Today’s students don’t just want to take classes or graduate with degrees in sustainability fields. They want to get their feet wet and their hands dirty by applying what they learn on campus or out in the field.
At the following colleges and universities, students can conduct research, study abroad, lead student organizations, run businesses and more, all while learning about sustainability. Since sustainability involves solving local and global problems from climate change to poverty, these experiences allow students to learn in ways that are collaborative and very hands-on. Such immersive sustainable education brings the big idea of sustainability to life for students, empowering them to make change happen.
Emory University: Student Groups
Emory University has a large variety of sustainability-focused student groups on campus. Interested in environmental issues? Join the Emory Environmental Alliance. More interested in food? Join Slow Food Emory. From conservation to global health to energy markets to social innovation, Emory has a student organization for every sustainable interest. The Student Sustainability Forum brings all of these groups together with student publications and student government to coordinate and publicize their sustainability work.
California State University, Chico: Organic Gardening
Begun in 2008, California State University Chico’s organic farm encompasses 10 acres of certified organic land and involves faculty, students, local farmers and community members in growing produce for campus diners through the Associated Students Food Service and a weekly produce stand on campus. Research is also conducted on the farm, focused on growing, evaluating and identifying promising new vegetable varieties that could help local organic growers become more competitive.
Dickinson College: Sustainable Enterprises
Not only does Dickinson College have several student-run sustainable enterprises, but its Idea Fund provides students with project consulting, innovation grants and revolving loans to help them write business proposals, apply fur funding, build teams and network so that they can create their own sustainable enterprises. Examples of funded student enterprises include The Peddler, a bicycle-powered coffee cart that serves high-quality, responsibly sourced coffee; Shared Artwork, which helps students showcase their art within the Dickinson community; and Knits by Carley, which sells knitwear online, at craft fairs and through parties to provide blankets to children in South Africa.
Appalachian State University: Outdoors Program
From a climbing wall to Wilderness First Responder certification, the outdoor program at Appalachian State University is top notch—no surprise, as it’s near the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Mountains. First Ascent programs for incoming first-year and transfer students teach sustainable living skills while building lasting bonds over camping, rafting, climbing and volunteering at a local farm.
Arizona State University: Sustainability Immersive Experience
Thanks to funding from the Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives, Arizona State University offers the Global Sustainability Studies Program to provide students with study abroad opportunities focused on sustainability. These learning experiences include studying urban sustainability in Hong Kong, exploring human rights and sustainability in Brazil and delving into community development in Trinidad and Tobago. Scholarships are available for sustainability majors, minors and concentration students.
University of New Hampshire: Learning through Faculty Research
The University of New Hampshire is home to one of the largest undergraduate research conferences in the country. Over 1,300 undergraduates participated in the 2014 Undergraduate Research Conference, with a growing number of students presenting on sustainability topics, such as organic dairy, agroecosystem research, environmental engineering and ecogastronomy.
Middlebury College: Sustainability Operations
Many campuses walk the sustainability talk in their campus operations, and at some schools, students can study and learn from their campuses like a living laboratory. For example, at Middlebury College students have worked with faculty and staff to research how forests and biomass owned by the college could contribute to the university’s sustainability goals.
Other Unique Opportunities in Immersive Sustainable Learning
Other opportunities for immersive sustainability education include:
- The Foresight Prep at Oberlin College (Foresight Prep @ Oberlin), a summer program for high school students.
- Environmental and sustainability expositions, which bring together students, faculty and green industry leaders at California State University San Bernardino.
- Sustainability art exhibits at the University of the Pacific.
More and more campuses are getting involved in sustainability beyond just turning off lights and recycling. Check out the Princeton Review Green Colleges Guide or the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education to find other unique sustainability opportunities for students.