Get Involved
Ways to get involved at SSC:
First- join the Emerging Sustainability Leaders program for ongoing access to newsletters and opportunities!
Workshops and Events (Single Day Opportunities)
Volunteering (2-4 Hours per a Week, Term Commitment) (Recruiting Spring 2021)
Leadership Stipend (4-6 Hours Per a Week, Term Commitment)
Student Employment (10-12 Hours Per a Week, Fall-Spring Commitment)
The Student Sustainability Center helped me find and give meaning to my place as a student at PSU.- Stefanie Steele, Former Beekeeping Coordinator
Join the Emerging Sustainability Leaders Program!
The Emerging Sustainability Leaders Program is a diverse network of students from a variety of academic programs who are passionate about sustainability leadership and professional development. As a part of this program, students gain access to newsletters, events, workshops, and programs of varying commitment levels to enhance skills, experience, and sense of community within the Student Sustainability Center and beyond.
Students will be accepted into the program on a rolling basis. Once students have filled out the application, they will be added to our listserv and receive our newsletters, where they will learn about opportunities to get involved and grow professionally. Students previously involved in the ISS Student Fellows program will not need to reapply.
Emerging Sustainability Leaders Application- Apply Today!
Any questions? Email SSCLeads@pdx.edu.
Bee Task Force
Create a bee-friendly campus by maintaining hives, tending plants that support pollinators, and designing educational events and workshops.
Garden Task Force
Help care for PSU's campus gardens and envision new garden initiatives through seasonal maintenance, creative projects, workshops, and advocacy.
Cultural Sustainability Task Force
Explore how culture can strengthen sustainability by developing events and resources and advocating for accessibility and social justice.
Marketing and Social Media Task Force
Create innovative outreach initiatives that include the Shades of Green podcast, tabling, marketing materials, and social media.
Waste Reduction Task Force
Help host quarterly clothing exchanges, reuse fairs, and waste audits. You may also help maintain the PSU ReUse Room and Supply Studio in partnership with the Campus Sustainability Office.
Sustainability Mentorship Program
The Sustainability Mentorship Program offers Portland State University students an opportunity to connect with professionals in a variety of sustainability-related fields for two academic terms. With the support of a Sustainability Mentor, students can discuss their professional goals, gain clarity on their career interests in the realm of sustainability, widen their perspective on workplace dynamics, develop their networking skills, seek input on resume, cover letter, and/or interviewing tips, and more. Applications are full for the 2021 cohort. To learn more email sscleads@pdx.edu.
Green Council
The Green Council is a coalition of student leaders from organizations and departments across campus. Since 2008, the Green Council has served as a student voice for sustainability on campus by bridging administration, faculty, and students to create a vision for the future of PSU and the SSC.
This collective works to promote sustainability as a balance of social, environmental, and economic justice. Council members gain valuable leadership skills through hands on experience while building a strong network and community. Together we support existing sustainability efforts on campus and join forces to build projects of our own.
Our 2020-2021 council will be following the Knowing, Being, Doing model for our Campus Representative Council members. This model was formerly used by the Ecoreps, now renamed to the Campus Representatives as of Fall 2020.
The council members will have the ability to partner with organizations from across campus on shared initiatives and projects including the Campus Sustainability Office, Campus Rec, the center for Student Health and Counseling, PSU Eats, and Housing.
Current ongoing initiatives include:
- Supporting the Divest PSU Campaign
- Supporting the Open Space Plan
- Supporting SSC's active implementation of anti-racist practices
- Advocating for PSU Green Spaces and supporting food security initiatives on campus
Example focal areas (chosen by members each year):
- Leadership development in a collaborative, supportive space
- Inspiring students to participate in sustainability initiatives on campusÂ
- Facilitation
- Grant writing
- Campus greenspaces
- Food security
- Addressing the need for self care in leadership
- Working on projects that address emerging campus and community needs
SSC is an amazing platform for students to engage and learn about sustainability not only around
campus but also in the outside world. It makes students understand the need and importance of
sustainability by not just learning and experiencing it but by practicing it in their day-to-day lives. Saurabh Gingade, Former Ecorep
Leadership Fellows
The SSC Leadership Fellows program is a year-long leadership development opportunity for student leaders. SSC convenes this cohort with support from Student Activities and Leadership Programs. Fellows will take on projects and responsibilities within SSC programs and meet regularly to reflect.
Benefits of becoming a Leadership Fellow:
- Practice leadership skills that you can use in your student leadership position
- Develop understanding, knowledge, and skills that you can use in your career and community work
- Meet other student leaders and share insights
- $500 scholarship per term
- Optional three 400-level credits per term (for up to 6 credits; applies toward Civic Leadership Minor practicum)
To become a Leadership Fellow, students must...
- Be an undergraduate with over a 2.5 Portland State GPA and plan to take 6 credits per term or be a graduate student with over a 3.0 Portland State GPA and plan to take 5 credits per term.
- Be open to new experiences, motivated and hardworking, Service oriented, and have a desire to develop as a leader
2021-2022 positions announced soon.
Work at SSC
All positions for the current academic year are full.
We are currently recruiting for the Cultural Sustainability Coordinator and the Garden Coordinator student employee positions.
Upcoming One-Day Volunteer Opportunities
In-Person Volunteer Activities are temporarily suspended due to COVID
Visit the Portland State Connect site for more information on single-day volunteer opportunities. Check out our other volunteer commitments below.
Field Trips
Field trips offer an opportunity to explore the Portland region with a community of students who have a variety of academic interests and life experiences. We choose field trip destinations that demonstrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability in action.
Social Sustainability Month (April)
With partnerships from across campus, this annual event series explores the connections between social and environmental issues by celebrating equity, diversity, and cultural tradition.
Village Building Convergence (June)
Each spring, the SSC partners with the City Repair Project to create community spaces that feature public art, gathering places, permaculture gardens, and natural buildings, in a process we call "placemaking".
Resume Workshops
Throughout the year we offer opportunities to join Mary Vance, resume expert, and refine your portfolio.
Ecochallenge
Our network is encouraged to collectively engage with the Ecochallenge. Generally as a group we participate in either the People's Ecochallenge, aligning our values to be congruent with our actions for 21 days, or the Earth Month Ecochallenge.
Sustainability @ PSU events
Looking for more sustainability at PSU events? Explore opportunities to get involved with our campus partners: the Campus Sustainability Office and the Institute for Sustainable Solutions. Learn more about our partnerships on the SSC About Us page.