Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.21
Liaison Ann Drevno
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2020

STARS v2.2

Saint Mary's College of California
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student groups 

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes

Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
There are several student groups on campus focused on sustainability including Fair Trade Fridays, the Green Gaels Club, The Sustainability LLC, and the Surfriders Club.

https://stmarys-ca.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/surfriderfoundation
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/living-learning-community
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/green-gaels-student-club
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/living-learning-community

Gardens and farms 

Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Starting in 2009, Saint Mary's College successfully launched a 1/2 acre Organic Garden, the "Legacy Garden," which evolved out of the desire to educate students about ecology, food sources and community. The garden, built with over 1,000 hours of student labor, is the focus of a number of educational programs and provides fresh produce on a limited basis for a student-run market table as well as use in food prepared by Dining Services.

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/for-students/legacy-garden

Student-run enterprises 

Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
Yes

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Fair Trade Fridays are run by Mission and Ministry Center. The student group arranges for the sale of fair trade items, including coffee and jewelry and crafts, and use the fair as a process to explain the purpose and values of fair trade.

Additional URL
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/mission-ministry-center/fair-trade

Sustainable investment and finance 

Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
See PA 8 for Socially Responsible Investment Group

Events 

Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Yes, we host of a variety of speakers and conferences, including but not limited to:

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainable-secure-electricity-supply-talk-by-visiting-professor-erik-larsen
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/center-for-environmental-literacy/river-of-words
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/the-true-cost-documentary-screening-panel-discussion

Cultural arts 

Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Yes, the cultural arts events that sustainability hosts are often are most well-attended events. Two of these events include:
-The Eco Art Show, which offers a space for students, staff and faculty to display their work related to the environment
-Eco-Cella concert which hosts a solar-powered band on campus

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/eco-art-show

Wilderness and outdoors programs 

Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
Yes

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Sustainability Office and various clubs host a variety of outdoors programs including hiking, beach clean ups, restoration work, garden parties, that employ the "leave no trace" principles, including:

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/mitty-garden-planting-party
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/hike-in-the-smc-hills
https://www.picuki.com/profile/greengaelsclub

Sustainability-focused themes 

Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
We currently have a themed living community, called the Sustainability Living Learning Community, where students can choose to live together and incorporate sustainable practices into their residence hall experience.

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/living-learning-community

Sustainable life skills 

Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Yes, our Sustainable student leaders (positions described below) offer a variety of workshops to residence halls including but not limited to: composting 101, thrifting and re-purposing, sustainable eating 101, environmental justice, zero waste workshops, cooking classes and competitions, etc.

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/student-life

Student employment opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
We have a variety of sustainability-focused employment opportunities, including:
-Zero Waste Coordinator (1)
-Sustainability Living Learning Community Leaders (2)
-Sustainable Food Interns (2)
-Free Store Managers (2)
-Sustainability Social Media Coordinator (1)
-Sustainability Office Managers (2)
-Special Events Coordinators (3)

https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/sustainability/student-life

Graduation pledge

Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
Yes

A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
During class of commencement, a group of graduating EES students took a sustainability pledge.

The pledge read: "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and ecological consequences of my decisions and to use the knowledge I gain at Saint Mary's College to improve quality of life for all in my community and beyond.”

Optional Fields

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
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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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