| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.40 |
| Liaison | Andy Mitchell |
| Submission Date | Sept. 11, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Illinois Chicago
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 2.00 |
Cynthia
Klein-Banai Associate Chancellor for Sustainability Office of 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 | No |
| 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 |
| 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 | No |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | No |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | No |
| Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
There are at least three active student organizations that are focused on improving UIC's sustainability. In addition, there are more groups that explore environmental and sustainability themes to improve UIC and student's awareness of the problems.
UIC's EcoCampus is an organization dedicated to promoting a safe, clean, and beautiful environment at UIC and around the world.
One student organization in particular is the the Green Youth Revolution(GYR). GYR is a grassroots student organization that revolves around expanding environmental awareness, responsibility and stewardship at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the community. The movement is centered on ecology, health, human rights, social and environmental justice. GYR not only seeks to educate, involve and heighten awareness in the cause for environmental conservation, but to encourage lifelong social action and volunteerism. In doing so, they work to make positive environmental changes at UIC and on a local, state and national level.
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:
The UIC Heritage Garden offers an experiential learning space where students in collaboration with faculty, staff, and community members can engage in hands-on horticultural activities while expanding their knowledge of sustainable practices that include culturally diverse and environmentally friendly traditions and values.
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:
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:
Throughout the course of an academic year the institution along with students will hold large events that focus on sustainability/environmentalism. Events include conferences, lectures, festivals, etc. Some of these events occur annually and others on a more frequent basis. In the fall of 2013, UIC's Office of Sustainability hosed a lecture with Guy McPherson titled "The Twin Side of the Fossil Fuel Coin" that focused on energy resources, and how to practice backyard sustainability.
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:
In 2012, the Office of Sustainability and the School of Architecture hosted an interdisciplinary design competition that challenged students to assess and provide improvements for biking on campus. This allowed the architecture students to create a broad, innovative vision for how biking could be enhanced at UIC. After turning in their submissions on the 5th of November, students attended a reception and awards ceremony on the 9th, generously sponsored by SRAM Corporation. A diverse panel made up of leaders in architecture, bike planning, urban design and public health judged the competition entries. The awards event was hosted in the 3100 Gallery of the School, and was attended by Alderman Solis, School faculty, Office members, students, representatives of Rapid Transit, and representatives from SRAM. The competition entries represented a diverse and exciting number of approaches to improving biking at UIC, with the student teams each approaching the challenge in a unique way.
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 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 website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Heritage Garden project and the Office of Sustainability have internship programs that offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities.
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 UIC Experience is a co-curricular opportunity that enhances students' learning and development as tomorrow's global leaders by reinforcing three key areas: urban exploration, intellectual inquiry, and engagement in a diverse community. Students can complete a general tract or they can do one around sustainability. This information will appear on a co-curricular transcript.
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.