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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.
Note from University of Pennsylvania: The student surveys that were asked to participate in this survey represent three of the most prominent student environmental groups on campus, but are in no way an exhaustive summary of the students participating in environmental work at Penn – which in a University as large as Penn would take weeks to collect and summarize! Several such groups are listed as part of response #1, (and additional on-campus student groups include:
- The Penn Public Health Society (PPHS) is the Graduate Program in Public Health’s student organization. Students work to foster student discourse and communication in public health arenas, including environmental health and justice issues, and take responsibility for organizing campus wide National Public Health Week activities. The students have elected a representative to American Public Health Association, with the University sponsoring this student to attend the annual meeting. It is the goal of the PPHS to serve as a resource for Penn Masters of Public Health students, with representatives from the study body sitting on the standing committees of the Graduate Program in Public Health Studies, and the Steering and the Curriculum committees.
- Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholars Program: Penn annually hosts eight to twelve fellows from the Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholars Program, which aims to develop leaders in the new field of determinants of human health. Several of these post-doctorate scholars focus specifically on environmental issues, and collaborate in interdisciplinary efforts around sustainability: making and showing films (to audiences within and external to the university), participating in seminars and scholarly round-tables, and hosting other educational events.
- The Wharton Healthcare International Volunteers, a student group that supports care management needs at clinics in several developing countries, is a similar program that shares the global sustainability agenda while not specifically focused on campus operations. Led by faculty advisor , Wharton Professor Stephen Sammut (a venture Partner at Burrill & Company), the group operates under the umbrella of Penn’s interdisciplinary program in Global Health.
The three groups below were specifically solicited for input for their involvement on campus issues, and their openness to interact and collaborate with Penn’s administration to support the overall campus sustainability agenda.
1. Penn Environmental Group
Name: Laura Boudreau
Position (in student organization): Former Co-President, Current Executive Board Member, Penn Environmental Group
Date survey submitted: July 15, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Penn Environmental Group (PEG)
Number of active members: ~ 50 active members
Website: http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/pennenv/index.html
Date of last meeting: May 3, 2009
Frequency of meetings: PEG “teams” meet once weekly to work on their event/activity/campaign (depends upon team), and the general body meets monthly.
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
This year we focused primarily on raising the environmental consciousness level of Penn students. We worked toward this goal by organizing one EcoWeek each semester, where everyday there was a different environmentally-themed event around campus. The fall EcoWeek week included:
· a movie screening;
· professor lectures;
· a local food taste test;
· a luncheon open to all Penn students with Penn’s sustainability team; and
· a stunt on Penn’s main green modeled after the “TRUTH” anti-smoking advertising campaign that raised awareness of Penn’s student body water bottle use and promoted the use of reusable water bottles. (The amount of bottles estimated to be consumed on campus daily were placed upside down on stakes, and covered the entire College Green in front of the College Hall.)
This EcoWeek culminated in Greenfest, our 5th bi-annual celebration of student and community environmental groups, organized to introduce all members of Penn’s community to environmental issues; to promote incorporating these issues into their own live. We handed out CFL light bulbs provided by the facilities department and recycling bins provided by the business services office to Penn students, and educated students on their use.
During spring semester, we held our second EcoWeek, which included an “Ecology of Architecture” panel, a sustainable dinner and discussion with food politics professor Mary Summers at a local restaurant, Rx, which uses only local and organic ingredients, and a talk by Philadelphia’s Sustainability Director Mark Alan Hughes. This week was designed to help promote Penn’s participation in RecycleMania.
PEG was highly involved in the planning and execution of this year’s RecycleMania campaign, devoting an entire PEG “team” to this effort. Our spring semester efforts continued with a partnership with the band Guster and their not-for-profit organization Reverb; this partnership was created to help promote environmental awareness at Penn’s yearly Spring Fling Music Festival. To promote Human Rights Week and World Water Day, PEG held a screening of the film One Water as well as hosted Dr. AJ Shattle, a former psychology professor at Penn, who gave a lecture entitled, “Hardwired for Extinction: Why we’re all going to die and what we can do about it.” We concluded our year’s efforts with the 6th bi-annual GreenFest, which was timed to coordinate with Penn’s preview days for accepted potential pre-freshmen. PEG used this version of GreenFest to promote environmental action and awareness among potential incoming freshmen, as well as to promote Penn as a university with a strong student environmental community.
