University of Connecticut
EN-3: Student Life

EcoHusky - The EcoHusky student group (student governed), which was co-founded by the director of the OEP and remains closely affiliated with the OEP’s sustainability office (OEP director is the group’s advisor), is a very active group devoted entirely to sustainability and environmentally-themed initiatives for the University. The group has a distribution list of 200-400 students in any given calendar year, with active participation at events and projects of 100-200 members per semester. In addition to regularly supplying volunteers to sustainability events as needed, EcoHusky conducts an annual food waste study in the dining halls on campus in order to increase student awareness of how much food they waste each day. The Eco-Husky student group also maintains centralized resources for students wanting to get involved in other sustainability and environmentally themed groups, such as the following:

ECOalition - This group is designed to provide a platform for dialogue among environmental organizations and leaders on campus. The purpose of ECOalition is to create a setting in which collaboration between groups can occur.

Alpha Zeta – an honorary professional society for students studying agriculture, environment, health, and related areas (student governed). http://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/alphazeta

American Society of Landscape Architects - A student run UConn chapter that hosts guest lectures and workshops related to landscape architecture as well as organizes trips to various landscape architecture projects throughout the region. (https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/AmericanSocietyofLandscapeArchitects/about)

Beekeeping Club – a student group that allows students to engage in both hands on and educational activities related to beekeeping (student governed).

Birding Club - a student run organization focused on the biology and conservation of birds in addition to the hobby of birding. (https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/UConnBirding)

American Fisheries Society Southern New England Chapter- a sub unit of a national society focused on furthering education in fisheries as well as conservation and research.

Dairy Club, UCONN – a student group representing many different backgrounds and academic majors who share a common interest and love for dairy cattle and the dairy industry. http://ucdairyclub.webs.com/ (student governed)

Energy Club- a student governed group open to undergraduate and graduate students. This group brings together engineering, science, technology, policy and business communities through initiatives that identify the global energy challenges and investigate possible solutions. http://www.energyclub.uconn.edu/

Engineers without Borders – a non-profit humanitarian organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life. The UConn chapter is student governed and models its activities after its parent organization. http://ewb.engr.uconn.edu/

Eco Garden Club – a student group that chooses a sustainable approach to gardening, using nutrient-rich crops and preserving soil integrity with compost, reduced tillage, and crop rotation (student governed) http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/VirtualTour/EcoGarden/DescriptionEcoGarden.htm

Forestry and Wildlife Club – a student group representing different majors, for people who share an interest in the outdoors and natural resources (student governed) http://www.cag.uconn.edu/nrme/nrme/pages/students/club/ForestryWildlifeClub.php

Geology Club - a student run organization geared towards students with an interest in geology and Earth sciences. (https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/geologyclub)

Green Building Club-a student governed organization dedicated to providing students an opportunity to learn about sustainable building and to network with professors and professionals in the field.

Herpetological Society (UConn Herp club)- a student governed group that is dedicated to reptile and amphibian related research, conservation, and education, This club hopes to deepen the community’s understanding of how influential these animals are on our ecosystem.

Honors Council Environmental Committee - This group serves the UConn Honors Committee by promoting sustainable living among peers and holding fun events with environmental themes open to and advertised to all students.

Horticulture Club – a student governed club that promotes an interest in horticulture by sponsoring social, education, and volunteer activities http://www.enviroscience.uconn.edu/envs.clubs.html

Outing Club - The UConn Outing Club is composed of a group of people who enjoy pursuing outdoor activities (student governed).

Real Slow Food- Real slow food is a combination of the Slow Food Movement and the Real Food Challenge. They aim to improve the culture of food on our campus by: Advocating that dining services purchase more local and organic foods, coming together to enjoy whole, healthy, organic, local foods, learning about the origin of our food, supporting local farmers, and taking time to visit and volunteer at local farms, farmers' markets, the EcoGarden, and charitable organizations.

Resource Economics Club - The Resource Economics Club is an organization of students interested in resource economics and agribusiness. Membership is open to all majors.

UConn Scouting Association - This club is made up of anyone interested in the many forms of scouting. They participate in community service, outdoor adventures, and personal development, all with a healthy respect for the environment.

