Duquesne University
EN-3: Student Life

Evergreen is an environmentally conscious organization that helps to educate the DU community on sustainability on-campus and works to keep local neighborhoods clean and green. They collaborate with Facilities Management on Campus to help educate students and staff on recycling efforts available on campus as well as many of the new "green" upgrades being made to campus buildings. Off-campus, they collaborate with the Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh working to make the Uptown neighborhood a cleaner and greener place. Activities include Green Week during the fall semester, the Earth Day Fair and Spring Clean-Up during the spring semester as well monthly litter pick-ups and educational opportunities throughout the year. (https://instagram.com/evergreenatduq?utm.medium=copy_link)

The purpose of the Environmental Law Society is to provide a source of information regarding current environmental and natural resources law and policy, to allow and encourage discussion and debate about these topics, to promote environmental awareness, to aid the academic knowledge and awareness of its members, and to assist its members in employment within the environmental law field after graduation.

A former undergraduate student, Kristen Roth, published her undergraduate thesis titled "Regenerative Landscaping: An Urban Garden for Storm Water Management at Duquesne University." With guidance from a professor, her thesis developed plans to install an urban vegetable garden on campus. These plans turned into reality when the Center for Environmental Research and Education's Graduate Program Coordinator, Mary Kate Ranii, took the lead on the project in fall 2020. With the help of Facilities Management and two Graduate Assistants, raised beds were constructed and cover crops were planted to restore nutrients to the soil. In addition, two rain barrels, which will provide the water necessary for future crops, were installed.

Throughout the spring and summer of 2021 Dr. Sarah Wright from the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, as well as Dr. John Stolz and Dr. Brady Porter from the Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Science, took over the project. They worked with URP (Undergraduate Research Program) students to bring the garden to life. They prepared the garden and planted tomatoes, basil, purple basil, curly parsley, Italian parsley, shikou eggplants, sweet banana peppers and nasturtium. All food was donated to the Good Food Project in Millvale, a project of 412 Food Rescue. Along with food donation, the campus garden supports pollinators, increases biodiversity, decreases rainwater runoff, and offers a haven for member of the campus community. The group plans to expand to the other raised brick beds next to Laval House in the coming years.

Duquesne has a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Program that provides students with a compelling experience in money management and contributes to their preparation for successful careers in finance and investment management. One of the investment funds is referred to as the Duquesne Values Fund (DVF) "Investing for the Greater Good." This is one of the largest undergraduate funds of its type in the nation, as it pursues a stock selection strategy employing fundamental equity analysis and valuation. Eligible investments are deemed consistent with responsible investing criteria and Spiritan values, which include preserving the planet through sustainable initiatives. The $1 million student managed investment fund also employs socially responsible investment strategies. (https://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/business/undergraduate/majors/finance/smif)

Duquesne also has a NetImpact chapter of graduate students in the MBA Sustainable Business Practices program. Now in its 28th year, Net Impact has grown a grassroots, global movement of students and emerging impact leaders who want to use their skills to make a positive impact for people and planet. Mission: Net Impact’s mission is to inspire and equip emerging leaders to build a more just and sustainable world.(https://netimpact.org/chapters/duquesne-university-donahue-graduate-school-of-business-graduate) (https://www.instagram.com/netimpact_duquesne/)

Duquesne has a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Program that provides students with a compelling experience in money management and contributes to their preparation for successful careers in finance and investment management. One of the investment funds is referred to as the Duquesne Values Fund (DVF) "Investing for the Greater Good." This is one of the largest undergraduate funds of its type in the nation, as it pursues a stock selection strategy employing fundamental equity analysis and valuation. Eligible investments are deemed consistent with responsible investing criteria and Spiritan values, which include preserving the planet through sustainable initiatives. The $1 million student managed investment fund also employs socially responsible investment strategies. (https://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/business/undergraduate/majors/finance/smif)

