Western Connecticut State University Housing and Residence Life is a featured program.
At Western Connecticut State University a collaborative effort between on and off-campus groups has increased information about sustainability for resident students. Shaun McDonough, an Assistant to the Director of Housing & Residence Life/Resident Director, along with Roots & Shoots (a student organization), Jane Goodall and The Goodall Center, Facilities, and the Housing & Residence Life Office, worked together to develop a program for Earth Day.
They devised a contest between the resident halls that involved electricity usage. Students were educated about ways to lower their consumption of energy and were challenged to use just what they needed. During a designated contest time the resident students in each hall competed on behalf of their hall to consume less energy. A prize when to the hall that consumed the least amount of energy.
In addition to this program, presentations about green issues and sustainability occur on campus throughout the year. WCSU’s relationship with Jane Goodall and The Goodall Center is a special one that has helped foster these workshops and increase the focus on green issues and sustainability. The collaborative effort between on- and off-campus groups working to provide information about green issues and sustainability will continue as they plan to expand their programming efforts in the halls and across campus.
Submitted by Maribeth Griffin, Director of Residential Programs & Staff, on behalf of Shaun McDonough, an Assistant to the Director of Housing & Residence Life/Resident Director