Bonner Vision and History: 2016 Bonner New Directors Meeting
AASHE Greek official
1. Integrating Sustainability
into Greek Life
Empowering Students and
Creating a Sustainable Campus
Culture
Kelsea Sears
Fellow, Office of
Sustainability
sears.kk@gmail.com
Biology & Psychology
College of Charleston, 2014
Virginia Whorley
Fellow, Office of Sustainability
whorleyv@gmail.com
Political Science & Env. Studies
College of Charleston, 2015
2. Why Greek Life?
Integral part of campus communities around the country
9 million students are involved in Fraternities and
Sororities
Frequent philanthropy & social events
Core values influence members
Greek Life promotes preserving identity and values, while instilling leadership
and making a positive impact on others. This overlapping mission with our Office
drove the development of the Sustainable Greek Chair Program.
3. Sustainable Greek Initiative
At the College of Charleston
Cross-programming
Making sustainability accessible
Co-hosting events
Promoting sustainability
Sustainable Greek Chair
program
4. Sustainable Greek Chair Program
Representatives from each organization participate in regular
meetings, workshops and events.
Strive to represent the National Panhellenic Council, Interfraternatity
Council, and the National PanHellenic Council
6. Mission of the Project
Office of Sustainability: "To generate and apply knowledge through
holistic praxis to create sustainable solutions that transform
society by rethinking, redesigning and restoring integrated
systems.”
Sustainable Greek Initiative: “To integrate and apply knowledge of
sustainable practices within Greek Life to better the college
community as a whole.”
7. Project Timeline
Fall
2011
• Office of Sustainability established
• Greek Life Initiative
Spring
2013
• Greek Chair program launched
• Presented at Borelli Awards
Spring
2014
• 21 Chairs, 13 Organizations, 3
councils
• 1st Greek Life & Office of Sustainability
Event
Fall
2014
• First Zero Waste
• Water Bottles
• Hands on learning
8. Spring 2014
Renovated Sustainable Greek Initiative
New project leaders, adjusted structure
Increased participation
Sustainability Week
9. Fall 2014
Hands on learning
Activity based
Developing relationships
Marketing
Recruitment
10. Tips & Tricks
Work from the inside out
Start slow & develop relationships
Get members involved in the process
Understand campus traditions
Incentives
Awards
Be patient & don’t give up
Change comes in small increments
Reevaluate often
Have fun!
Say your chapter, how long you have worked with the office
The reason we are working with greek life is because it makes sustainability more accessible-- making sustainability more approachable. Having this outlet makes it possible and in combination with the values that greek organizations instill it is a perfect fit!
Nine million students are a part of greek organizations
Core values are a part of each organization
These values drive the organizations to do well on their campus:
Philanthropies -> trend of supporting local initiatives as philanthropies
Tradition & ritual -> once things are implemented it will be continued
Program’s values are based on organization values
Important to work with GL (~25% of campus)
Speakers
Project heads
Organization
We should define the program here
Fall 2011: Office starts, working with Greek is a priority
-Started with house audits, minimal integration and success
Spring 2013: Greek Chair Program started
-Working within system to create change
-Established the Borelli Award to encourage competition among Greeks (realized this was a driver within Greek Life)
-Give students the opportunity to develop sustainable initiatives in a way that works best for their chapter.
-Colleen and Tiffany presented on the project at the Southeast ECO-Rep Conference
Spring 2014: Largest Chair membership (x amount of chairs representing x amount of organizations)
-Sustainability Week
-Borelli Award again
Maybe future things? Zero waste Borelli, GEL
-Would delete spring 2012, fall 2013
→ Greek initiative REVAMP
→ Greek life insiders
→January- January timeline
→ Application process: increased participation-- 9 chairs to 21 chairs
→ Bi-Weekly meetings
→ Cross- programming: introduced other projects in the office to the chairs
→ Borelli Awards
→ Greek life and Sustainability Office Event
