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Opportunities for Higher Education

The mission of the St. Louis Regional Higher Education Sustainability Consortium (STL-HESC) is "to connect the strengths, resources, and knowledge of the St. Louis area universities and colleges, to advance collective sustainability initiatives that cultivate innovation, eliminate non-productive competition, and create a network which is more than the sum of its parts." (Charter, May 2014)

STL Higher Education Sustainability Consortium logo The Consortium is run by campus sustainability champions at higher ed institutions throughout the St. Louis area with support from a second tier of agencies, businesses and nonprofits. Big plans these days for STL-HESC include forging stronger connections with "Tier II" agencies and businesses and partnering more closely with the St Louis Regional Chamber, as well as continuing initiatives with the online course directories, green living guide and other competitions.

STL-HESC holds quarterly General Assembly meetings and Steering Committee meetings, and bi-monthly Coffee Talks. Quarterly meetings have been decided upon for this school year based on current projects and initiatives with the intent of staying relevant and supporting the work already being done on our local campuses, so come join us at one—chances are, you'll find we've been talking about and tackling some of the same sustainability issues you're working on at your school!

 

General Assembly Meetings

The Consortium hosts quarterly meetings which serve as an opportunity to gather with fellow sustainability champions on campuses across the region. Past topics of discussion have included Consortium engagement with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, networking with the Illinois Green Economy Network, green building and purchasing, and regional participation in Campus Race to Zero Waste (formerly Recyclemania).

Participating representatives are highly advised to consider inviting other colleagues to carpool and tag along to these meetings; the specific topics are chosen with the intent of encouraging participation from across the various disciplines and sectors of school structures.

Sustainability Workshop Notes/Recordings

 

Coffee Talks

Every semester, campus representatives get together for an informal Coffee Talk series to share ideas and experiences about a specific campus related topic. Past topics have included energy, curriculum, freshman orientation and move-out, etc. If you'd like to find out about the next event and or have an idea for a possible topic, please email Maggie McCoy at mmccoy@mobot.org.

 

Newsletter

Stay connected with the Consortium with the Campus Sustainability Newsletter. Published monthly, this newsletter updates campuses on higher education sustainability topics around the region. The newsletter updates campuses on options to improve campus recycling programs, composting in dining services, green purchasing policies and more! 

Get up to date with this quarter's newsletter.

Highlights include:

  • STL-HESC Workshop Information
  • Midwest Climate Collaborative Launch
  • Campus Race to Zero Waste
  • And much more!

 

Member Institutions

Harris-Stowe State University

3026 Laclede Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103

Lewis and Clark Community College

5800 Godfrey Rd, Godfrey, IL 62035 

http://www.lc.edu/green/

Lindenwood University

209 S Kingshighway St, St Charles, MO 63301

Maryville University

650 Maryville University Dr, St. Louis, MO 63141

https://www.maryville.edu/sustainability/

Missouri University of Science and Technology

1201 N State St, Rolla, MO 65409

http://sustainability.mst.edu/

Principia College

1 Maybeck Place, Elsah, IL 62028

http://www.principiacollege.edu/sustainabilitycenter

 

St. Louis Community College

 

Saint Louis University

1 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103

https://www.slu.edu/sustainability

http://www.slu.edu/facilities-services-home/sustainability

Accomplishments:

  • Installed 9 solar arrays in 2015, capable of producing energy to power 17.4 homes

  • Reached a 32 percent waste diversion rate in 2016

  • Implemented a pre-consumer composting program in the 2015–2016 academic year, which diverted 90 tons of food waste.

  • Achieved a STARS Silver rating through AASHE

Become involved by joining the Green Billikens Group today: email greenbilliken@slu.edu

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

1 Hairpin Dr, Edwardsville, IL 62025

https://www.siue.edu/sustainability/

Accomplishments:

Southwestern Illinois College

 

University of Missouri- Saint Louis

 

Washington University in Saint Louis

 

Webster University

470 E Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119

http://www.webster.edu/sustainability/

Accomplishments:

  • In 2016, Webster University launched a summer lunch and learn series: Collaboration in Our Community.

  • 25 students and 8 faculty and staff convened during the 22nd Webster Works Worldwide to restore the campus’s green landmark, the Natural Area.

  • Students volunteers improved campus recycling and compost efforts in 2016 - resulting in an average of 13 tons of recycling diverted each month.

  • In fall 2016, Webster University launched their first ever sustainability peer educator program: the Gorloks Going Green (G3) Educators.

Check more about our projects and initiatives at webster.edu/sustainability.

 

 

Learn more about the Consortium and other initiatives happening within the higher education sector in St. Louis by contacting STL-HESC Coordinator, Maggie McCoy at mmccoy@mobot.org.