| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.75 |
| Liaison | Cindy Shea |
| Submission Date | July 24, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Cindy
Shea Director, Sustainability Office Campus Enterprises |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
The Environmental Affairs Committee operates within the executive branch of student government. Environmental Affairs seeks to increase awareness of ways students can act in a more environmentally friendly manner, and works with the University to make campus operations more sustainable. This committee works on continuing projects including recycling efforts, green energy expansion, and collaboration among all environmental groups on campus. Current projects include expanding composting options, improving bike infrastructure, encouraging students to adopt more environmentally responsible behaviors, promoting a green seed fund, and expanding course offerings related to sustainability. The Environmental Affairs committee also helps coordinate all environmental student groups at UNC. Their official mission statement is: “To collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to create a more cohesive environmental presence on campus while promoting key environmental principles, encouraging sustainable lifestyles, and facilitating improved cooperation between student environmental groups and the University.”
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects 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 Carolina Campus Community Garden grew out of a partnership between the UNC Employee Forum, the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and the student-run Carolina Garden Co-Op. This organic garden on Wilson Street, close to the Carolina Inn, provides fresh vegetables and fruit to the lowest paid staff members at Carolina free of charge. Periodic cooking demonstrations show how to make healthy dishes from the harvest. Volunteer workdays include students, staff, faculty, and local residents.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Meantime Coffee is UNC-Chapel Hill's student-run, non-profit coffee shop. The Meantime is housed inside the Campus Y, allowing it to be at the Center of Social Justice and Social Innovation. Profits fund student scholarships and grants. The Meantime also supports other student food ventures and local businesses by providing a testing ground on campus. Coffee is sourced from Carrboro Coffee Roasters, a sustainable roastery within close proximity to campus.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives 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 Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee allocates the ~$200,000 raised annually by the $4 per student per semester Green Energy Fee. Established in 2004 via a student referendum, the green energy fee funds renewable energy infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades, and energy education projects across campus.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
The University hosts many sustainability-related events on campus throughout the year. Types of events include: speakers, panel discussions, film screenings, exhibits, awareness days/weeks, conferences, workshops, themed meals, pledge events, and more. The multi-day Global Sustainability Symposium is one of many such events.
Students host food and energy conferences and workshops for local and regional peers. The UNC Sustainability Office compiles and maintains a list of sustainability-related events on campus.
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
UNC has hosted many , "Water in Our World" and "Food for All,' have hosted many art installations, films, and performances as part of the pan-campus themes, "Water in Our World" (2012-2015) and "Food for All" (2015-2017). Original music, dance, and multimedia presentations are geared toward students. In Spring 2017, UNC is bringing the artwork of environmental artist and activist, Denise Hughes, to the Union Art Gallery as the exhibit.
http://foodforall.web.unc.edu/events/ ; http://watertheme.unc.edu/events/
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The University offers on Outdoor Education program, located at the Outdoor Education Center, a 20-acre wooded green space, located within walking distance of central campus, which challenges participants to reach beyond their perceived personal limits - physically, mentally and socially, fosters greater appreciation for our natural environment, and develops leadership abilities.
Many different outings are offered, all of which emphasize safety and Leave-No-Trace principles. The Expedition Program offers weekend trips across the state and region for activities such as hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and climbing. The Outdoor Leadership Series offers intensive workshops for those interested in becoming an expedition instructor. Wilderness Adventures for First Year Students offers backpacking expeditions to help give incoming students a positive personal and social transition into college.
Outdoor leadership programs are also provided for a variety of student academic and campus life leaders, including the Morehead-Cain Scholars and Freshman Camp counselors.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Food for All
All areas of campus come together at a common table to examine food and food studies as the 2015-2017 university-wide academic theme. “Food for All: Local and Global Perspectives” examines wide-ranging topics including food cultures and nutrition, food security, world hunger, agricultural economics, resource management, sustainable development, climate change and international trade.
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Sustainability Residential Learning Program in Morrison Residence Hall enables students to explore multiple sustainable life skills related to diet, resource conserving behaviors, transportation, and service. End-of-year capstone projects further the sustainability objectives of campus departments and organizations.
Residential Green Games is a campus-wide competition that promotes sustainability awareness. Students earn points for their residence halls by participating in sustainability-themed projects, hosting green-themed events and displays, attending tours and lectures, and designing sustainability-related bulletin boards.
http://www.wastereduction.unc.edu/GetInvolved/ResidentialGreenGames.aspx
EcoReps are trained peer-to-peer sustainability educators. They expand awareness of sustainability initiatives on campus and motivate sustainable behaviors. They offer a 5 hour training to students twice a year and training counts as a Public Service Scholars credit. Following the training, EcoReps advertise their availability to give tours of high performance buildings and sustainable features on campus; customized or general presentations on topics related to water, energy, waste reduction and recycling, sustainable transportation options, and sustainable food choices; lead interactive games that inform other students about sustainability initiatives on campus; and staff informational tables at campus events.
http://uncchecoreps.web.unc.edu
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Sustainability Office offers sustainability-focused internship opportunities throughout the year. Part-time, 10 hours/week, internships are available during the academic year and full-time, 40 hours/week, internships are available through the summer months. Internship opportunities include communication and outreach activities; data tracking and reporting; data interpretation; EcoReps coordination; and staffing and tabling special events.
The Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling offers part-time, 10 hours/week, internships through the academic year. Students coordinate Green Games activities, lead Green Events trainings, staff and table at special events, and develop communication and outreach materials for waste reduction and recycling efforts.
Energy Management provides internships for students to assist and promote energy conservation measures throughout the university. Interns research and track energy use on campus and develop communication and outreach materials to encourage energy conservation.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
Clean Tech Summit - discounted registration, one on one mentors, sessions on clean tech career paths
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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.