Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.28
Liaison Kevin Kirsche
Submission Date April 29, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of Georgia
ER-T2-1: Student Group

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.25 / 0.25 Kevin Kirsche
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes

The name and a brief description of each student group:

• Sierra Student Coalition / UGA Beyond Coal – The Beyond Coal Campaign with UGA's Sierra Student Coalition is calling for the transition of University of Georgia away from coal to 100% clean energy. Our mission is to develop leaders for the environmental movement by training, empowering, and organizing youth to run effective campaigns that result in tangible environmental victories.
• Heifer International at UGA – UGA for Heifer International is a grassroots volunteer group with a common goal of fulfilling Heifer's basic mission: "To end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth." We are an extension of Heifer International and together we are improving our world and the lives of resource-poor families while building the foundation for a peaceful world in practical, down-to-earth ways.
• Go Green Alliance – The purpose of the Go Green Alliance is to encourage the UGA community to conserve energy and resources, promote recycling, and educate its community members on campus and within the Athens area, with an overarching goal of long-term sustainability. We also act as a liaison for student organizations and the student body as a whole to communicate ideas and opinions on sustainability and other environmental issues pertaining to the University of Georgia to faculty, administrators, and staff. Our final objective is to disseminate information about sustainability practices and environmental literacy to the community at UGA and the surrounding Athens Area.
• HERO at UGA – UGA HEROs strives to improve the quality of life for the 12,000 children in Georgia by raising money to support the programs offered by H.E.R.O. for Children, Inc., spreading awareness about the growing problem of pediatric AIDS, and participating in service initiatives aimed at improving the lives of affected children.
• Campus Kitchen at UGA – Campus Kitchen at UGA is part of a growing network of universities called The Campus Kitchens Project. Each school affiliated with CKP operates a little differently, but they all have the common goal of reducing food waste in their university and community and combating food-insecurity by addressing its root causes.
• IMPACT UGA – The mission of the IMPACT program is to engage University of Georgia students in an affordable, week-long, substance-free, experiential service learning project that encourages an understanding of pressing social issues in a significant way. It is the goal of the organization to address community needs through direct and indirect service as well as provide students the knowledge of social justice issues in our own country.
• Students for Environmental Action – The University of Georgia Students for Environmental Action (SEA) strives to create a more sustainable campus through pragmatic environmental initiatives. We work to promote recycling, reduce energy consumption, and enhance environmental citizenship on campus.
• UGArden Club – The student organization dedicated to the protection, upkeep, and production of the only student-run garden on the University of Georgia campus, which provides a unique outdoor learning environment and offers students the opportunity to engage with the natural world.
• USGBC Students at UGA - U.S. Green Building Council Students (USGBC) at UGA seek to provide education and service to the University of Georgia and surrounding Athens community to create an economically feasible, socially just, and environmentally friendly built environment.
• Animal Advocates at UGA - Animal Advocates is a UGA organization dedicated to helping abandoned pets and those in need of adoption.
• Environmental Law Association - The Environmental Law Association (ELA) is an organization of the University of Georgia School of Law students who seek to further the development and advancement of environmental law through activities designed to increase environmental awareness among members of the community at large and the student bodies of the University of Georgia and the Georgia School of Law.
• UGA Net Impact - The University of Georgia Terry College MBA chapter of this national organization works with the UGA Office of Sustainability, participates in national conferences and case competitions, and hosts panels and networking events with career professionals in corporate social responsibility and sustainability sectors.
• Speak Out for Species - S.O.S promotes the protection of all animals. Through education and advocacy, we work to defend animals from cruelty and exploitation, to reduce animal suffering, and to encourage compassion for all living beings.
• Environmentally Concerned Christians
• Outdoor Adventure Club - The purpose of this organization is to promote affordable outdoor recreational activities. These activities will comprise of, but are not limited to, camping, hiking, canoeing, rafting, and rock climbing/bouldering.
• Ecology Club & Graduate Student Organization - The Ecology Club connects undergraduate ecology majors to one another and to opportunities in research and service, and is always ready to get its hands dirty with outreach in the local community or with campus sustainability initiatives. Part social (trips, retreats, parties, meetings), part educational (local tours, speakers, research connections), and part activism (environmental advocacy on campus), the club welcomes all students from all majors to make friends, make memories, and make positive change.
• Engineers Without Borders, UGA Chapter – Engineers without Borders is a student-lead organization with a mission to help provide water, power, sanitation, and education both locally and globally.
• Environmental Health Sciences Club - The Environmental Health Science (EHS) Club is designed to foster mutual interest and enthusiasm amongst the students and faculty at the University of Georgia who are interested in Environmental Health Science. We provide an informal forum for networking with environmental professionals through monthly meetings and workshops.
• Public Health Association at UGA - The Public Health Association at UGA endeavors to encourage the exploration of public health issues through discussions, service activities, and meaningful interactions between students within the college. Our goals are: to make the graduate experience more meaningful for our members, foster a relationship between the CPH students, faculty, and administration, help students explore their career goal and interests, foster the relationship between the College of Public Health and the Athens community through service projects.
• Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club - The Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club exists to encourage fellowship, communication and knowledge for its members within the field of agricultural and environmental economics. We accomplish this task by: - hosting speakers that present on current industry issues - holding bi-monthly meetings that promote friendship with fellow students - fostering communication with our department faculty.
• Society of American Foresters / Forestry Club - The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. The mission of SAF is to advance the science, education, technology, and practice of forestry; to enhance the competency of its members; and to use the knowledge, skills, and conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest ecosystems and the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society.
• Student Environmental Planning Association at UGA - The Student Environmental Planning Association (SEPA) began in Fall 2011 as an opportunity for students interested in planning to pursue projects outside of the day-to-day curriculum. Through networking events, learning opportunities, and volunteer work, students will engage with the university and larger Athens community. Though currently an organization through the University of Georgia Center for Student Organizations, the organization hopes to become associated with the American Planning Association in the near future to promote relationships on a local, national, and international level. We welcome opportunities to become involved in planning projects through the University and through Athens-Clarke County and to partner with other like-minded organizations.
• Student Historic Preservation Organization - The Student Historic Preservation Organization (SHPO) is dedicated to increasing awareness of historic preservation throughout The University of Georgia and Athens communities and to providing preservation advocacy opportunities for its members. SHPO is a membership organization that serves students of the Master of Historic Preservation (MHP) program.
• Georgia Students of Landscape Architecture - The College of Environment and Design is the home of the state student chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Georgia Students of Architecture (GSLA) aspires to bring landscape architecture students from the BLA and MLA programs together for social purposes.
• Residence Hall Association (RHA) Sustainability Committee – works to educate RHA and residents on the methods and importance of sustainability throughout the year; serves as a forum for residents’ thoughts and ideas on reducing ecological impact; hosts the annual Sustainability event; and seeks to support conservation within the Residence Halls. It will also support the efforts of other organizations and of the Department of Housing in Sustainability Initiatives.
• UGA Fisheries Society - The UGA Fisheries Society was formed in 1994 as a student organization of the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the University of Georgia. The Club is composed of University students, staff, and faculty members with an interest in fisheries, ecology, limnology, and other disciplines involving aquatic resources. The Club has an active schedule that includes informative seminars, community service projects, and fun activities.
• Geology Club at UGA - The Geology Club's mission includes educating the public about geology, promoting the Geology Department, and supporting undergraduate student research. The club strives to bridge the gap between students and faculty, between academia and industry, in order to create a community of geoscientists. The club strongly emphasizes helping students join the geoscience workforce through networking and career preparation. The club promotes the Atlanta Geological Society, the Georgia Geological Society, the Georgia Museum of Natural History, and the Geological Society of America. The Geology Club also serves as the UGA student chapter of the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
• Real Food UGA - Real Food UGA is focused on promoting awareness and advocacy for real food: food that truly nourishes producers, consumers, communities, and the earth. Food that is produced under fair and humane conditions for farmworkers; food that does what it’s supposed to do–-keep us healthy and well; food that is derived from and strengthens our local economy; food that is grown under responsible agricultural practices, keeping our soil, water, and air clean. However, colleges and universities in the US spend $4 billion every year on dining hall food. Real Food UGA partners with the national nonprofit Real Food Challenge to help achieve the goal of redirecting 20% of that $4 billion towards real food by 2020. We can therefore redirect food dollars towards a more sustainable, cleaner economy based on liberation and justice.
• Volunteer UGA - Volunteer UGA is a collaborative group of organizations which strive to identify, understand, and meet community needs through awareness, education, and service. As part of the Board of Directors (VUGABOD), you will be part of the executive committee that supports our member organizations by providing them with financial resources, the opportunity to collaborate with other organizations, and coordinating events that connect UGA students with the Athens-Clarke county community. We are looking for dedicated individuals who have a passion for service.
• American Water Resources Association UGA Student Chapter (AWRA) – UGA student chapter of the American Water Resources Association, a non-profit professional association dedicated to the advancement of men and women in water resources management, research, and education. AWRA’s membership is multidisciplinary; its diversity is its hallmark. It is the professional home of a wide variety of water resources experts including engineers, educators, foresters, biologists, ecologists, geographers, managers, regulators, hydrologists and attorneys.
• Service Ambassadors at UGA - The Service Ambassadors act as a resource for the University of Georgia and Athens-Clarke County, empowering students to engage in their communities through service, education, and advocacy


List up to 4 notable recent activities or accomplishments of student group(s):

Go Green Alliance:
Instituted the Green Fee, thereby creating the Office of Sustainability in 2010.
Held Sustainability Socials in 2011, 2012.

Student for Environmental Action:
Initiated Bulldawg Bikes bike share program through a Campus Sustianability Grant in 2011.
Initiated Light Switch Replacement program in 2012.
Planned UGA Earth Week, 2009 - 2013.

UGArden student organization:
Helped start the UGArden campus community garden in 2010 and continues to grow the garden in scope and volunteers.

UGA Campus Kitchen:
Helps fight senior hunger through serving meals through the Athens Area Council on Aging Garandparents-Raising-Grandchildren program.


List other student groups that address sustainability:
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The website URL where information about student group(s) is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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