| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.80 |
| Liaison | Allie McAllister |
| Submission Date | March 27, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Villanova University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
Student Working Group, President’s Environmental Sustainability Committee- This group is charged with overseeing student efforts associated with sustainability and the goals of the Presidents’ Climate Commitment. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/sustainability/about/Committees.html#question_faq_3
Villanova Environmental Group- A university student group for those who want to address environmental issues on campus and in the country. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/peaceandjustice/studentorgs/environgroup.html
Villanova Ecological Society- Founded in 1994 by a group of biology undergraduates; focuses on ecology and environmental science. Activities include: (1) meetings to share information about ecological issues and environmental action; (2) field trips to regional sites for natural history observation, environmental education, service, and recreation; and (3) sponsorship of invited speakers and other events with ecological and environmental themes. https://vugroups.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/ecologicalsocietyofvillanova
Business Without Borders- Formed in 2008 within the Villanova School of Business; affiliated with Net Impact Undergrad, a higher-education program that seeks to encourage undergraduates around themes of corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, green business, and other topics related to the ways in which business can be used to make a positive impact on the world. The mission of the Villanova group is to equip, educate, and inspire Villanova School of Business students to use their business skills for lasting social and environmental good. To fulfill this mission, Business without Borders Net Impact Undergrad Chapter 1) empowers undergraduate students to use their skills to positively impact their surroundings, 2) helps them put their beliefs into action through sustainability efforts, and 3) enlarges their network with other like-minded individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to social corporate responsibility. https://vugroups.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/businesswithoutborders
Net Impact (Graduate): Promote a positive change, educating, empowering, and preparing students to enter into careers addressing the complex problems of sustainability.
We look to cultivate leadership employing a Whole Systems Perspective and a Social, Technological, Economical, Environmental and Political model. Providing them with the tools and networking to become world-ready. (https://www.facebook.com/Net-Impact-Villanova-Graduate-Chapter-694355197367082/timeline)
Environmental and Energy Law Society, Villanova Law School - Dedicated to exploring the effects and prospects of law relating to the environment and energy. The group is primarily concerned with US energy policies and the environmental consequences they produce.
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:
Villanova is a drop off site for a Community Supported Agriculture program. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate in the CSA.
The President’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, student working group have been working to get a garden on campus for over five years. they were finally successful in getting the approval from administration spring of 2016. The garden now has funding from a donor and will be constructed over the summer of 2017. The garden will serve as a research and academic space for University course work and outside organizations.
Additionally, the Villanova Community Garden student group coordinates visits to area farms for students to garden in.
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:
There are no student-run enterprises on campus, but there is The Villanova Equity Society, a student funds management group on campus that invests money in socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens.
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 Villanova Equity Society, a student funds management group on campus that invests money in socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens.
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:
Every year we hold an Earth Day celebration that includes a guest speaker, as well as a poster session where students are able to showcase their sustainability projects done throughout the year.The celebration also includes a farmers market. Speakers have included: panel discussions on hydraulic fracturing and sustainable agriculture, and keynote addresses from Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia, Dean Carlson from Wyebrook Farms, Dr. Ben Horton from Rutgers, and Dominic Frongillo. In addition to the farmers market and poster session, students participated in an Earth Day service trip to a local farm to help with prepping the farm for planting.
In addition to Earth Day, we participated in Campus Sustainability Week for the fourth time last year. Activities included campus tree tours, and the sustainable careers panel (VU alumni that have developed a sustainable career).
Fall 2016, Peterson Toscano came to campus to give a talk on climate change and faith, as well as guest lecture in a few classrooms.
The panel on the intersection of Faith and Environment was held in the Fall 2014. Panelist discussed the connection between sustainability and Catholicism.
Richard Alley, the Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences at Penn State University, spoke on campus twice during the Fall 2014 semester.
The Villanova Center for the Advancement of Sustainability in Engineering hosts a lecture series every semester on new technologies and research as it relates to sustainable engineering. http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/engineering/research/centers/vcase/lectures.html
Lastly, many of our professors offer courses throughout the year that focus on different sustainability issues and invite guest presenters to come to campus as part of the class. When possible we open those presentations up to the entire Villanova community. In the Fall 2013 we had a series of speakers on sustainable business practices. For the 2014 Spring semester we had a series of guest lectures on local sustainable practices.
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:
For Campus Sustainability Day (Fall) students collect trash from the two main dining halls on main campus and pill them on the center of campus. The installation is up for one day, and meant to raise awareness among students of their waste production.
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:
Villanova's Outdoors Club hosts regular hiking, white water rafting, and skiing outings. The group is conscious of protecting the environment they are in and follow Leave No Trace principles.
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:
For the 2016-2017 academic year, the Sixth Extinction was the chosen "One Book". All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to read the book, and all freshman are required to read the book. In the Fall, the author was brought to campus to give a keynote address. Throughout the year there have been a series of special events around the books topic, include a bio blitz, a group scavenger hunt to identify plant and animal species on campus.
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:
Incoming freshman can register to live in the Environmental Leadership Learning Community. Though this learning community, students:
-Take a specially-designed section of the humanities seminar Augustine and Culture (ACS) with other students in their Experience community, focusing holistically on the question of "Who Am I?" in relation to the natural environment and human culture
-Participate in a one-credit workshop style class that meets weekly in the residence hall, called Villanova Experience (VEXP), which will explore:
-Effective ways to communicate about a variety of issues relevant to the first-year college experience
-Current issues, practices, and innovations that impact the natural world
-Ways in which both local and larger communities can care for the natural world
-Opportunities to work in small groups
- Students in the community live together in Katharine Hall on the south campus
-Enjoy an enriched academic and co-curricular experience because of student and faculty interactions in and out of the classroom, creating a stronger community for first-year students. Activities outside of the classroom include "movie and pizza" nights, on-campus lectures and special events, and off-campus field trips to locations such as organic urban farms, eco-housing developments, and manufacturers of eco-friendly products.
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:
Facilities has one-two students a year to assist with office needs, about 70% of one workers time is spent on sustainability efforts.
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:
Villanova started participating in the graduation pledge this past graduation, spring 2015. The pledge reads:
"I pledge to apply sustainability learning and values from my Villanova experience as I explore and improve the social and environmental consequences of any organizations or communities in which I work, write and live."
Opportunities to sign the pledge were made available during the graduation fair. Students who signed the pledge were given a recycled rubber bookmark with the pledge written on it.
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:
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.