Campus Sustainability—How to Engage Service-learning Students in Programs That Promote Sustainability on Campus

In Spring 2009, a seminar/projects class was developed as an initiative to engage students and facilitate their involvement in increasing sustainability on the LSU Campus.  Service-learning students identified potential campus sustainability projects, and developed project protocols and plans of action.  The first semester students developed several topics including: campus composting, a student farm and local food initiative, a campus green waste assessment, and identification of sustainability courses and curricula.  The course has been taught for 4 semesters with a succession of students and projects and varying credit (1–3 credits). The community partner for the service-learning projects has been the Manager of Campus Sustainability and many of the projects are directly oriented to support the activities of this staff position.  Several of the student led projects have developed to various stages and one has come to fruition.  In Spring 2012, a pilot project was implemented to collect waste from the Vet School for composting and students are developing a new student organization and developing plans for a student farm.  Overall, the class has been successful in engaging students and student government, generating projects and increasing human capacity, while facilitating change on campus.