Another issue that we addressed this year was community education around environmental issues. Penn is located in West Philadelphia, a primarily low-income area of the city; PEG believes that this community should be remembered and considered by all Penn students. PEG’s Environmental Team worked with local elementary schools and created lesson plans and activities, which they then visited the schools to teach, about recycling, energy and water conservation, and why it is important to live an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
PEG has significantly increased student awareness of the Penn Environmental Group and its mission as well as raised student interest in environmental issues. PEG’s awareness campaigns have tangibly led to an increased number of inquiries to PEG from students and student organizations who want to learn more about how they can become more sustainable. Because PEG’s efforts are making it a well-recognized and powerful group in the local community, it is being approached by larger organizations, such as Guster’s non-profit organization, Reverb, and a Wharton course with a community service component, to work on projects with these groups. PEG’s active member base has more than tripled in the past three years, allowing PEG to take on more and larger initiatives.
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.
* PEG is part of a University-wide committee that works together to run RecycleMania. RecycleMania is not a PEG-only effort, however, PEG does play a large role in promoting RecycleMania among Penn students.
#1 - Name of competition: RecycleMania
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Once yearly
Participants: Hundreds of US and Canadian colleges and universities
Incentives: Pride and a trophy for winning one of the RecycleMania competitions (there are multiple).
Goal of competition: To promote recycling and (more importantly) overall waste reduction on college campuses.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 2009’s RecycleMania results show Penn’s recycling rate to be 21.20%, which is up from 2008’s recycling rate of 18% for the same period.
Lasting effects of competition: ReycleMania promotes a culture of recycling and reducing waste. Cultural shifts of this kind are extremely difficult to make but have long-lasting effects.
Website: http://www.upenn.edu/recyclemania/index.php
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: Penn’s Undergraduate Assembly (UA), the elected, representative, and legislative body of student government has a committee entitled, “Sustainability, Safety, and Facilities,” and a corresponding Committee Director of Sustainability, Safety, and Facilities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
- PennGreen Pre-Orientation Program: I am a co-founder of PennGreen, Penn’s newest pre-orientation program for incoming freshmen. The program is an environmental introduction for incoming students to Penn, Philadelphia, and peers also interested in environmental issues; it is also a great opportunity for them to have fun and relax through activities such as: volunteering at a non-profit urban farm, shopping at a farmer’s market (and then using their purchases to cook themselves dinner), and taking a canoe trip while learning about an urban watershed. Please note that this group is distinct from Penn Environmental Group. For more information, please see the PennGreen website: http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/preprog/pgdesc.html
- Green Acorn: Spring semester PEG started working on a sustainability rating program for businesses, restaurants, and food carts located around Penn’s campus, by which the above mentioned can receive green, gold, or platinum acorns depending on the depth of their environmental efforts. During fall of 2009 this program will be launched with the goals of promoting and rewarding high environmental standards among local businesses as well as educating Penn students how to be informed consumers and how to use their purchasing power to promote sustainability.
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:
- FarmEcology: FarmEcology works with Penn’s administration to bring local food to campus eateries. It also works to raise awareness of local food in the Penn student body. Contact: Maura Goldstein
- Penn Vegetarian Society: A newly formed group that is working to promote the benefits of vegetarian and vegan diets as well as to provide a community of support for its vegetarian/vegan/progressing toward vegetarianism/veganism members. Not yet under the student government umbrella. Contact: Victor Galli
- Penn Engineers Without Borders: Penn EWB works to enable sustainable development globally by partnering with communities worldwide and improving their quality of life through sustainable projects. It also works locally on educational and outreach initiatives designed to promote sustainability. Website: http://www.pennewb.org/index.php Contact: Matthew Owens
- Penn also has a range of other student groups that, while not organized with a specific environmental mission and vision, incorporate environmental issues into their work.
- PennOutdoors: Organizes activities for students such as camping, kayaking, biking, hiking, etc. Website: http://www.pennoutdoors.org/
- Alternate Spring Break: Organizes service trips for participants every spring break; always includes at least one environmental-service trip. Website: http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/altbreak/
- Penn International Business Volunteers: Consults with non-profit and NGO organizations in developing countries, with the goal of enhancing the infrastructure needed for long-term sustainable growth. Website: http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/pibv/index.html Contact: President: Julie Han
Questions 6 is for informational purposes only; your response will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
6) Please list any regional or national networks with which your group is affiliated (e.g., Energy Action Coalition/Campus Climate Challenge, Sierra Student Coalition, a state PIRG, a state student sustainability coalition):
PEG is not currently affiliated with any regional or national networks.
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2. Environmental Planning and Ecological Design Club
Name: Kathy Lent
Position (in student organization): Co-chair
Date survey submitted: 7/9/09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Penn EPED (Environmental Planning and Ecological Design) Club
Number of active members: 4-person executive board, 20-member core group, 100+ mailing list of students across City Planning, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Historic Preservation, who attend events as-interested.
Website: EPED Facebook group, until we get a permanent page: http://www.facebook.com/s.php?ref=search&sid=7a41b702fdc0fad460fa78f598297afa&init=q&q=EPED#/group.php?gid=67033013466
Date of last meeting: April 24, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Executive board meets bi-weekly for formal event-planning, but is in constant communication over email. EPED events are open to the entire student body, and may occur weekly (movie nights), monthly (civic-engagement events and lectures), or once-a-semester (design competition).
