Randolph College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Lindsey
Van Zile Sustainability Coordinator & Campus Projects Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Student groups
Yes
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
The main student group is called the Environmental Club which meets weekly.
Gardens and farms
Yes
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The Organic Garden at Randolph College is a small, beautiful parcel of land located on a hill northeast of the Maier Museum that has been developed through the efforts of students, staff, faculty, and members of the Lynchburg community dedicated to the principles and practices of organic gardening such as Permaculture and Indigenous Knowledge (IK). The hands-on approach to growing crops and animals on campus is harmonious with nature and grounded in theoretical study as well as a commitment to community development. Garden plots are available to all students, faculty, staff, and interested community members. An organic gardening physical education course is taught each Fall and Spring. The organic garden also helps the community have access to organic eggs and produce through its collaboration with the Randolph College Food Pantry.
Student-run enterprises
No
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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Sustainable investment and finance
Yes
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
Each semester student government provides up to $2,000 towards a sustainability initiative. Students determine award recipients and are responsible for managing their budget for their project.
Events
Yes
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Randolph frequently hosts conferences and speaker series related to sustainability, particularly social sustainability and environmental justice. Each year, Randolph hosts the "Voices of Lynchburg" speaker series which seeks to bridge the gown and town gap by showcasing prominent leaders addressing local social justice issues. Recent speakers discussed affordable housing for Lynchburg citizens with disabilities, and the correlation between poverty and quality of education. Other sustainability speakers include Philip Kietcher on evolution and ethical life, Kesho Scott on diversity and civil rights, and Jackson Katz on gender violence.
Cultural arts
Yes
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College often holds exhibitions related to sustainability issues. Recent exhibitions include "Atmospheric conditions: gathered and unsettled," which featured works on climate change, and "Investigating Identity: race, gender, and sexuality in contemporary art."
Wilderness and outdoors programs
Yes
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Excursions Club offers hiking trips to the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains and sections of the Appalachian Trail. Several classes (Ecology, Environmental Principles, and Introduction to Environmental Studies) include hiking trips and white water rafting to students taking the classes. The Randolph Thrive program is a self-sufficient program on campus that encourages students to spend time in nature to promote well-being and stress reduction. Students can check-out hammocks and frisbees from the library to recreate outdoors.
Sustainability-focused themes
No
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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Sustainable life skills
No
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
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Student employment opportunities
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Office of Sustainability hires one to three students each year to assist with sustainability-related jobs. This year there is a Organic Garden & Bike Share Student Assistant and Utilities Data Assistant. The Organic Garden & Bike Share Student Assistant helps maintain the garden, care for chickens and manage the bike share. The Utilities Data Assistant helps track monthly energy usage and utilities bills. This data is used to project the cost and usage for the next fiscal year.
Graduation pledge
No
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
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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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