Sigma Alpha - Sigma Alpha is a professional agricultural sorority that promotes scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship among its members.

Soil and Water Conservation Society - The UConn Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society is a student governed club open to both undergraduate and graduate students. The chapter began in 1979 and continues to draw much interest today.

Spring Valley Student Farm – EcoHouse hosts a student-run farm near the Storrs campus where students learn about organic farming practices. http://lc.uconn.edu/communities/ecohouse/springvalleyfarm.php

Wildlife Society - The Wildlife Society was founded in 1937 as an international non-profit scientific and educational association.(UConn chapter is student governed) https://sites.google.com/site/uconnwildlifesociety/about-us

Spring Valley Farm consists of two UConn-owned farm houses which serve as student residences for up to 12 students who grow greens, herbs and vegetables and raise chickens on an adjacent one-acre plot. It's a unique student living experience with a working organic farm that is student operated. It is offered as an extension of the Eco-House Learning Community. (university governed)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pdi8Uq3gTE

In addition, the UConn student-governed EcoGarden Club maintains a large organic garden in the community garden on the northern edge of campus. (student governed)
http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/VirtualTour/EcoGarden/DescriptionEcoGarden.htm

Also, EcoHouse, a living and learning community for students interested in the environment, planted a permaculture garden with edible plants in front of Whitney dining hall (local food options) this past year. (university governed)

The Spring Valley Student Farm (SVSF) sells farm-fresh produce, grown using organic methods at the UConn Farmer's Market every Thursday from 11:30-1:30 PM when weather permits. The farmers market is located on Fairfield Way. SVSF also sells some of their produce to Chuck & Augie's, a restaurant located in UConn's Student Union, and to the new dining establishment One Plate, Two Plates. Another student clubs that sell sustainably manufactured products are the UConn Forestry club which sells Maple Syrup as well as handcrafted wood products.

UConn Blooms is a store on campus that sells fresh and local plants and flowers. Students work and learn about plant maintenance and business techniques.

http://springvalleyfarm.blogspot.com/
https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/forestry
https://web9.uits.uconn.edu/uconnblooms/AboutUs.php

The Student Managed Funds, which each control $1 Million investment portfolios managed in conjunction with the School of Business and the UConn Foundation, after consultation with the Presidents Committee for Corporate Social Responsibility (PCCSR), decided to engage in Socially and Environmentally Responsible Investing (SRI/ERI). The instructions are below:

Student Managed Fund
Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility
The University of Connecticut (“UConn”) has a longstanding commitment to the protection and advancement of socially responsible practices that reflect respect for fundamental human rights and the dignity of all people. UConn strives to promote basic human rights and appropriate labor standards for all people throughout its supply chain. Promoting these values in concrete practice is the central charge of the President’s Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility.

UConn is also committed to building a safe, healthy and sustainable environment through the conservation of natural resources, increasing its support for environmentally responsible companies (including renewable resources), and preventing pollution and minimizing waste through reduction, reuse and recycling.
To make SRI/ERI investing consistent with UConn’s commitment:
• Prefer to invest in companies that are compliant with federal and state laws and executive orders in general, and specifically regarding:
• Non-discrimination
• Freedom of Association
• Collective Bargaining
• Labor Standards (wages, hours, leaves)
• Child Labor
• Health and Safety regulations
• Harassment or Abuse Forced Labor
• Environmental Compliance
• Prefer to invest in companies that respect international human rights
• Prefer to invest in companies that comply with foreign law
• Prefer to invest in sustainable industries, such as renewable energy or sustainable forestry
• Prefer to invest in businesses selected for exemplary sustainability performances
• Prefer to invest in Community development financial institutions

To implement this directive, please include the available performance measurements of the above CSR characteristics for each stock and for the average in its industry in your one-page reports.

http://csr.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/792/2015/11/Student-Manged-Fund-11-04-2015.pdf

The Edwin Way Teale Lecture Series developed as a joint effort of a number of departments, out of discussions in 1995 by faculty members and graduate students with common interests in the many facets of environmental issues. The Lecture Series is designed to bring a variety of distinguished speakers to the University to speak on various aspects of nature and the environment.

