| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.46 |
| Liaison | Lisa Kilgore |
| Submission Date | March 20, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Cornell University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Dan
Roth Director of the Campus Sustainability Office Energy & Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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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 | Yes |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | No |
| 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:
Cornell students from across all colleges are actively involved in a wide range of student clubs focused on sustainability. Currently over 40 student clubs are focused on sustainability issues. The newly formed group, ECo (Environmental Collaborative), will help coordinate projects among the various organizations.
A full list of clubs can be found here:
http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/categories/2
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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:
Dilmun Hill Farm is a student-run farm that has been practicing sustainable agriculture on Cornell University's campus for more than a decade. Their mission is to provide students, faculty, staff and community with opportunities for experiential learning, group collaboration and research. Throughout the year they host work parties where volunteers work in the fields and experience the latest in sustainable agricultural practices. The student managers and steering committee members collaborate with the Organic Coordinator and Faculty Advisors to provide leadership in farm operations and disseminate information through education and outreach. They also collaborate with various organizations on campus, such as McDaniels Nut Grove. Their popular campus farm stand offers Dilmun Hill produce for sale from June through October and they supply local produce to Cornell's Manndible Cafe in season.
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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:
Big Red Bikes is a student enterprise that launched a bikeshare program in the spring of 2011. The goal of the program is to provide a sustainable transportation option that is accessible, convenient, and free for every Cornellian. More information is available at http://bigredbikes.cornell.edu/
The Dilmun Hill student-run, organic farm business operates a variety of retail and wholesale operations including a campus farmstand and direct marketing to several campus dining facilities including Manndible Cafe and the Hotel School. More information is available at http://www.cuaes.cornell.edu/cals/cuaes/ag-operations/dilmun-hill/
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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 Center for Global Sustainable Enterprise provides academic and professional leadership in the area of SRI and Sustainable Enterprise.
A project of the Center, BR Microcapital, spurs microenterprise development by assisting self-employed individuals reach their business goals. Launched in January of 2009, BRM seeks to meet a critical need by working with promising, but underserved entrepreneurs in the local community. BRM partners with Alternatives Federal Credit Union (Alternatives), a leading community development credit union, and the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise (Center) to support microbusiness owners. By offering targeted business assistance including loans to entrepreneurs, their goal is to contribute to the local community, supporting inclusive wealth creation and economic development.
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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:
In 2014 the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, the Campus Sustainability Office, and many other centers cosponsored or promoted over 400 sustainability events on campus including lectures, seminars, conferences, festivals, markets, and workshops.
The annual Iscol Lecture, Cornell's premier environmental event, featured Bill McKibben (noted journalist and environmentalist) in 2011, Peter Matthiessen (author) in 2012, Peter Kareiva (Chief Scientist, The Nature Conservancy) in 2013, and Luc Gnacadja (Past Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification) in 2014.
Additional past event lists can be found at
http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/blogs/events
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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:
The Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell ran and exhibition entitled "Beyond Earth Art" between January 25, 2014 and June 8, 2014. This exhibit was open to students and the public. The separate installations and exhibitions addressed issues related to the representation of landscape, water supply, food justice, recycling, fair distribution of natural resources, and the nature/culture divide. The work included operates in the gap between the objectivity of scientific data and the subjectivity of creative expression, signaling the interconnectedness of the themes addressed.
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The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
http://museum.cornell.edu/exhibitions/beyond-earth-art-contemporary-artists-and-the-environment.html
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A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Established in 1972, Cornell Outdoor Education (COE) is the largest and most comprehensive collegiate outdoor education program in the country. COE uses challenge, adventure, and outdoor experiences, with reflection and analysis, to help individuals and teams learn and grow. While COE serves a variety of populations, its central mission is to serve Cornell students. COE classes and programs, by complementing academic and classroom offerings, provide students with real world leadership and team opportunities. Classes include day hiking, backpacking in the Finger Lakes, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, tree climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, and sea kayaking. All courses emphasize the importance of the natural environment and Leave No Trace principles.
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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:
N/A
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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:
The nearly 100 residents of Ecology House have a variety of majors and backgrounds, but all share an interest in preserving and protecting our natural environment. Residents are dedicated to sustainable practices like recycling, composting, organic gardening, and energy conservation, and organize environmental-education outreach programs such as the widely popular annual "Mission: Wolf" event.
Ecology House offers a wide range of activities, such as regular hiking and camping trips, frequent house dinners, and weekly ice cream and movie nights. Major house events include a weekend retreat in the Adirondacks each fall, with zip-lining, hiking, and canoeing, plus house leadership retreats, and house dances (both formal and casual) in the fall and spring. Another unique perk at Eco House: residents may keep certain types of small pets (in cages or aquariums) if registered and approved by the house's Residence Hall Director.
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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 Campus Sustainability Office (CSO), Department of Energy Management, the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, and Cornell Dining offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities. CSO hires one Sustainability Coordinator who manages sustainability for New Student Orientation, a yearly sustainability leadership summit, and the annual SpringFest. CSO also hires a student to collect data for this report. Energy Management hires an Energy Conservation Intern, who manages Energy Conservation Nationals, and a Waste Management Intern, who manages Recyclemania. Cornell Dining hires 2-3 Student Sustainability Coordinators who act as sustainability consultants to the dining staff and purchasing department, and who educate students about local foods and waste management.
Job openings are advertised on the Sustainable Campus website (http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/blogs/news) and via many of Cornell's listservs.
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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:
N/A
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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:
N/A
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
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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.