| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.56 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bentley University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
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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 | No |
| Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles | Yes |
| Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | No |
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The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
A new sustainability student group was launched in Fall 2015. The former Eco-Reps and Green Society folded themselves together to form Students for Sustainable Business (SSB). This group was formed to more accurately represent the three approaches to Sustainability (People, Planet and Profit). One student chair represents each of these approaches. The profit approach is represented by a new Net Impact chapter which focuses on social entrepreneurship. The environmental chair is working on bottled water awareness and the Social chair is working with the service learning center to create a Service learning project that addresses sustainability issues in the community.
There is also a sustainability committee on the Student Government Association, who works closely with the Manager of Sustainability, facilities administration, and the SGA sustainability project group to address facilities issues and help to make Bentley more sustainable.
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The website URL where information about student groups is available:
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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:
N/A
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The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
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A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
The Mmofra Trom Bead Project is a strategic business plan, designed by Bentley University students, with a purpose of funding high school education costs for vulnerable children. The students at the Mmofra Trom Center hand-string recycled-glass beads onto elastic bracelets during their art classes. The Bentley students have devised a market for the bracelets in the United States through various outlets including cooperating stores and this website. All profits raised go directly into a fund that will be used for the vulnerable students' future education upon graduation from Mmofra Trom.
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The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
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A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
The Bentley Microfinance Group is a principally student run organization that falls under Bentley’s 501(c)3 non-profit classification. Charged with managing its loan fund, BMG targets lending to local entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Greater Boston area who have found the traditional means of accessing capital closed to them.
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The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
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A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The Office of Sustainability hosts a film and speaker series (typically one event per month) which are often accompanied by panel discussions of professors and guest speakers.
Career Services and the Office of Sustainability offer sustainability career services panels to educate students about career opportunities in the sustainability field and to connect them with local sustainability professionals.
EarthFest is a community-wide celebration of Earth Day which is a collaborative organizational effort of the Office of Sustainability and Bentley Green Society.
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The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
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A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
Students for Sustainable Business created a giant bottle sculpture to educate students about the negative impacts of bottled water and to encourage students to drink tap water. They also circulated a petition to bring the issue of a bottled water ban to the consciousness of students.
The Student Sustainability group periodically puts up "The Cube", a 12 foot cube made out of PVC pipes, representing the volume of 1/8 of a metric ton of carbon emissions. This is an effort to make Bentley's carbon emissions more tangible to the average student and employee.
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The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
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A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The purpose of the BEAR Outdoors Club is to provide Bentley students the opportunity to integrate outdoor activities with their academic agenda. This club provides an outlet for the students and enables them to meet other recreationally involved students on campus. Trips include rock climbing; hiking, camping, kayaking, water holes, capture the flag, sledding, mountain biking and fishing.
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The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
All first year students are required to attend a plenary session on sustainability during the first month of classes. During this plenary session the Office of Sustainability educates students about the triple-bottom line (people, planet, profit) and the importance of sustainability to the health of societies and economies. The session includes short lectures and group activities to engage students in critical thinking about sustainability topics.
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The website URL where information about the theme is available:
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A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Wellness housing communities are available for both first-year and upperclass students and foster an environment for a healthy and balanced mind, body and spirit, to achieve personal and academic success.
As a wellness housing resident, students are able to share with your floormates common interests such as: nutrition, fitness, meditation, relaxation, yoga, sports, and ongoing health and wellness education programs
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The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
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A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Office of Sustainability offers five internships to interested students during the academic year. These involve PR and social media, recycling coordination, and webmaster positions.
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The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
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A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
The Bentley Service Learning Center is the new home of the Graduation Pledge Alliance (GPA). Students are involved in improving the GPA and getting more students involved is the ultimate goal.
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
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A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
The Faculty and Staff Eco Rep program was created in June 2010. This program aims to engage faculty and staff in sustainability initiatives and to help train faculty and staff to communicate sustainable behaviors to their departments. Faculty and staff Eco-Reps meet together as a group with the Manager of Sustainability once or twice per month during the academic year and once a month over the summer.
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.