Growing a Student Environmental

Resource Center

Hanna MorrisManon von Kaenel

Katherine Walsh

AGENDAA Brief HistoryDetermining a Need for a CenterChallengesMission and ObjectivesGrowing Support and PartnershipsSuccessLearning OutcomesWhat’s Next?Q&A

A BRIEF HISTORY

Hired staff Director in December 2013 and officially became a functional area within the

LEAD Center, a unit of the ASUC Student Union.

Functioned as a student org with advising from TGIF Coordinator; hired student staff to

implement programming.

Received funding from The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) and the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee

on Student Services and Fees (CACSSF).

Established in 2012 by students.

2012-2013 Directors

2013-2014 Directors

DETERMINING NEED FOR A CENTER

Student Environmental

Resource Center

The Green Initiative Fund

(TGIF) needed a relatable team in the LEAD Center.

UC Berkeley offers 546 sustainability courses and 74 sustainability degree

programs- represents 20% of graduates.

UC Berkeley has 75-100 environmental and sustainability focused student organizations who need advising and support for leadership

development, collaboration, projects, campaigns, etc.

LEAD Center aims to provide leadership

development, advising, and support for individual

students, student orgs, student government, and

campus communities.

TGIF has funded over 220 student

sustainability internships.

CHALLENGESDeveloping a mission, goals, strategic plan, and brand.Determining scope of SERC and its services.Securing a University Departmental home.Securing student engagement and buy-in to SERC.Developing partnerships.Hiring staff (students and career staff).Securing sustainable funding.Securing permanent campus space.Transitioning from an independent student organization to a University-supported center.

MISSIONThe Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) cultivates a collaborative space to strengthen the

collective effectiveness of the sustainability community, and provides resources for students to actualize their visions of a more equitable, socially

just, and resilient future.

OBJECTIVESTo provide institutional memory and leadership transition support for student orgs, projects, and initiatives

To cultivate safe space for civil discourse and the expression of diverse opinions

To engage students in applied and active education

To create a collaborative working space

To provide advising, financial, and leadership development resources to students

To offer educational programming and skills-based trainings

To communicate student-focused resources and opportunities

To build community centered on visions of a more equitable, socially just, and resilient future

GROWING SUPPORT & PARTNERSHIPS

College of Natural Resources Career Center LEAD Center and ASUC

Student Union Campus Recycling and

Refuse Services Office of Sustainability

Environmental and Sustainability Student Organizations

Berkeley Climate Action Coalition

California Student Sustainability Coalition

Who shares similar

values and objectives?

Whose work aligns with

SERC’s mission?

What can SERC offer a

potential partner?

What can a potential

partner offer SERC?

SUCCESSOver 30

events hosted and co-

sponsored.

Sent 10 students to PowerShift

2014.

Secured temporary

space in two locations

Launched the SERC Blog and Words of the Watershed

SERC students taught four

semester-long “DeCal” classes.

Co-hosted a “Mondo Banana” screening

with the SF Green Film

Festival.Hired a full-

time staff director, became official

campus unit.

Secured over $230,000 in

grant funding to date.

Secured temporary space in two locations.

DEVELOPING LEARNING OUTCOMES

Each student will be able to define sustainability and the 3 E's and explain their interrelation.

Each student will learn how to use SERC and the Career Center to benefit their personal and career growth.

Each student will understand his/her/their organization's mission and goals, and be able to articulate the mission and goals.

Each student will learn to create collaborative relationships with fellow ECO Advisory Council members in order to achieve goals.

Each student will learn how to apply concepts of sustainability to their campus and community by engaging in the challenges and solutions of sustainability on their campus. (ACPA)

WHAT’S NEXT?• The Green Initiative Fund• Zero Waste Research Center • Student Environmental Training

Program• SERC Workshop Series• ECO Advisory Council• SERC Career Series & Nourish• SERC Blog• Earth Week Leadership• California Student Sustainability

Coalition Chapter• Words of the Watershed Journal• DeCal: Communicating Sustainability• DeCal: Introduction to Sustainability

& Environmentalism at UC Berkeley• DeCal: Student Environmental

Activism

• Mixed Greens Socials • Green Certification for Student Orgs• SERC Book & DVD Library• Environmental & Sustainability

Organization Database• The Den: Hibernated Projects

Clearinghouse• Peer and staff advising for students

and student orgs• Support for students to attend

sustainability conferences and trainings

• Connections with on and off-campus environmental and sustainability resources

• Advertising for student organization activities

CONTACT INFORMATIONStudent Environmental Resource Center

Hearst Gym 102 MC 4500Berkeley, CA 94720serc@berkeley.edu

510-643-2992http://serc.berkeley.edu

QUESTIONS?