Iowa State University
EN-3: Student Life

Iowa State University has a rich diversity of active student organizations on campus. With just over 800 organizations, ISU has an array of different organizations focused on sustainability and the different elements associated with sustainability.

Reiman Gardens Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens provides a wonderful selection of sustainability-based workshops for local community, students, and faculty members. Workshops include topics of plant propagation and pruning, a therapeutic horticulture course expanding awareness and self-understanding, and a number of other sustainable living events. http://www.reimangardens.com/events/?start_date=&end_date=&_type=1 Student Organic Farm ISU Student Organic Farm (SOF) is a student organization that runs an on-campus garden, which is available to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and Ames community members. SOF practices and experiments with organic production methods, and seeks to increase community awareness and support of local food systems. By making the garden available to anyone, the group encourages multidisciplinary cooperation in sustainable food systems. SOF’s plants include tomatoes, onions, and peanuts, and members are encouraged to help with planting, growing crops, and selling the products. Starting in the fall 2012 semester, SOF sells produce from the garden to ISU Dining through the Farm to ISU program. http://isustudentorganicfarm.weebly.com

The SHOP The SHOP was created by ISU students looking to give back to campus. Their mission is to help ISU students in need of food assistance, making it a peer-to-peer organization. Located on campus, the SHOP has regularly scheduled hours when volunteers distribute food that is obtained through donations. The service is available to all students, who receive food without record, allowing customers to maintain anonymity.

The Live Green! Revolving Loan Fund provides interest-free loans for campus projects that promote energy conservation and sustainability and provide a return on the investment through increased efficiencies including (but not limited to): resource use, financial savings, and emissions reductions.Loan recipients repay their loans through savings derived from the implementation of their project. As the loan fund is replenished, through loan repayments, the loan can “revolve” and fund additional sustainability more energy conservation projects on campus. After the loan has been repaid, the ongoing savings is retained by the loan recipient to use in whatever manner will most benefit their goals and priority initiatives. Iowa State’s green loan fund is one of only 76 that have been established on college campuses in the United States and Canada. Students serve as members of the Live Green! Revolving Loan Fund Advisory Committee.

Sustainability Symposium Iowa State University hosts an annual Symposium on Sustainability, which focuses on celebrating, recognizing, and reflecting on the many sustainability-related accomplishments at ISU. Typical events have included speakers, poster sessions, and empowering stations. This is a university-wide event that is open to students, faculty, and staff. http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/news-and-events/symposium-on-sustainability Earth Week Earth Week at Iowa State University is a diversity of sustainability-minded and connected student organizations committed to planning and implementation of at least one event resulting in a collection of unique, fun, active and green opportunities for the campus and community to take part in.http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/news-and-events/earthmonth/earthweek2015 Cyclone Market The Cyclone Market is an opportunity for on-campus student organizations to fund their clubs. Through the Cyclone Market, student organizations have the chance to raise funds for their club by selling student-made products, food and offering carnival games.http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/student_life/article_dc784a90-df00-11e4-a386-373e8ba94996.html Local Food Festival In order to expose Iowa State students to the wonderful benefits of locally grown foods, a variety of sponsors hosted an event to help students make a connection between foods they consume and where the food is grown. The event featured educational displays, food samples, recipes using local foods developed by Iowa State dining chefs and locally grown and produced products for sale by vendors and ISU clubs. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/local-food-festival-sept-18-iowa-state-university-campus

Global Gala Global Gala is an annual celebration of the Iowa State University campus and Ames community. Through food, music, dancing, and a fashion show, a variety of student organizations promote their culture and heritage Asia Project The Asia Project is the story of Asia Samson, a cancer survivor who was won audiences throughout the country with a spoken word show that has been nothing less than an honest and genuine testimony of his life- a spoken word show that is always inspiring, sometimes gut-wrenching, and most often times comical buffoonery. ISU Diversity Resources Fair The Iowa State University Resources Fair is an annual event that gives students an opportunity to explore services and leadership opportunities offered by various student organizations, university departments, and community groups. The fair encourages an increase in knowledge regarding services offered by the University while fostering an environment of inclusion and belonging.

Outdoor Recreation Iowa State offers the Outdoor Recreation Program, which provides a variety of low-cost opportunities to take on-campus classes to learn outdoor skills as well as to attend weekend and extended outdoor trips around the U.S. Workshops include rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, and rappelling. Students are also able to attend local trips during the school year to nearby state parks, as well as trips during breaks for backpacking, caving, or skiing/snowboarding. The overarching goals of the program are to help build friendships, overcome challenges, teach new skills, and help others experience and learn about lifelong outdoor activities. In doing so, one of the core principles of the Outdoor Recreation Program is to organize trips while following Leave No Trace principles. The program employs the seven Leave No Trace Principles from the website lnt.org on all their trips. These are discussed at all of the program’s pre-trip meetings. Examples of how the principles are incorporated include staying away from vegetation when selecting a campsite, taking all garbage out, and bringing a portable toilet for all solid human waste.

GreenHouse Group Established in 2009, The GreenHouse Group is involved in educating students living in university housing about recycling and sustainability, involving residents in sustainability activities and events, and serving as the student voice to the ISU Department of Residence regarding sustainability issues. Smart Eats Program The six week Smart Eats class series aids students in developing skills around healthy meal plan development and accurate nutritional knowledge skills. Fitness staff dietetic students present information and guide motivational activities around essential nutritional food groups, health enhancement nutritional sources and habits, effective shopping and planning nutritional meals. In addition to the weekly class each participant receives weekly resources, six 30 minute (one-on-one) sessions and a water bottle. http://www.recservices.iastate.edu/fitness/wellness/smarteats/ Student Loan Education Office The Student Loan Education Office offers a number of workshops through the year for students to learn the ins and outs of paying for their college tuition. Budgeting, informational presentations regarding private and federal student loans, and developing strong credit are a few of the topics touched upon. http://www.loaneducation.iastate.edu/ Biofeedback Center At the Student Counseling Services Biofeedback Center, students can see, hear, and become more aware of their body’s stress response and learn to turn on the relaxation response. Through Biofeedback, students can reduce chronic stress and anxiety, improve general well-being, increase emotional regulation, and develop better coping responses. http://www.counseling.iastate.edu/biofeedback-services

Live Green! Internships and Assistantships Each year, the Live Green! initiative within the Office of Sustainability offers undergraduate interns and graduate assistants each academic year. Eco-Reps Within each of the residence halls, there are students who are responsible for overseeing the ‘green’ efforts within the halls.

Community and Economic Development Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community and Economic Development (CED) program empowers communities to shape their own futures through research, education, community engagement, economic development, community planning and design. This program serves as an essential conduit between Iowa’s communities and the resources of Iowa State University through synergistic partnerships with private and public sectors for the betterment of Iowans. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/ University Community Design Lab The Community Design Lab (CDL) works with community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies throughout the state of Iowa, using design knowledge and research expertise to help shape vibrant and empowered communities. The team works across scales, connecting regional issues to local solutions and finding synergy between urban and rural issues.http://research.design.iastate.edu/communitydesignlab/ Government Finance Initiative Using local government finance data, IGFI analyzes trends and financial performance of selected census, economic, education and other indicators. The educational outreach program is designed to provide an alternate perspective about the financial health and performance of Iowa cities and counties as well as provide an educational component targeted towards officials and public employees. IGFI conducts and disseminates research through publications and educational workshops on critical topics relating to local government finance and community and economic development.http://igfi.extension.iastate.edu/