[ghoagland]

Hey Kourtney,
We’re working with UMBC’s Sustainability Department to include a presentation on Sustainable Events in our in-person training day. We have lots of sign ups for that session, so we’re hoping it’s something we can include in our semesterly open house.?

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Gina Hoagland
Administrative Assistant to Events and Conference Services
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Baltimore MD
(410) 455-3462
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-26-2024 10:04
From: Kourtney Duchesneau Spaulding
Subject: Recent AASHE Topic – green events and sustainability student summit

Hello Sustainability Folks

I subscribe to AASHE’s listserves and thought I would share some relevant to Unions/Student Activities topics here for y’all. 

Recently there was a question and thread about green event planning. Here are a couple of responses. I’d love to hear if any of you have green event certifications, planning processes, or conferences held on your campuses.

Here’s the AASHE post copied below.

Original Message:
Sent: 11-21-2024 16:15
From: Jenny Washam
Subject: how to: student involvement in green event planning

Hi Kelli! 

This is a great idea, UNC Charlotte also hosts a Student Sustainability Summit each semester that typically includes students in the planning and implementation processes. I like Emily’s points about being specific in assigning students tasks and giving them ownership over their ideas.

Our Student Sustainability Summits began as a collaboration with our Student Government Association, who sponsored and hosted the event. This collaboration has ebbed and flowed through different SGA administrations, but we have attempted to keep it a “student-led” event as much as possible through the years. We invite student organizations to speak about their work and ways to get involved and identify student leaders in SGA, student employees with the Sustainability Office, and/or student organization leaders to facilitate break-out discussions. This fall we worked with the sustainability liaison with SGA (a position that comes and goes with SGA administration) to host the Summit, and she delegated tasks to SGA liaisons to lead discussions around making positive changes for sustainability around certain issues (i.e. campus housing, dining, transportation, etc.). 

Getting students involved in planning can be tricky, but I suggest pulling specific students based on their interests to lead specific pieces of the summit. I would advise against trying to assign students more logistical tasks like room reservation, catering orders, agenda creation, etc. unless you really trust a student with those types of tasks. 

I’d love to hear more about your Summit and how it ends up going next semester! Happy to chat more about my experiences as well beyond the discussion board if you would like!

Thanks,

Jenny Washam | Engagement Coordinator

UNC Charlotte | Office of Sustainability

9151 Cameron Blvd | Charlotte, NC 28223

jwasham5@charlotte.edu | sustainability.charlotte.edu

Office: 704-687-1269

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Kourtney Duchesneau Spaulding
Associate Director for Events & Operations
Miami University
Oxford OH
(513) 529-2763
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