The Duquesne University New Venture Challenge is a two-stage competition that encourages students to submit new venture ideas that have commercial and/or social missions. Winning programs are awarded $5,000 to put their projects into effect. Winners from 2019 includes LeanMed - innovative medical equipment designed to improve access to healthcare in low-resource regions.(https://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/business/team-competitions/duquesne-new-venture-challenge-2021-22)

The Annual Presidential Conference on the Integrity of Creation (IOC) invites participants from different disciplines to engage each other in civil discourse on a different topic each year. The format of the conference includes workshops, presentations, and posters and features national experts on sustainability. The most recent IOC conference took place in September 2020 and was titled, "Building a Sustainable World." The 2022 conference, titled "Climate Resiliency: Collaboration, Adaptation, and Action", will take place in April and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in the United States. The conference series was commissioned by former President Charles J. Dougherty as an endowed academic event that celebrates the Spiritan mission of Duquesne University. The current University President, Ken Gormley, continues to inspire excellence in support of the Spiritan mission as the conference series develops.
The conference has three goals:
1. To provide a scholarly opportunity to engage established and emerging research on the conference topic
2. To foster interdisciplinary discourse on each topic, such as among science, health, philosophy, religion and policy
3. To enlighten public awareness and discussion of the conference topic
(https://www.duq.edu/events/integrity-of-creation)

In February 2022, Duquesne's theology department sponsored the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Lecture Series, featuring guest speaker Dr. Aurora Sharrard, Director of Sustainability at University of Pittsburgh. This event was virtual, free and open to the public. (https://www.duq.edu/assets/Documents/healthcare-ethics/IOC/IOC-2022/2022%20Lecture%20on%20Environmental%20Justice.pdf)

Daniel Robinson (Environmental Science, 2019) ran a photo exhibition that featured a selection of nature photographs. The photos were taken by Daniel beginning in his freshman year at Duquesne up through an expedition to Alaska sponsored by the Honors College in the summer of 2017. The objective of the exhibition was to demonstrate the intersection of nature, art, and science through photography and to instill in the viewer the same sense of awe for nature that originally compelled Daniel to choose his major of Environmental Science. The photo exhibition and associated descriptions are still available for general view in Mellon Hall on Duquesne's Main Campus.

Additionally, Duquesne hosts the Human Rights Film Series each year. Though the theme of the conference changes yearly, it always focuses on sustainable societal advancement. The film series did not occur the past two years due to COVID-19, however it will be resuming in 2022. The theme of the 15th annual Human Rights Film Series, which will take place throughout February and March of 2022, is "Greed, Need, Perseverance". The series will feature four films: 9/11's Unsettled Dust, The Shadow of Gold, Building the American Dream and Invisible Hands. (https://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/liberal-arts/news-and-events/human-rights-film-series)

In the fall of 2021, graduate assistants in the Center for Environmental Research and Education (CERE) organized a campus-wide art contest for students to design a mural for the CERE office. Flyers were shared throughout the university, prompting students to submit a design which they believe represents environmental science and sustainability at Duquesne. Clara Krohn was selected as the winner of the contest and is currently working with members of CERE to create the mural.

Duquesne University’s Outdoors Club acts as an open student organization that welcomes all students to participate. The club provides interested students with education about the outdoors that partners with different outdoor activities. This club stresses dedication to learning about the outdoors, engaging in various environmental activities, volunteering for environmental conservation, and promotes outdoor recreation for community youth.

The MBA in Sustainable Business Practices has three themed semesters:
1st Semester- Auditing in Regards to Sustainable Businesses
2nd- Processing improvement in Regards to Sustainable Businesses
3rd- Change Management in Regards to Sustainable Businesses.

The Center for Environmental Research and Education hires between two and five students every academic year to assist with conducting with campus greenhouse gas emissions assessments and local environmental research opportunities.

The Duquesne University MBA in Sustainable Business Practices offers graduate research fellowships and graduate assistantships.

The Center for Environmental Research and Education hosts monthly EnviroBytes, which is an environmental speaker series. This series features speakers ranging from local environmental non-profit organizations, local environmental scientists, and local environmental companies (like solar panel installers) and are advertised to the entire campus.