17³Ô¹ÏÍø

Join a Group or Program

Combine skills and resources to make a larger impact. Plus, meet some inspiring and kindhearted people along the way.

Eco-Action

As 17³Ô¹ÏÍø’ main student environmental concerns organization, they grow campus consciousness of our relationship to the environment by organizing education, service, and action opportunities in our community. In doing so, they build relationships with departments and student groups across campus, Worcester organizations, and political campaigns for environmental and social justice.

Email Eco-Action |

Garden and Beekeeping SPUD Site

As a Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD) site, these students manage the Roots of Justice Campus Garden located behind O'Neil Hall as well as the beehives located behind the athletic fields, explore topics relating to agriculture as well as food production, and support food justice efforts within the Worcester community.

Immersion Programs

Offered by the Office of the College Chaplains, the Spring Break Immersion Program offers 17³Ô¹ÏÍø students the opportunity to build relationships across economic, regional, and cultural differences with people throughout the U.S. Each year, at least one immersion site focuses on the environment.

Learn more about Immersion Programs

Outdoors Club

This student group facilitates outdoor activities for students and plans off-campus outings for members of the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Community.

Green Influencer Program

Offered by the Office of Sustainability, a small group of 17³Ô¹ÏÍø micro-influencers share content on their personal Instagram Stories and contribute to the College's so that new people can join the conversation about sustainability at their current comfort level. The program aims to increase awareness of environmental issues. For Green Influencers, the program strives to offer a space to explore communications, marketing, and influencing as careers.

Employee Affinity Group Focused on Sustainability

Hosted by the Office of the College Chaplains and the Office of Sustainability, this employee affinity group aims to connect sustainability allies across campus and create a space for action oriented dialogue.

Learn more about 17³Ô¹ÏÍø affinity groups

Implement a Project or an Event

17³Ô¹ÏÍø Green Fund

Established and funded by students, the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Green Fund offers grant funding to students, faculty, and staff that implement campus sustainability projects that improve sustainability and support students.

Learn more about the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Green Fund

Sustainability Project Developers

Offered by the Office of Sustainability, students spend the academic year developing a campus sustainability project, surrounded by peers and supported by the Office of Sustainability staff.

Email the director of sustainability to learn more

Pothos Corporate Responsibility Consulting Project

Through the Pothos Project, students, with the support of alumni mentors, help 17³Ô¹ÏÍø and our local business community become more sustainable on their way to prosperity and good fortune via real-world consulting engagements.

Purple Goes Green Week

Each April, parties from across campus unite to offer a week's worth of programming that brings awareness to the environment. Add your event to the schedule by contacting Eco-Action.

Increase Sustainability Literacy

Build foundational knowledge about environmental topics.

Environmental Studies

The Environmental Studies major, minor and individual courses explore contemporary and past environmental issues, including a hands-on examination of their causes, mechanisms and effects. The program investigates local, national and global issues through a multi-disciplinary study of culture, art, economics, history, biology, and the physical sciences.

Learn more about Environmental Studies

Geosciences

The Geosciences minor explores our Earth’s complex systems and the relationships between the solid earth, hydrosphere, biosphere and atmosphere.

Learn more about the Geosciences program

Weiss Summer Research Program

The nine-week program enables students to dive deep into a problem of their own devising, or to work closely alongside a mentor on their own research.

Learn more about the Weiss Summer Research Program

The Natural World Cluster in Montserrat

First-year students explore humans' relationship with the natural world by linking seminar and co-curricular activities.

Learn more about the Natural World Cluster in Montserrat

Take Individual Action

Green Living Certification

The Green Living Certification, hosted by the Office of Sustainability, recognizes students for their positive environmental choices. Certification is simple. Complete at least one action item in each of the six categories on the MyHC checklist and submit the form. Certifications reset in August, so students must complete the form annually to maintain their status.

PaperCut

Using a software called PaperCut, faculty, staff, and students can see how their printing habits impact the environment and compare to their campus peers. Consider creating an individual action plan (e.g. utilize social media for marketing or grade papers digitally) to minimize printing.

Low Carbon Choices

• Report leaky faucets, stuck windows, and flickering lights to Facilities at x2263 so 17³Ô¹ÏÍø can maximize efficiency.
• Share resources such as printers, vacuums, minifridges, etc. Sharing these resources will reduce manufacturing, shipping and disposal energy, and the usage of utilities. 
• Keep exterior doors and windows closed unless it is a nice day out and close the window when you leave the space. This practice allows heating and cooling systems to remain highly efficient.
• Recycle right to reduce contamination: 1) Recycle all empty plastic bottles, cans, paper and cardboard. 2) Keep food and liquid out of the recycling. 3) No plastic bags.
• Select alternative forms of transportation (e.g., walking, biking, and telecommuting) to reduce emissions associated with travel.