| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.65 |
| Liaison | Laura Bain |
| Submission Date | Jan. 19, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Furman University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Laura
Bain Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment David E. Shi Center for Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Student Groups
Yes
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
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. EAG plans annual events for Earth Week such as a bottled water vs. tap water taste test, wildlife education, and Furman Farm fest.
The Bartram Society is a student-led group that brings together individuals who share an interest in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Sustainability Science. It also promotes the enjoyment and conservation of the Earth and its precious resources.
The University Innovation Fellows (UIF) program empowers students to become agents of change at their schools. Fellows work to ensure that their peers gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to compete in the economy of the future and make a positive impact on the world.
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
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Gardens and Farms
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
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, natural fertilizers, and integrated pest management.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Student-Run Enterprises
Yes
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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 student volunteers help run this program.
Paladins on Bikes Program is a semester-long bike rental program open to all students to encourage the use of sustainable transportation on campus.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
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Sustainable Investment and Finance
Yes
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
The University maintains a green fund for financing student-proposed sustainability initiatives on campus.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
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Events
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
The Shi Center for Sustainability hosts various speakers 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.
The Greenville Zoo and Furman faculty coordinate to plan and promote a series of public lectures on conservation topics, hosted on campus.
Tea and Conversations is an opportunity to meet with and have meaningful conversations with sustainability practitioners, pre-reading, and questions.
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
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Cultural Arts
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
In Spring 2016, the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, with the assistance of Furman facilities and the Philmont Scout Ranch, created an art piece to bring awareness about the use of plastic water bottles. This piece featured a backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains and had caps from plastic water bottles at the forefront. This art piece was placed above a water bottle refill station to remind people of the pollution created from using plastic bottles and the importance of using reusable bottles.
There is a rotating student art exhibit in the Shi Center for Sustainability that focuses on a sustainability topic. Examples of exhibits include air quality in China and local advocates and activists in our community.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
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Wilderness and Outdoors Programs
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Furman University Outdoor Club (FUOC) is a student-governed organization that helps people learn, enjoy, and maintain the outdoors through activities such as backpacking, kayaking, and rock climbing.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
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Sustainability-Related Themes
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
During the 2016-17 academic year, the theme was Sustainable Food Systems and included a series of CLP events, outreach, and research projects centered around food production or consumption.
During the 2017-18 academic year, the theme is Climate Change. The Riley Institute, the Shi Center for Sustainability, and the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health partnered together to host a national conference, convene a faculty panel, and bring speakers to campus.
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Sustainable Life Skills
Yes
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Greenbelt Community is a residential learning and living community that provides eco-friendly housing for students interested in reducing their environmental footprint and leading others to a more sustainable feature. This one-year program is designed to cultivate emerging student leaders who are interested in exploring and living a sustainable lifestyle. Students live in one of four eco-friendly cabins, take a one-credit seminar each semester to discuss sustainable living, and explore their passions by practicing sustainability in a close-knit community. Students are also inspired to develop and implement environmentally-friendly initiatives that will improve our community for future generations.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Student Employment Opportunities
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
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. A few examples of these jobs include Sustainability Outreach and Engagement Fellow, Student Assistant Farm Manager, Alternative Transportation Fellow, and Greenville County Parks and Recreation Fellow.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
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Graduation Pledge
No
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
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The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
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Other Programs and Initiatives
No
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
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The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
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Optional Fields
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.