From Campus to Community: Insights Gained at the Southeast Sustainability Conference

Earth Month, which is celebrated throughout April, is dedicated to protecting the environment, greening the planet, and promoting mindful treatment of nature. To celebrate, universities across the globe, including FSU, hold a wide variety of events and opportunities to engage and educate students. This year, students and staff from FSU Sustainable Campus had the opportunity to attend the Southeast Student Sustainability Conference at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, which lasted from April 5th to April 7th.  

The two-day conference provided a fruitful platform for sharing existing “green” campus practices and discussing pressing issues in universities. Presentations by speakers covered various topics, from food waste and insecurity in Georgia, to sustainable landscaping on campus.  

 "It was really inspiring to see another university's approach to sustainability. I loved seeing all of their initiatives and it gave me some great ideas to consider for FSU,” said Holly Smith, Academics and Partnerships Coordinator at FSU Sustainable Campus. “It's also helpful to learn the logistics of different sustainability projects because then for each step, we can consider how that might work at our school or how we need to adjust to make real change and actually see projects come to fruition. It's a great lesson in using inspiration from other schools and mixing that with your school's context and culture."  

One of these initiatives that stood out was the variety of internships offered where students can get hands-on experience working with local community organizations. The variety of positions is impressive and vast, including work in the campus kitchen, urban agriculture, and even as a campus compost intern.  

Over the two days of the conference, more inspiration was found, as we attended a dozen presentations, visited a local farm, and went to the Swap Shop on campus.  

"An inspiring resource that UGA has is a Swap Shop, or a free thrift store where people can donate gently used items, shop around, and check out at the front desk,” said Alexa Anderton, Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at FSU Sustainable Campus. “The store is staffed by interns who track all the incoming and outgoing weight of materials such as clothing, school swag, reusable cups, shoes, and more."  

For me, one of the most memorable parts was a campus tour led by the UGA Director of Sustainability, Kevin Kirsche. Kirsche spoke about the environmental challenges the university currently faces, considering its geographic location on hilly terrain and the Oconee River, with tributaries running under the university. I had never really thought about construction and building architecture needing to consider geographic and tectonic features, that is until problems arise that need to be addressed.  

This conference was a valuable experience, providing us with insights and ideas to bring back to FSU, aiming to enhance our sustainability efforts and foster a greener campus community. "This event was so cool because it was a bunch of students (and some staff) who are passionate about sustainability, in one room! Getting to network and bounce ideas of others who understand the challenges of sustainability work, was a wonderful experience for our students,” said Smith. “I loved seeing them get excited about new ideas and brainstorming ways to adapt and implement at FSU." 

 “Something I would love to see implemented at FSU Sustainable Campus is a Zero Waste-themed week where there is one activity per day. Some of the activities can include watching a documentary, using reusable coffee cups at a coffee shop, or a gameday recycling event,” said Anderton. “Overall, I was introduced to many new aspects of sustainability and had riveting conversations with other young professionals." 

The conference was an unforgettable experience for me, as someone deeply interested in the intersection of Higher Education and Sustainability. As a budding professional in student affairs, I initially struggled to merge my background in student affairs with environmental leadership. However, at the conference, I met like-minded individuals dedicated to integrating these fields to drive positive change on campus. Over the two days, I learned the immense value of connecting with professionals who share similar passions and the necessity of cooperation between different divisions and offices. This collaboration unites efforts and amplifies available resources, enhancing our impact. For me, this experience underscored the importance of actively seeking opportunities, embracing openness, and confidently showcasing the work we do. These lessons are pivotal as I continue my role as a program coordinator at FSU Sustainable Campus.