Students
EcoReps
EcoReps are student volunteers who work with the Office of Sustainability to support programs and initiatives that integrate sustainability across campus. EcoReps will:
- Earn volunteer hours through the CSRC
- Earn credit towards the Green Dragon Recognition Program
- Earn LEAD credit
- be given precedence in the Office of Sustainability internship application process
Commitments
- Attend monthly meetings led by Office of Sustainability Staff
- Attend as many Office of Sustainability events as possible
- Support sustainability initiatives such as plastic film recycling, thrift shop maintenance & green dragon week!
Interested in becoming an EcoRep?
Fill out the interest form or set up a meeting to learn more!
Internships
Fall 2023 Office of Sustainability interns successfully supported sustainability efforts on campus! A few highlights below.
Morgan Whittington conducted food waste audits in Wilsbach and Mills Dining Halls, coordinated student collection of pre-consumer food waste and processing in an on-site composter in Wilsbach.
Josh Ippolito coordinated Green Room Certifications in the 14 campus residence halls and received an impressive 100% participation in his building! In addition, Josh studied campus light pollution and has researched opportunities to reduce light pollution on campus.
Carlotta Batchelder led waste reduction and monitoring efforts and analyzed SUNY Oneonta waste and recycling invoices from the past 5 years finding that recycling rates have increased!
Brianna Hoyte compiled environmental justice resources to share via handouts and website. She co-facilitated a discussion on environmental justice for a Gender And Sexuality Resources Dialogue Session and received funding to bring a environmental justice speaker to campus in spring 2024!
Sustainability RAs
An RA in each residential hall works with the Office of Sustainability to engage residents in sustainability initiatives. The Sustainability RA acts as a sustainability resource and promotes waste reduction and resource conservation in the hall. Find and contact your representative from the list below:
- Blodgett- Alyssa Sahaidachny
- Curtis- Michael Giannetto
- Ford- Greenlei Otto
- Golding- Ellis Devesin
- Grant- Maxim Safronov
- Hays- Jack Hladio
- Higgins- Vincent Zheng
- Hulbert- Mel Telesmanic
- Huntington- Dalton Reagan
- Littell- Adam Santana
- Matteson- Hailey Davis
- Macduff- Thomas Schroder
- Tobey- Rakell Dominguez
- Wilber- Jared Adler
Green Dragon Recognition Program
The Green Dragon Recognition Program is an initiative to celebrate and recognize students who have shown a commitment to sustainability during their time at SUNY Oneonta. Through participation you have a chance to earn recognition in the Green Dragon Recognition Ceremony which takes place during Green Dragon Week each spring. In order to earn an invitation to the Recognition Ceremony you will need to fulfill the below criteria. There will be opportunities for further recognition and more advanced tiers for each year spent at SUNY Oneonta until graduation.
Sustainability in Academics
SUNY Oneonta offers courses throughout many departments that are Sustainability Focused and Sustainability Related every semester. In order to receive the Sustainability in Academics, a B or above is required to be earned in 2 Sustainability Related (SUSR) courses or 1 Sustainability Focused (SUSF) course.
Sustainability Related courses are offered in various departments every semester. These courses incorporate a unit or module on sustainability or a sustainability challenge, include one or more sustainability-focused activities, or integrate sustainability challenges, issues and concepts throughout the course. Courses with this designation can be found in the academic catalog for each semester or on the Office of Sustainability website.
Sustainability Focused courses are offered in various departments every semester. These courses have a primary and explicit focus on sustainability or a sustainability challenge. Courses with this designation can be found in the academic catalog for each semester or on the Office of Sustainability website.
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Sustainability Leadership Experience
Sustainability Leadership Experience on campus can take many forms. All leadership experiences will support critical thinking, activism, networking and further development as a sustainability leader. You could actively participate in a sustainability themed club, work or intern at the Office of Sustainability or with another related organization, present research on a topic with a sustainability designation at Sustainability Research and Creative Activity Day or participate in another way! Below are some of the sustainability themed clubs that participation in counts as Sustainability Leadership Experience.
- Environmental Science Club
- Pi Epsilon
- UACS
- RAC
- Outdoor Adventure Club
- EcoRep
- Edgy Veggie Society
- Geology Club
- Outdoor Guides
Attend 10 Sustainability Events
Clubs
- Environmental Science Club
- Pi Epsilon
- RAC
- Outdoor Adventure Club
- Edgy Veggie Society
- Geology Club
UACS
University Advisory Council on Sustainability is charged with overseeing and advocating for the sustainability-related initiatives put forth in SUNY Oneonta’s strategic plan. The Committee is made up of students, faculty, and staff. Each spring a call for applications is sent to all students asking for self-nominations for the 1-year terms.
Faculty & Staff
University Advisory Council on Sustainability is charged with overseeing and advocating for the sustainability-related initiatives put forth in SUNY Oneonta’s strategic plan. The Committee is made up of faculty, staff, and students . Each spring a call for applications is sent to all faculty and staff asking for self-nominations for the 3-year terms.
The Workshop explores how to meaningfully integrate sustainability into our campus community. Sustainability issues can be incorporated in any department or office and can include climate change, food systems, economic development, ecological systems, environmental justice, public health and wellness, land use and sustainable design, energy, water, and human rights. Campus faculty and staff will facilitate and catalyze discussion of a sustainability and its integration and role into your work.
Participants receive an honorarium of $700 after program completion ($500 after workshop participation in winter, $200 after meeting the following fall). The program includes a two- day workshop in January prior to the start of the semester that includes a variety of interactive activities and opportunity to connect with faculty and staff across campus and a meeting the following spring and fall semester to share the experience and the work completed.
Sustainable Susquehanna participants agree to:
- Read material prior to the workshop.
- Participate in a 2-day workshop in January.
- Prepare course/programming materials before fall semester.
- Attend a spring semester meeting.
- Submit updated course materials by announced deadline.
- Attend a follow-up meeting to go over your revised or new syllabus in the fall (either in late August or early September).
Interested? Contact Rachel.Kornhauser@oneonta.edu.
Comments from past participants:
“An immense opportunity not only to think about the pedagogical aspects of sustainability but also to collaborate with such a wide variety of scholars and learn from them.”
“I consider the college’s commitment to sustainability to be one of its most important priorities, now more than ever.”
”I think sustainability is one of those ‘hot button’ issues that students can connect with and speak to- even in non “sustainability” focused-content areas.”
“I appreciated the opportunity to work with other faculty with interests in this area. “
Content coming soon!