What we are doing
Campus Initiatives
Did you know that Drew University has completed 5 building lighting retrofits that have reduced carbon emissions equivalent to planting 186 acres of forest?
Efforts are made every day to become a more sustainable university from the way buildings are designed to the dining services for students. The university has also done tremendous work to develop a Climate Action Plan to reach climate neutrality by 2035, pursuant to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
From a Native Tree Policy to Environmentally Responsible Building Guidelines, Drew’s Sustainability Policies ensure a sustainable campus.
Drew University is dedicated to forest restoration efforts on campus and was a recipient of the NJ Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award. The forest and arboretum on campus is being restored and students are assessing the progress throughout the years (article). Students have coordinated Fern Fest for 15 years, and the campus comes together to replace a large patch of lawn from the center of campus with native ferns and wildflowers. A meadow was established the summer of 2012 with the help of student and staff volunteers. The new LEED designed student center has a rain garden.
Beyond Drew
Through the Center for Civic Engagement at Drew, sustainability efforts are spreading throughout the state of NJ, the United States and the world.
Academics & Research
Drew University is not only devoted to creating a sustainable campus, it is also committed to providing top sustainability education. The Environmental Studies & Sustainability (ESS) Department offers students the opportunity to major in a degree program studying real-world global issues and coming up with solutions.
View ESS Fall 2013 Courses for the major.
What you can do
Did you know that there are 3 different student groups focused on sustainable initiatives at Drew University?
There are many ways to get involved with sustainability at Drew. “What you can do” is a portal for all sustainable activities and actions for on and off campus.
Campus Opportunities
These links contain options for students, faculty, and staff. Students interested in taking an active role in promoting sustainability on campus should consider being an Eco-Rep, joining or forming a club, taking a course related to sustainability. Faculty and staff can reach out to campus sustainability coordinator about the Drew Sustainability Committee and Green Office Certification.
Green Your Habits…
Here are the many different ways to innovate, conserve and save by greening your living and working habits. http://www.drew.edu/sustainability/projects
Student Groups
DEAL—the Drew Environmental Action League
The mission of the Drew Environmental Action League is to increase campus awareness of environmental issues. The group’s members work to promote activism and positive change towards a more sustainable world. The group hosts the annual reforestation of the campus called Fern Fest and provides environmental volunteer opportunities for Drew students.
For more information, contact Megan Chellew at mchellew@drew.edu. Minutes are posted on the DEAL Moodle Group, which is open to the campus community.
TERRA—The graduate and theology student environmental group
TERRA includes students in the Theological School and in the Graduate Division of Religion. TERRA’s goals are to:
- Raise awareness of ecological issues on campus as well as in our communities and our world
- Foster active participation of students in ecological movements and activities
- Engage religious traditions in ecological values and activities, and to celebrate those religious groups that are already actively engaged in environmental activism.
Contact: Tyler Kaufmann tkaufmann@drew.edu
Students for Sustainable Food
The Students for Sustainable Food, an activist group formed in 2010 to promote environmentally responsible and fair practices regarding our food choices at Drew University. We have been recognized recently by the Real Food Challenge (RFC) as Regional Grassroots Leaders in our efforts to incorporate more local, organic, humane and overall sustainable foods to campus. The RFC equips college students with the necessary training and resources to make “real food” more accessible on their campuses.
Contact: Christina Ocampo cocampo@drew.edu