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Recycling and waste disposal in the School of Design building; film screenings and discussions spanning the topics of green real estate development to water rights and consumption to sustainable agriculture; engagement with other on-campus and off-campus environmental groups and activities, including tree plantings and urban farm visits.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Ongoing engagement of and outreach to the PennDesign student body, faculty, and maintenance staff, including a panel discussion with PennDesign professors regarding their professional experience and advice for students interested in enrolling in the School’s various sustainability-focused programs, including the Ecological Design certificate in the Architecture department and the Environmental Planning concentration in the department of City Planning.
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: ReThinking ReCycling
Year initiated: 2009
Frequency of competition: Once
Participants: 16 entrants, 100+ exhibit-opening attendees
Incentives: Prize – cash and potential implementation of the winning entry.
Goal of competition: To generate discussion and concrete ideas about innovative ways to address waste disposal, reduction, and recycling in the School of Design, and potentially across campus, in the form of a new recycling bin, graphic communication, or policy change.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Remains to be determined pending administrative action.
Lasting effects of competition: New policy ideas, involving mandatory recycling orientation for incoming students and improved container signage. The competition culminated in a display of the entries, announcement of the winners, and publicity of other recycling-focused efforts across campus, including Recyclemania. Entries came from departments outside of PennDesign, including the Engineering school, judges came from all levels of administration, including the Mayor’s office, University Architect, and building operations, and exhibit-opening attendees came from as far as Business Services and the Medical School to share ideas regarding their own recycling efforts.
Website:
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ X ] No. However, many students involved in the PennDesign Student Council are pursuing degrees in sustainability-focused areas of study (Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and City Planning) and bring their concerns to the table. Their efforts have led to consistent student buy-in in areas such as recycling, including nearly 100% recycling rates at student government-sponsored social events.
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
EPED co-sponsored a “Beerside Chat” with PennDesign alumnus Daniel Garofalo, the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, efforts are made each semester for a sustainability- and civic-engagement related event, such as a visit to an urban farm or tree planting.
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: The Masters in Environmental Science program hosts weekly lunchtime lectures with prominent local and visiting environmental professionals and researchers, followed by Q&A; these are open to all students.
Questions 6 is for informational purposes only; your response will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
6) Please list any regional or national networks with which your group is affiliated (e.g., Energy Action Coalition/Campus Climate Challenge, Sierra Student Coalition, a state PIRG, a state student sustainability coalition):
EPED members are affiliated with organizations at many scales: various local non-profits such as the Sustainable Business Network, neighborhood-based Community Supported Agriculture farms, on up to the American Planning Association, the Urban Land Institute, and the United States Green Building Council as LEED Accredited Professionals.
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3. Wharton Social Impact – Green Team
Name: Russell Porter
Position (in student organization): Facilities & Sustainability Executive Director of the Wharton Graduate Association
Date survey submitted: 13th July, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Wharton Social Impact – Green Team
Number of active members: 200+
Website: http://blog.whartonsocialimpact.org/about/
Date of last meeting: May 2009
Frequency of meetings: Once a month
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: WSI held a lecture series on triple net bottom banking hosting local entrepreneurs and founders of e3bank, to speak about their new bank.e3bank operates on the triple bottom line business model: its mission is to strengthen enterprise and restore the environment, while increasing social equity.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please list details for each competition.
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:
The Executive Director of Facilities and Sustainability is a member of the Wharton Graduate Association which is the student government body for full time Wharton MBA students.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Most recent projects have included:
- installing additional recycling bins in hallways, classrooms and eating areas
- championing duplex printing as the default print method
In November 2008 Wharton hosted the North American Net Impact conference (http://www.netimpact.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=2750) which attracted more than 2,300 people over three days. Panels, discussions, and networking opportunities were grouped under the themes of corporate social responsibility, energy and the environment, international development, social and environmental impact finance, and social entrepreneurship. This effort involved more than a hundred student volunteers, faculty and school administrators and was more than 12 months in the planning. Sustainability efforts at the conference meant that 9,000 gallons of waste was recycled that would have otherwise gone to landfill and 4,000 gallons of compost was captured and used on a local school garden. The conference set a new benchmark for the environmental sustainability of all future conferences at the school and we hope to continue with these best practices.
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:
See below.
Questions 6 is for informational purposes only; your response will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
6) Please list any regional or national networks with which your group is affiliated (e.g., Energy Action Coalition/Campus Climate Challenge, Sierra Student Coalition, a state PIRG, a state student sustainability coalition):
The Wharton Social Impact club is the school’s Net Impact chapter
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