The integration of student life and learning is the focus for all student affairs professionals. Their work is an important component of the educational process that affords students opportunities to learn about, model and initiate actions, including efforts to sustain the environment, through programs, services, and experiences offered.

“Students learn in a number of ways, and their involvement on campus often reflects what they truly value,” said Jan Austin, director of the Office of Campus Life. “A growing number of students involved in life on campus seek participation in sustainability efforts that reflect what they are learning in the classroom. Many join student organizations to continue interaction with faculty advisors and others who understand and promote sustainability as a component of their preparation for the future, regardless of the major a student chooses.”

Sustainability efforts from student development departments in the Educational and Student Services division include:

Office of Campus Life:

• Electronic communication whenever feasible.
• Ability to access calendar of activities, orientation and student organization information online.
• Publications with 100 percent post-consumer recycled products.
• Adoption of a “lights-out” policy for spaces not in use.
• Events like the Power of Women series “Going Green” program on April 7.
• Early communication of University commitment to sustainability through orientation and related programs.

Disability Resource Center:

• Elimination of disposable plate and flatware use in the office.
• Collection and recycling of all plastic, aluminum, and glass containers used by staff and students.
• Encouragement of universal design, the provision of learning materials, environments, and educational experiences designed from their inception for access by all people.

Donaghey Student Center:

• Hosting recycle bins for the deposit of paper, plastic, and aluminum.
• Utilizing touch-free toilets, faucets, and paper towel dispensers, and energy efficient bulbs throughout the building.
• Use of motion sensors in the administrative suite, locker rooms, and restrooms.

Housing:

• Installation of automatic light switches in the new housing common areas.
• Replacement of incandescent lighting with compact fluorescents in East Hall.
• Recycling of plastic, paper, and aluminum cans in the residence halls.
• Installation of filtered water “stations” in each residence hall to encourage reusable water bottle use.
• Electronically submitted leases and other forms.
• Series of initiatives planned to focus new and returning students on what they can do to sustain their environment.

UALR Bookstore:

• Reuse of approximately 95 percent of the boxes that come to the store and recycling of the remaining 5 percent that can no longer be reused.
• Reuse of paper by printing on both sides of faxes, old reports, and other documents.

Dining Services:

• Increase in recycling capacity for the Diamond Café kitchen by 300 percent.
• Offering reusable mugs with refill pricing to reduce paper and plastic usage.
• Donations to assist with local clean-up efforts at Coleman Creek and the University District.