Whitman College
EN-3: Student Life

Campus Climate Coalition: Promotes environmental sustainability and climate justice through multiple campaigns to make Whitman a more sustainable and ethical campus.This organization focuses on a wide range of institutional and national sustainability issues. Divest Whitman: The mission of Divest Whitman is to convince the board of trustees to remove Whitman’s fiscal investments in the fossil fuel industry and thus hold the College accountable to the values, policies, and beliefs implicit in the mission of Whitman. SAW (Student Agriculture at Whitman) allows students to make a difference, helping to incorporate local, fresh organic produce grown blocks away from campus into the dinning halls.SAW provides students with an opportunity to learn more about sustainable agriculture. The Environmental Interest House—known colloquially as The Outhouse—was established in 1981 as a part of the Interest House Community. It provides housing for a several environmentally minded students every year. The students aim to involve themselves in solving environmental issues on campus, and being leaders in moving to a more sustainable Whitman campus. Cool the Schools is a program run by Whitman College students that focuses on climate change education for middle school students. The program recruits Whitman students to teach short lessons about climate change in 7th grade classrooms throughout Walla Walla. In the Spring of 2015, Cool the Schools engaged 15 Whitman students to teach over 314 7th graders. The Glean Team was founded to raise awareness on issues pertaining to food insecurity and to provide opportunities for Whitman students to harvest and donate fresh produce to Walla Walla food banks. With 250 members, and over 90 gleaning events in the past year, it has quickly become one of the most active groups on campus. In combined efforts with community volunteers, nearly 35,000 pounds of fresh produce have been donated to the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Warehouse and distributed to those in need throughout the county. Rethink Dams recently formed to establish a community at Whitman and in the larger Walla Walla region set on building support for the removal of the lower Snake River Dams. MyCology Club: To promote interest, education, and awareness of the Fungi Kingdom within the Whitman

SAW (Student Agriculture at Whitman) allows students to make a difference, helping to incorporate local, fresh organic produce grown blocks away from campus into the dinning halls.SAW provides students with an opportunity to learn more about sustainable agriculture. The Glean Team was founded to raise awareness on issues pertaining to food insecurity and to provide opportunities for Whitman students to harvest and donate fresh produce to Walla Walla food banks. With 250 members, and over 90 gleaning events in the past year, it has quickly become one of the most active groups on campus. In combined efforts with community volunteers, nearly 35,000 pounds of fresh produce have been donated to the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) Food Warehouse and distributed to those in need throughout the county. Campus Organic Garden: It is the mission of the Organic Garden to create a garden of abundant nourishment; nourishment for the community, the mind, the body, the spirit and the future. The philosophy of the Organic Garden is to foster an environment filled with experimentation, composting and the recycling of waste, no chemical pesticides or fertilizers (for the health of people and the planet), education (learning from the Earth, each other and shared ideas), respect for nature, celebration of life and appreciation for where food comes from. The garden grows a wide variety of both annual and perennial vegetables, fruits, and herbs ranging from raspberries to bok choy to butternut squash. In an effort to improve soil fertility the Student Organic Garden uses food scraps from student houses and composts it with other materials provided by the physical plant. Our purpose is to get dirty and enjoy the process of growing food.

SAW (Student Agriculture at Whitman) allows students to make a difference, helping to incorporate local, fresh organic produce grown blocks away from campus into the dinning halls. SAW provides students with an opportunity to learn more about sustainable agriculture. Historically this organization has actively sold produce through a small off campus store.

The Whitman College Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) is a $50,000 line of credit designated for campus improvements that significantly benefit Whitman's sustainability efforts by conserving resources and improving efficiency. All loans are expected to generate savings that result in a 100% payback within no more than five years. Approximately $10,000 is available each year. The SRLF will be replenished through the savings accrued from the implementation of the project. Proposals will be reviewed by the SRLF Proposal Review Committee. The Treasurer's Office and the Campus Sustainability Coordinator manage the project review process and the fund. ASWC Green Fund: The purpose and chief goal of the Green Fund shall be to transform student sustainability policy initiatives into realities that enrich the campus in practice and principle. Policies of the ASWC Senate and Finance Committee: The Finance Committee shall set criteria for approval of requests at the start of each year, and shall judge each request and make recommendations accordingly. Requests less than or equal to five hundred dollars ($500.00) shall require a majority vote of Finance Committee for approval. Requests greater than five hundred dollars ($500.00) but less than or equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) shall require a majority vote of the Finance Committee and a majority vote of the Senate for approval. Requests greater than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) shall require a majority vote of the Finance Committee and a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate for approval. In the case that a request greater than $500 need approval sooner than the next senate meeting, the Executive Council may vote in place of the Senate. The request shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote from the Executive Council.

