University of Florida–Gainesville

Student Survey

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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.

Name: David Eardley
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted:

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Gators for a Sustainable Campus
Number of active members: 50-100
Website: sustainablegators.org
Date of last meeting: 04/14/2009
Frequency of meetings: Twice a month
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Issues: 

• Student Government and Sustainability, Population Issues, Green Jobs, Alternative Transportation, Food and Agricultural Issues
• Programs: Earth Day Festival, various environmental clean-ups, Gainesville 5th Avenue Culture and Arts Festival, lobbying for Renewable Energy Fee (to go toward campus sustainable energy efforts), maintenance of our organization's organic garden, GSC Task Forces: Local School Sustainability Integration Program, Freshmen Educational Program,

Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:

• At the Earth Day celebration, the consumption reduction task force successfully sold a batch of rejected T-shirts that had been turned inside out and printed with a message about consumption to members of the student body.  Regarding the local elementary school, members visited multiple times throughout the year and started a recycling program.  Game day recycling was a popular activity and had participants from other campus organizations in addition to support from tailgaters who generally enjoyed the periodic visits and were excited to reduce their waste while they celebrated.  The organic garden produced a large variety of crops, such as carrots, dill, cilantro, and strawberries.  End-of-meeting snacks were often made using the products of the garden.  The celebration was a great success; University President Bernie Machen gave his “state of sustainability” address, local politicians including the mayor came to campus to participate in a "Focus the Nation" panel, and approximately 25 student organizations set up display tables relating to the day.  Our Earth Day t-shirts were almost sold out and students enjoyed activities such as a recycling toss, face painting and interactive quizzes on topics from e-waste to campus sustainability.  An electronic and hazardous waste collection was another successful part of the day. 
  

SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS

2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?

[  ]  No

[x]  Yes. Please list details for each competition. 

#1 - Name of competition: Recyclemania

Year initiated: National competition started in 2001

Frequency of competition: Yearly, in the spring.

Participants: Universities nationwide.

Incentives: Bragging rights. Additionally, “RecycleMania is used as factor in the Princeton Review's new 2008 sustainability index of colleges and universities. Kaplan and Peterson's college guides are also referring to RecycleMania to highlight campus greening efforts.” 
Goal of competition: “Collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate.” 
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 
Lasting effects of competition: Increased participation in recycling, taught campus the importance of recycling and waste reduction and having a cleaner environment. 
Website: http://recyclemania.com/ 

#2 - Name of competition: Battle of the Halls Competition

Year initiated: Spring 2008

Frequency of competition: Yearly

Participants: Residence Halls

Incentives: Bragging rights, a cool CFL lamp trophy, a party for the winning hall.

Goal of competition: Promote water reduction, energy reduction, and increased recycling/waste reduction.

Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: For all residence Halls, 57% used less KWHs per resident, per day, with range from 0.18 to 2.95 kwhs less per resident, per day

Lasting effects of competition: Teaching students long-term ways to cut down their water, energy, and waste at home.

Website: http://news.ufl.edu/2009/03/30/jennings-hall-wins-uf-eco-challenge-energy-competition/ 

**NOTE: The aforementioned competitions are intern projects by student interns at UF's Office of Sustainability.  While they are not completely the product of Gators for a Sustainable Campus, they are very important campus-wide events related to sustainability.** 

SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[  ]  No
[x]  Yes. Please describe: This spring, our student government created the new "Gators Going Green" Sustainability Agency to replace a previous sustainability cabinet. The agency is currently in the developmental stage, but we have high hopes that it will be able to effect positive change on a governmental level. Bailey Kilbourne, a dedicated intern with the UF Office of Sustainability, was appointed as the agency's director. Additionally, UF students have the opportunity to serve on University Committees, many of which have applications in the world of sustainability.  The Environmental Health and Safety Committee, Lakes, Vegetation and Landscaping Committee, Land Use and Facilities Planning Committee, Parking and Transportation Committee, Preservation of Historic Buildings and Sites Committee are all Presidential Committees, and there is a Joint Committee on Sustainability.  More information about committees can be found: http://www.aa.ufl.edu/Committees/. 

OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school: 

5) Please list and briefly describe any other student-run organizations related to campus sustainability at your school, and provide URLs if available (e.g., student groups; student government committees; student-run food co-ops, gardens/farms, bike co-ops) and provide contact information of the student leaders, if possible:

Greeks Going Green: http://ufgreeksgoinggreen.wordpress.com/ 
The Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society: http://grove.ufl.edu/~tws/

U.S. Green Building Council, UF Student Chapter

Environmental Horticulture Club: http://hort.ufl.edu/newsletter/springsummer02.pdf

Bio-energy and Sustainable Technology Society (BESTS): http://grove.ufl.edu/~bests/

American Solar Energy Society at UF: http://www.ufases.org/

      Follow “Contact Us” link on left side of page.

Human Rights Awareness on Campus: http://grove.ufl.edu/~hra/

UF Environment, Science, and Policy Society

Students Making Trade Fair: http://ufsweatshopfree.blogspot.com/ 
Engineers Without Borders: http://grove.ufl.edu/~ewb/,  
UF Students in Free Enterprise: http://www.ufsife.com/ 
EnVeg: http://www.enveg.org

Animal Activists of Alachua County:  http://animalactivists.wordpress.com/contact-us/home/ 
UF Roots and Shoots 

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