NC State’s ongoing efforts to increase green friendliness on campus have been awarded, with the University receiving a Gold Rating in sustainability from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
AASHE, working together with at least 750 universities and colleges, gives points to schools that make advancements in academics, planning and administration, engagement and operations in relation to school sustainability.
NC State’s Sustainability Office was established in 2008 to lead the development and progress for sustainability on campus. Since then, it has been working toward making a more efficient campus by reducing water usage and energy consumption. In 2011, the Sustainability Office created a five year strategic plan that aimed at creating a greener campus. The plan seems to have paid off with the Gold Rating award, according to Lindsey Batchelor, the program development specialist for the Sustainability Office.
Batchelor oversaw the work being done to reach this critical landmark of reaching a Gold Rating.
“It shines light in areas we do well and shines light on areas we need improvement,” she said.
The Sustainability Office does not target these problems by itself. Batchelor said the office “seeks to be a hub, a connection point” for staff and students. Faculty are encouraged to take part in the initiatives to educate students on the matter of sustainability through co-teaching in classes and other means.
Greater sustainability awareness on campus does not just stop in the classrooms, Batchelor said. Faculty members can also contribute to it in their offices. Through the Sustainable Workplace Certification, different departments on campus can follow planning processes in increasing their efficiency in the workplace to achieve recognition for their actions.
Students have also been driven to become involved in the work to make NC State more sustainable. After finding out NC State achieved the Gold Rating, students like Hailey McCleneghen, a sophomore studying plant biology, see a bright outlook on the situation.
“It’s a great reflection for us as a school that students care,” McCleneghen said.“It’s important that the younger generation cares.”
NC State allows for multiple opportunities for students to become engaged in building a sustainable world. The EcoVillage at Bragaw allows for undergraduate students living on campus to participate in sustainability awareness activities including recycling projects and field trips.
Leadership opportunities are also present for students seeking to take a commanding role in supporting campus-wide sustainability. The NC State Stewards program, supported under the Sustainability Office, seeks to make individual students champions for university outreach and work in regards to sustainability.
Daniel Briggs, one of the Stewards and a junior studying statistics, explained the significance of stimulating knowledge on sustainability.
“Sustainability is the ability to continue a behavior indefinitely,” Briggs said. “Whenever we promote a sustainable campus, not only are we making our immediate environment more eco-friendly but also encouraging a lifestyle that will hopefully manifest itself throughout all our lives, making this a better place to live.”
Batchelor said that although it is impossible to comprehensively roll-up everything about sustainability, it is possible to teach people to teach what sustainability in its simplest form can be defined as.
“Sustainability is using your resources and thinking about the way you use them so future generations can do the same,” Batchelor said. “It is important for students to be aware that the actions they do today will lead to effects in the future that reflect the positive or negative nature of what they did.”