In 2014, CIMA3 was held as a one day conference featuring guest speakers Curt Spalding (Administrator for the EPA’s New England region) and Eban Goodstein (Director of the Bard Center for Environmental Policy). Additionally an informational poster presentation and networking session were held for students, faculty, and staff to interact with one another and learn more about climate change.

The Earth Day Spring Fling is an annual celebration of sustainability co-sponsored by the University of Connecticut Dining Services’ Local Routes Program and the Office of Environmental Policy. Every Earth Day since 2008, this festival has featured live music, organic local food, eco-friendly vendors, green companies and student groups that join together to produce the greatest day of environmental awareness all year.

http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/outreach/edsf.html
http://doddcenter.uconn.edu/asc/events/teale/teale.htm
http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/progress/cima3.html

In Spring, 2014 the Office of Environmental Policy hosted an art contest called Recyclable Art Competition which students and community members were invited to submit artwork made of post-consumer recyclables or trash. The top three winners were showcased at Earth Day Spring Fling and attendees voted for the favorite art piece. The artwork received a lot of exposure and the winner with the highest votes received a $50 co-op gift card.

UConn Outdoors is one of the diverse programs and services hosted by UConn Recreation. Its goal is to offer diverse and enjoyable instructional adventure experiences. UConn Outdoors provides:

Knowledgeable instruction
Friendly & attentive service
Exciting programming
Quality outdoor equipment & facilities
Leadership development

Its staff includes outdoor professionals, qualified volunteers and fellow UConn students who have prepared through our training system to offer a fantastic adventure experience. They have led successful programs for the past 14 years throughout New England, the continental United States and beyond. (university governed)

The UConn Scouting Association strongly adheres to the scouting principle of "Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints" while going on camping and hiking trips, thus leaving no trace that they were there. https://uconntact.uconn.edu/organization/USA

In the fall as part of the university's "first year experience" courses, Office of Environmental Policy Director, Rich Miller, teaches a first year introductory seminar on sustainability for the Honors Program. The course includes lectures, class tours, class mini-projects, brainstorming sessions, and extra-credit volunteer opportunities for students to participate in Green GameDays and other UConn environmental outreach events. Read one first-year student's thoughts about the class:
http://uconnoep.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/a-freshmans-introduction-to-sustainability/

A model dorm room in McMahon Hall is coupled with a wall sized sustainability display.

Also, students may choose to live in EcoHouse which is a themed dorm (living and learning community) for students who are interested in preserving the environment. Students who want a more active hands on living situation can choose to live at Spring Valley Farm where students become farmers who practice sustainable agriculture.

Additionally, each fall an inter-dorm competition called EcoMadness is run which encourages students to use electricity and water efficiently in their daily lives.

http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/docs/newsletters/UConn-Sustainability-Newsletter_Fall-Winter_2011-2012.pdf
http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/docs/about/Fall%202013.pdf

The Office of Environmental Policy employs a team of student interns whose main objective is to increase sustainability and environmental awareness on campus.

Sprague, the home of the EcoHouse living and learning community employs several Residence Advisors (RAs) each year, who are supposed to aid the LLC staff in providing an environmentally focused living experience.

Spring Valley Student Farm also employs student farmers over the summer, which is a very busy season on the farm!

Additionally students may apply for internships concerning social equity through the Human Rights Institute.

The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available
http://lc.uconn.edu/ (EcoHouse)
http://humanrights.uconn.edu/internships/ (Human Rights Institute)
http://humanrights.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/767/2014/06/Internship-Opportunities-in-Human-Rights-Updated-January-2013-HRI.pdf(Human Rights Institute)
http://springvalleyfarm.blogspot.com/ (Spring Valley Farm)
http://www.ecohusky.uconn.edu/about/intern.html (OEP)

Careers for the Common Good (sponsored by the Department of Career Services) sponsors and encourages students to register for socially and environmentally responsible employers. The CCG program at the University of Connecticut, a collaboration between Career Services, the Office of Community Outreach and the Human Rights Institute, provides resources and encourages students to explore career paths that positively affect the community and society at large.

At our annual Earth Day Spring Fling celebration, students are given the opportunity to see sustainability in action by visiting our many booths of eco-friendly vendors. We also invite sustainability related campus groups to bring educational displays to promote green awareness on campus.