Academic News
Application Deadline for Sustainable Practices in Panama Study Abroad Program
The deadline to apply for the Sustainable Practices in Panama Study Abroad program is October 31st. If you are interested in joining in on this trip, there is still time for you to submit all application materials, including a faculty recommendation.
This program offers students a great opportunity to learn about sustainability practices in another country, all while earning three credits toward their sustainability minor in less than two weeks. That’s right, this course is a Tier 1 elective.
Events
Campus Sustainability Day
The Office for Sustainability will host two events for Campus Sustainability Day. This year the theme is “Empowering Change on Campus and in the Community.” The Office for Sustainability will host a workshop on how to apply for a Green Revolving Fund and host a screening of a TED Talk called “Why Not Eat Insects?” both on October 22, 2014.
The TED Talk is a fun way to highlight the growing needs of a global population. The World Health Organization suggests insects are a source of nutrition and protein with a low environmental impact. The Office for Sustainability will provide an assortment of food-grade, cricket-based foods for sampling (there will be plenty of pizza as well). Space is limited for this viewing, so please register today. The event will be held in the Arkansas Union 510-511 from 12:00 – 1:00 on October 22, 2014.
The Green Revolving Fund pays for energy efficiency projects that have a positive return on investment. Theresa Ehrlich, co-chair of the Sustainability Council’s managed systems workgroup, will provide a step-by-step presentation on how to apply for funding and implement projects through the green revolving fund. The workshop will last approximately 1-hour. Register now as space is limited. The event will be held in the Arkansas Union 510-511 from 1:00-2:00 on October 22, 2014.
Wednesday, October 22nd, 12:00 – 1:00 PM and 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Arkansas Union, Room 510-511
Food Recovery Network Regional Summit
Food Recovery Network is hosting its first-ever “Western” Regional Summit this November 7 and 8 at University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. College and university students interested in fighting food waste and hunger with Food Recovery Network are invited to attend.
The weekend will offer plenty of opportunity to network with FRN leaders from across the country, as well as interactive workshops on the topics of ensuring long-lasting campus programming, volunteer recruitment and retention, gaining media attention, building strong campus-community connections and more! Free housing for students will be available, and the $15 registration price includes all meals. Groups of four or more registrants pay just $10 per person.
Email sara.gassman@foodrecoverynetwork.org with questions.
Clinton Global Initiative University
President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will host the eighth annual CGI U meeting from March 6-8, 2015 at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The meeting will bring together more than 1,000 student innovators and entrepreneurs to make Commitments to Action that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Funding will be available to select students to help them turn their ideas into action. 60 colleges and universities have already joined the CGI University Network, pledging to provide over $750,000 total to student attendees from member universities.
Students must be 18 years of age or older and enrolled in an institution of higher education at the time of the CGI U meeting in order to apply. To be considered for admission, all applicants are required to make a Commitment to Action in one of CGI U’s five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation, and Public Health. The final application deadline is December 1, 2014.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Zero Waste Recycling Survey
The University of Arkansas and the Chancellor have a goal to be Zero Waste by 2021. Help the U of A reach this goal by volunteering for the Office for Sustainability in the Walton College Zero Waste Pilot Project.
Volunteers will:
Collect data about recycling bins in the Business Building
Survey building occupants on opinions and thoughts about Zero Waste
Enter the collected data in an Excel spreadsheet
A short 15-minute training session will be required for all volunteers. Hours will be flexible and based on the volunteer’s schedule from 8 to 5 during the week day. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work as many hours as they need, and the volunteer opportunity will be available for about 3 weeks from September 29th to October 31st. All help is welcome! Volunteer hours do not need to be consecutive.
Sign Up to Volunteer for the Recycling Survey
October 13th -31st
Gardening at Mount Sequoyah
This opportunity is for gardening during the day on Tuesday, October 21 at Mount Sequoyah Retreat Center. Volunteers should bring gardening gloves; all other tools can be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own shovels. Please email Denni at denni.palmer@mountsequoyah.org to sign up and say what hours work for you.
Tuesday, October 21st, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
150 NW Skyline Dr.
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Volunteer to Set up for LeVar Burton
The Fayetteville Public Library will host an author event with LeVar Burton on Wednesday, October 22nd at 7:00pm. Burton starred as Kunta Kinte in the TV series ROOTS, as Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series and feature films and hosted the Peabody Award winning PBS children’s series, Reading Rainbow. We need many volunteers to help us set-up for the event and tear-down after the event is over.
Volunteer Opportunities on Wednesday, October 22nd:
10:00am-Noon Set-up event. Move book bins, DVD bins, tables and chairs. Lifting up to 25 lbs. Need 35 volunteers.
1:30pm-4:30pm Set-up event. Set-up staging, chairs and move book shelves. Lifting up to 25 lbs. Need 35 volunteers.
8:00pm-11:30pm *or as long as you can stay and volunteer. Tear down after the event. Move chairs, staging, and book shelves. Lifting up to 25 lbs. Need 40 volunteers.
Please contact mburdette@faylib.org to volunteer.
Wednesday, October 22nd, Various times
Fayetteville Public Library
401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701
Game Day Recycling Challenge
Last year nearly 83% of all game day waste at Razorback Stadium was diverted from landfills. The University of Arkansas placed 8th in the nation and first in the SEC during the Environmental Protection Agency’s Game Day Challenge. The friendly competition is a great way to advance sustainability measures that directly affect our campus. Help us become the first college in the SEC to reach zero waste by volunteering on game day.
All volunteers will:
Educate for 1.5 hours before kickoff
Sort during the game
Sort for 1 hour after the game
Estimated volunteer time is 5-6 hours total
Volunteer for the Game Day Challenge
Saturday, October 25th, 9:30 AM – 11:00 PM
The Gardens Main Pavilion
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Habitat for Humanity ReStore Assistant
The ReStore is a discount home improvement center open to the public that accepts donations of new and gently used building materials, furniture, and appliances and sells them at greatly reduced prices. Customer service is the primary focus for our ReStore Volunteers. Our ReStore staff will assign jobs as needed.
Sign Up to Volunteer at the ReStore
1421 E. 15th St.
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Fayetteville Public Library
They Fayetteville Public Library is inviting UA sustainability students to get involved by volunteering at the library. Volunteers can set their own hours and choose from a variety of programs and departments.
Margaret Burdette, Manager of Volunteer Services
Fayetteville Public Library
401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR 72701
direct phone – 479.856.7104 | library phone – 479.856.7000
www.faylib.org
TriCycle Farms
Tri Cycle Farms, located at the corner of Sycamore and Garland Avenue, is a centrally located urban farm on the blue and red bus routes (free parking is also available at the Trinity United Methodist Church). The mission of Tri Cycle Farms is to “build community through soil,” and the nonprofit (via fiscal partnership with the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology) is working broadly with other like-minded organizations in the region to strengthen food security. Tri Cycle Farms has ongoing “Farm to Table” programs, gardening classes, volunteer opportunities, chicken husbandry, herb walks, a composting system, and new plans to develop a farmer’s market with the Trinity United Methodist Church, which is directly across the street from Tri Cycle.
Contact Don Bennett at fayettevilletricyclefarms@gmail.com or 479-966-0572, or Joanna Pollock at JPollock@walton.uark.edu or 708-828-5695 for more information about how to get involved or tour Tri Cycle. You can also find Tri Cycle Farms on Facebook.
The content of this post does not constitute an official endorsement by the University of Arkansas or the Office for Sustainability. All announcements are for informational purposes only.