| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.65 |
| Liaison | Kelly Nowicki |
| Submission Date | May 20, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.75 / 2.00 |
Ian
Wright Green Fund Coordinator UW-L Student Association |
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 | --- |
| 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 | --- |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | --- |
| Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills | Yes |
| 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 | --- |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | --- |
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
Students For Sustainability (SFS)
Students For Sustainability is a group of passionate students who strive for a sustainable world. Students from across campus with a shared love for the outdoors meeting regularly to discuss ways to promote a "greener" campus. SFS organize events to educate the student body on a broad range of environmental issues and how students can make a difference in their time in college. SFS also hosts recreational outings (canoeing, caving, hiking,etc.) to keep close connections with the our members and community.
Greener Living committee
This committee is targeted to help improve recycling efforts in the halls as well as increase the overall awareness of students about the importance of Environmental Issues. There exists much potential for member input in this committee. Specific responsibilities include creating recycling awareness publicity, coordinating an event for RecyleMania, working with other “green” groups on campus, and planning an event for Earth Day. Hall leaders, interested residents, and staff are welcome to serve on this committee.
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:
Botany Club
The purpose of the the Botany Club include raise awareness of and give
students an opportunity to work with plants in a greenhouse and outdoor garden
setting. The organization hope to educate the student body about the role of plants in human society, healthy living, and nature. Members will have and hand on expert
growing food and learning who to learn to identification native/exotic plants.
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:
Green Fund
The Green Fund exists in order to fund projects that promote the ideals and practices of environmental sustainability at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. It is funded by student segregated fees and can be used for projects that promote sustainability on campus, including but not limited to: renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling initiatives, and energy efficiency projects. Each year 120,000 dollars are allocated to be used for Green Fund Grants.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
Environmental sustainability at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse is funded by student segregated fees and can be used for projects that promote sustainability on campus, including but not limited to: renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling initiatives, and energy efficiency projects. Each year $120,000 is allocated to be used for Green Fund Grants.
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:
UW System Sustainability Conference
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse hosted the 2012 UW System Sustainability Meeting on November 1-2. The agenda includes presentations about AASHE's STARS program, water conservation, energy, native plantings, sustainability in the curriculum and more. Students from across UW System campus had the chance to get together to discuss about their campuses sustainability initiatives. This was a unique opportunity to share successes and learn from each universities.
Students for Sustainability “Fall Sustainability series”
UW-L Students for Sustainability host two events for their first annual Fall Sustainability series. The first event was a presentation from Grechean Meed. Ms Mead focused on the importance and practice of urban agriculture. Based on experience in her organization, The Victory Garden Initiative, she discussed its mission of connecting individuals to healthier, more socially just and sustainable food production. The second event was UW-L's first ever live cooking demonstration. Students learned how to make quick, easy, affordable meals with sustainable ingredients including marinated chicken breast, Spanish paella, and a baked apple dessert.
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:
UW-L is a member of the "Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics" organization. Membership costs are split between Rec Sports and the Department of Recreation Management and Therapeutic Recreation. Representatives from this organization make yearly visits to campus to train UW-L staff members. Rec Sports sponsors numerous outdoor adventure programs for students, and leave no trace is a core value of these programs.
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:
Live Cooking Demonstration
A student group on campus Students for Sustainability puts on a yearly live cooking demonstration. Students Learned how to make quick, easy, affordable meals with sustainable ingredients including marinated chicken breast, Spanish paella, and a baked apple dessert.
Earth Week
Each year a student group on campus Students for Sustainability hosts a 5 day event called Earth week. One day of the week students will host a DIY project. Students have the opportunity to learn how to make their lives more sustainable being doing simple DIY projects. For example student have though way to make your own toothpaste and who you can upcycle K-Cups to use for plant planters.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
Green Fund Coordinator
UW-L Green Fund an environmental Grant employees one student every year to overlook the Green Fund program. The duty of that student is to assist students, faculty and Staff to write Green Fund applications. In addition each semester the Green Fund coordinator will researched and write there own application. The Green Fund coordinator position gives student real life work experience, and put students in situation where there work has direct impacts on the university's sustainability efforts.
Environmental Sustainability Director
UW-L student sent has an Environmental Sustainability Director that sit on the board of directors to address sustainability accusative on campus. The director has weeksy reports to the Senate about programs initiatives and concerns. This position act as a liaison to assists with crosse campus sustainable/environmental efforts by communicated to all groups to bring together organizational support. Environmental Sustainability Director has semester goals that can range form but not limited to reducing UW-L water consumption, increasing the recycling rats and working to build relationship among student organizations.
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:
Additional Link for Students for Sustainability
https://uwlmyorgs.collegiatelink.net/organization/environmentalcouncil
Additional Link for Environmental Sustainability Director
http://www.uwlax.edu/Student-Association/Rebecca-Conn/
Additional Link Greener Living committee
http://www.uwlax.edu/ResLife/Leadership-Committees-and-Groups/
Additional Link for Students for Sustainability
https://uwlmyorgs.collegiatelink.net/organization/environmentalcouncil
Additional Link for Environmental Sustainability Director
http://www.uwlax.edu/Student-Association/Rebecca-Conn/
Additional Link Greener Living committee
http://www.uwlax.edu/ResLife/Leadership-Committees-and-Groups/
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.