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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: Aaron Baker, Governmental Relations Specialist with help from Krystal Weaver, SG President, Samuel Harden, Student, and Lance Olsen, President Society for Environmental Education
Position (in student organization): Weaver, Student Government President, Lance Olsen, President Society for Environmental Education
Date survey submitted: July 21, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Society for Environmental Education
Number of active members: 10
Website: N/A
Date of last meeting: April 22, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Twice Monthly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Earthfest, Women & sustainable agriculture lecture series, Community Garden, and Clean Our Streams
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: The community garden is growing/implemented; Clean Our Streams, established an annual work 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: Black Out
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Annually
Participants: 4000
Incentives: Pizza parties for most efficient dormitory
Goal of competition: To reduce use of electricity, and increase awareness
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Thanks to the UT Blackout program, initiated by residents living on campus, the university has saved about $14,000.
Lasting effects of competition: This competition educated students on the impact of small acts of conservation, encouraging every-day green friendly choices.
Website: N/A
#2 - Name of competition: Earthfest Environmental Poetry Contest
Year initiated: 1999
Frequency of competition: Annually
Participants: Off-campus community members, students, faculty, and staff
Incentives: Cash Prizes of $50 to the top five poets, including off-campus adults
Goal of competition: EarthFest is a three-day conference designed to educate students along with members of the community about environmental issues and problems affecting today.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: N/A
Lasting effects of competition: Generated interest from outside university community and helped educate people. Students who participated and who observed are more aware of green related issues and will be more likely to make choices that are good for the environment.
Website:
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ X] No
[ ] 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:
- Earthfest is hosted by the University’s Society for Environmental Education. The event hosts speakers on sustainability, and a number of other activities aimed at raising campus-wide awareness.
- A program called Blackout, a month-long program (in October) that started in 2007, aims to encourage students to conserve energy and reduce waste. T-shirts are used as incentives for student participation as well as publicizing future Blackouts. Besides encouraging students to turn off their lights and unplug their electronic devices, part of the program also encourages students to use energy efficient light bulbs. Thanks to the UT Blackout program, initiated by residents living on campus, the university has saved about $14,000.
- The UT community also participates in Earth Hour, which took place on March 28, 2008. Everyone on campus was encouraged to turn off lights for one hour to you are casting a vote for action on climate change.
- Women & sustainable agriculture lecture series: http://www.utoledo.edu/as/envsciences/pdfs/Women_Sustainable_Ag.pdf
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:
Environmental Law Society: This group strives to promote environmental awareness on campus and in the community and in developing "climate neutral" solutions to environmental problems in law and society.
Society for Environmental Education (S.E.E.)
This group educates the campus and community about environmental issues.
Engineers Without Borders (UT)
This group engages engineering students to partner with communities in developing countries in sustainable engineering projects that are designed to improve their quality of life.
EEEGS (Earth, Ecological & Environmental Graduate Students) group
EEEGS is open to all graduate students in the Environmental Sciences (ES) Department. This informal organization is involved in numerous activities, including organizing departmental picnics, field trips and discussion groups; preparing and distributing a graduate student handbook; and having a 'welcoming committee' for new students. It also appoints graduate student representatives to attend both the EEES Department's faculty meetings as well as meetings of the University's Graduate Student Association (GSA).
Sigma Gamma Epsilon
The Society was established to recognize scholarship and professionalism in the Earth Sciences. It has for its objectives the scholastic, scientific, and professional advancement of its members and the extension of relations of friendship and assistance among colleges and universities which are devoted to the advancement of the Earth Sciences.
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): Sierra Club
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