkansas provides an annual "Bike Fest" bike festival, in which current students can explore the sustainable and healthy life skill of utilizing bikes as a mode of transportation. Tips, tricks, and advice are also given by representatives of the University's UREC Outdoors organization, and Good Bikes, a bike shop and mechanic service. Gear, and a new bike were also raffled off at Bike Fest.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The University of Arkansas' Office of Sustainability currently offers an internship program, in which students seeking sustainability focused employment, conduct sustainability focused research, projects, program development and article writing, whilst still being compensated with a paycheck for their work.
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.