| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.25 |
| Liaison | Laura Bain |
| Submission Date | Jan. 26, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Furman University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
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 | 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 | No |
| Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives | No |
None
The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:
Global Issues Forum is a student initiative started in 2011-2012. It attempts to bring focus on global issues that deal with development, poverty, and international conflict. In past years, GIF has supported the Water Walk, a public health talk, and a speaker from USAID. They provide up to $500 for travel expenses for these events.
None
The website URL where information about student groups is available:
---
None
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:
Furman has a forth acre garden where a wide variety of produce is grown throughout the year using sustainable agricultural practices such as crop rotations, composting, drip lines, and integrated pest management. The Furman Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program allows for students and community members to receive freshly picked produce each week for a monthly fee. The student farm manager and volunteers help run this program.
None
The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
---
None
A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:
EAG (Environmental Action Group) aims to educate the campus about how to live an eco-friendly life, while completing service projects and activities that support this philosophy through the governance of students. Last year, EAG planned events for Earth Week such as a bike parade, an electric car exhibit, and a bottled water vs. tap water taste test.
None
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
---
None
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:
The university maintains a revolving loan fund for financing student-proposed conservation initiatives on campus. Savings from the project are transferred from the university energy budget back into the account each year. Many past projects have been proposed in recent years. The most significant funded project is the installation of solar PV panels on the Facilities Maintenance building roof.
None
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
---
None
A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
The Shi Center for Sustainability hosts a speaker series each year which brings in speakers covering wide-range and holistically-conceived sustainability topics. Some events are co-hosted with other departments and organizations; most speakers engage with relevant classes and small groups in addition to their keynote address, which is open and promoted to the campus and to the public.
In 2013 Furman hosted a conference of the SE Campus Sustainability Coordinators Network, which convened 26 sustainability professionals from 19 regional campuses to share information and ideas.
The Greenville Zoo and Furman faculty coordinate to plan and promote a series of public lectures on conservation topics, hosted on campus.
None
The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
---
None
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:
In Spring 2013, the Furman Percussion Ensemble (14 students) performed John Luther Adams’ Inuksuit, a piece written specifically for outdoor performance. In the words of the composer, the work is written to “expand our awareness of the never-ending music of the world in which we live.” The performance was also part of a student-led research study investigating the use of this genre of music as an environmental education tool.
None
The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
---
None
A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Furman University Outdoor Club (FUOC) is student governed. It helps people learn, enjoy, and maintain the outdoors through activities such as backpacking, kayaking, and rock climbing.
None
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
---
None
A brief description of sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The academic year of 2010 to 2011 was named "The Year of Global Citizenship" at Furman University. Global citizenship is defined as recognition that the acts we engage in, at any level (as individuals, as governments, or anything in between), may impact people in other parts of our common world. A core group of students discovered many challenges and wanted to provide greater awareness for these global issues on campus. This initiative brought curricular and co-curricular programs to the students, faculty, and staff in order to encourage critical evaluation and responsible citizenship in a globalized world. Speakers discussed various topics such as the impacts of faith on globalization and photography in developing areas.
None
The website URL where information about the theme is available:
---
None
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Furman offers a Summer Scholars program for rising high school seniors and juniors. This is a weeklong program aimed to teach and challenge students about a specific course. One course includes "Sustainability in Action." Through classwork and field experience, students will explore examples of sustainable living and careers in action. Topics include local foods, urban planning, energy conservation, and social justice. Students will learn how to become sustainability leaders in their own high schools.
None
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
---
None
A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:
The Shi Center for Sustainability employs student sustainability fellowships both during the summer and academic year. All fellows work with the Shi Center staff, and affiliate faculty as appropriate, to advance sustainability on campus and in the community, and to conduct applied research related to sustainability. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply. Fellows can either work on campus or at a community partner’s job site. A few examples of these jobs include Sustainability Outreach and Engagement Fellow, Energy Systems Fellow, Student Assistant Farm Manager, and Greenville County Transportation Planning Fellow.
None
The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
---
None
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:
---
None
The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
---
None
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
---
None
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---
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.