The Colleges offers a multitude of speakers related to sustainability. The college additionally has actively brought in visiting lectures related to sustainability. This has included presentations on COP21 and other sustainability focuses. Public lectures by staff and professors are regularly held discussing aspects of sustainability. Additionally student groups, the Office of Sustainability, and our Outdoor Program have previewed films related to sustainability. We have an upcoming cultural event related to the NODAPL movement.

There are galleries around the campus that have held sustainability focused artwork. Additionally the Environmental Science Department has a current display on the history of US Department of Energy's Hanford Nuclear Reservation. This provides the campus community with a look at the history of nuclear energy. Additionally our campus provides studio space for senior art students. This space has contained sustainability focused artwork.

The Outdoor Program fosters personal growth, facilitates learning and creates recreational opportunities through skills and risk management training, leadership development, and environmentally sound trips in a supportive community. The Outdoor Program runs trips most weekends throughout the school year. These are open to all Whitman students. Trips include kayaking, hiking, climbing, rafting, skiing, snow-shoeing, ice climbing, and more! The trips are designed for beginner through advanced skill levels. The Rental Shop is the hub of the Outdoor Program. Students and community members can rent or purchase equipment from the shop for personal use. The Rental Shop manages all of the equipment used on OP trips and classes. Scrambles are first year trips that run each year right before freshman orientation. Scrambles are a week long and include hiking, climbing, sea kayaking, whitewater kayaking and rafting. The Climbing Center is the Whitman college's state of the art climbing wall. The wall is open to Whitman students, faculty, staff as well as their family members and guests. Classes and clinics take place at the climbing wall every week. The Outdoor Program also facilitates many of the Sports Studies and Recreation Activities (SSRA) classes on campus. We offer a variety of classes each semester, many of which include weekend trips to give students hands-on outdoor experience with their new skills. The Bob Carson Outdoor Fund was established in 2012 to help with some of the fees associated with the Outdoor Program's activities. Students can inquire at the OP rental shop for more information about his helpful resource. Whitman College Outdoor Program won the The David J Webb Program Excellence Award in 2013, from the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE). The award honors an outstanding non-profit outdoor program which has provided dynamic and innovative services to its participants, demonstrated professionalism and high standards of conduct and contributed to the outdoor community at large by sharing information and assisting other programs.

Our Life Skills series aims to partner students with Whitman staff or community members who can share their passion and/or expertise in a field or task that is not necessarily taught within the classroom. Examples of life skill classes that have been offered focusing on sustainability are Vegan and Gluten Free Cooking

Zero Waste Assistant: Our Zero Waste Program offers four openings for student employees. They are tasked with the operation of our campus recycling center. They are also encouraged to develop programming or initiatives that can be implemented institutionally. Bike Share Assistant: Our Bike Share currently employees one student employee who manages our Bike Share. This student is tasked with advancing sustainable transportation alternatives and data collection relating to bike share user-ship. Sustainability Outreach and Volunteer Assistant: The sustainability office offers one paid student position to develop sustainability programming and education. They are tasked with promotion of our sustainability volunteer program. Whitman Internship Grant provides funding for internships that include many organizations that support sustainability causes.

Since 1987, the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility has been offered at colleges and universities throughout the world. The goal is to build a global community of responsible graduates improving society and the environment through the workplace. Whitman College seniors have been taking the pledge since 2006.

The student government has a sustainability committee open to all students. Additionally students are asked to participate in the President's Sustainability Advisory Committee. In addition to these activities students regularly coordinate trips to advocate for environmental policy across the pacific northwest.