One of CampusRec’s values is sustainability, defined as “sound social, environmental, and economic practices”. Campus Rec, and Portland State University in general, holds sustainability to be an important aspect of the university experience and a goal students and members can strive to achieve. Campus Rec abides by several sustainability policies including, but not limited to, purchasing sustainability, food sustainability, and program sustainability - each designed to minimize negative impacts on the environment and set the department up for long-term success.
We are just one of many sustainability-focused initiatives on campus. PSU’s sustainability work centers around the Student Sustainability Center, the office for Sustainability which focuses on campus development, and the Institute for Sustainable Solutions that looks to the future. These three areas connect with the various academic programs that also relate to sustainability located in departments such as the College of Education, Urban Planning, and Environmental Science to name just a few.
One important resource that all students should know about is the Student Sustainability Center (SSC) which offers many avenues for students to be involved with sustainable efforts across PSU. From volunteer opportunities to employment to events and workshops, there’s something for everyone! Their mission, from their page on the PSU website, is to “engage students in becoming intersectional sustainability leaders by providing experiential learning opportunities.”
Volunteering opportunities within the SSC include participating as a member on the Garden Volunteer Team or Environmental Justice Volunteer Team for a couple of hours per week each term. These opportunities allow members to connect with the garden spaces on campus, working with other volunteers to maintain the gardens, create new initiatives, and participate in projects or be a contributor to environmental justice programming and events. The SSC Leadership Fellows program is a year-long opportunity for student leaders to take on projects within the SSC programs. These leadership opportunities provide growth in leadership-related skills and knowledge in sustainable and ecological practices.
SSC Employment opportunities include being an Environmental Justice Coordinator, Garden Coordinator, or Volunteer and Marketing Coordinator. These positions supply students with skills in professional development, leadership, collaboration, organization, and specific skills related to the respective positions. And, SSC single day workshops and events include field trips and Social Sustainability Month events during Spring Term, including Sustainable Fashion Week in partnership with the Sustainable Fashion Minor.
Another great resource for students, the Indigenous Traditional Ecological & Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) program at PSU, provides learning opportunities in sustainability, anti-colonial/anti-oppressive practices, and Indigenous perspectives and ecological knowledge. Opportunities to connect with local green spaces such as wildlife refuges are available through site visits embedded in the class structure. The Oak Savanna is an easily accessible green space located on campus designed and created by the ITECK program for native flora and fauna to thrive as well as for students to learn about reciprocity with the land.
With disruptive climate disasters, ecological degradation, rampant overconsumption, and resource exploitation it is important now more than ever for community spaces and universities to be aligned with sustainable values and practices. Sustainability is the practice of thinking of future generations and how to create lasting change by preserving resources. It is also centered in building relationships with the community and greater environment. Access to green spaces provides students with opportunities to connect with the land and the larger plant and animal communities that live alongside us.
In order to cultivate economic, environmental, and social justice, it is imperative to think sustainably. The initiatives, programs, and student organizations mentioned above are an example of how universities can implement sustainability in a way students can connect with. Students can take action by exploring these campus resources and their mission, educating themselves on why sustainable initiatives are important, and becoming a member of these programs to give back to the community and more-than-human relatives.