Student Sustainability Hub
We’re all in this together
Explore sustainability, build community, and strengthen your skills with the Student Sustainability Hub. Our programs are designed for students who want to create positive change on campus and beyond. Choose your own adventure and thrive!
You belong! Join a club and to get in on sustainable actions across the district. Learn more about the Habitat Team, Cascade Environmental Justice Club, and more.
Keep up with all the sustainability related events at PCC by adding our calendar to yours!
Learn about PCC’s Sustainability Focus Award or find green classes like HE264 Health, Food, and the Environment for the upcoming term.
Come work with us! There are plenty of works study and part time jobs that involve sustainability at PCC!
Get outside and help our Learning Gardens thrive or help restore important wildlife habitat!
Learn more about sustainability related events around PCC under the Events tab below.
Have an opportunity to add?
If you have something to add to this page, submit the information using this form.
Calendar
Events
Citywide Environmental Justice Training
Saturday, May 4th, 10:00am-2:30pm at Grant High School
10+ organizations are hosting educational presentations on student activism, combating capitalism and systemic racism, and uplifting communities on the front lines of pollution/climate change. A few organizations presenting include the Indigenous People’s Power Project (IP3), Verde (in Spanish and English), Pacific Climate Warriors, OPAL Environmental Justice, and Imagine Black. Celeste Ruiz, a student leader at Parkrose will speak about environmental racism in her community and protesting the ProLogis distribution center. Other panelists include PSU student Ahlam Osman and high school activist Athena Hsu-Chen. You can learn more and register here in English and here in Spanish.
Cooking Workshops
Join in on free online cooking workshops to finish up spring term! These workshops will be every Friday at 2pm from May 10th-the end of spring term. All the materials will be delivered to your campus of choice for you to pick up for free! You can also find these ingredients in the Panther Pantry to continue to utilize what we learn together. We will also be able to help folks sign up for SNAP benefits.
Free Food Markets
Free Food Markets are community events that center fresh produce provided by the Oregon Food Bank. This event is open to all and there are no limits. No ID is needed to attend, we only ask how many are in their household. We ask that participants bring their own bag or box to transport the food. Additionally, the Basic Needs Bike Mechanic will be onsite to do bike repairs. Everyone is welcome!
- Monday, April 8, 12-2pm – Cascade SU 1st Floor
- Saturday, April 20, 11:30am-1:30am – Rock Creek Building 5 Lobby
- Wednesday, May 4, 1:30pm-3:30pm – Southeast MTH Great Hall
- Monday, May 13, 11:30am-1:30am – Cascade SU 1st Floor
- Monday, June 3, 1:30pm-3:30pm – Sylvania CC Upper Mall
Questions? Email us at pcc-pantherpantry@pcc.edu!
Volunteer
Learning Garden Open Volunteer Hours
You are welcome to stop by the gardens at the below times to volunteer your time. No experience or tools necessary. We are excited to welcome volunteers back!
Cascade Campus
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-1pm
Rock Creek Campus
Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm
Southeast Campus
Mondays, 12:30-4pm
Wednesdays, 10am-1pm
Sylvania Campus
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11-2pm
GivePulse
Explore community engagement opportunities, track your hours, connect with community partners, and share your impact through PCC’s GivePulse site.
Whether you are taking a course with a community-based learning assignment/project or just looking to get involved, GivePulse is your one-stop shop for connecting with community here at PCC! Just a couple of the benefits of using GivePulse include becoming a part of a movement or cause that you care about and creating a community engagement transcript (for your own reporting purposes).
Check out these upcoming sustainability opportunities through GivePulse!
Classes
Upcoming credit classes
The following classes in the Spring 2024 term include sustainability as a component of their curricula:
Automotive Service Technology
Architectural Design and Drafting
Anthropology
- ATH 103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
- ATH 208 Cultural Anthropology: Cultures of the World
- ATH 214 Environment, Animals & Culture
- ATH 231 Native Americans of the N.W.
Business Administration
- BA 234 International Marketing
- BA 280 A Cooperative Education: Business Experience
- BA 285 Human Relations-Organizations
Building Construction Technology
Biology
- BI 101 Biology I
- BI 141 Habitats: Life of the Forest
- BI 142 Habitats: Marine Biology
- BI 143 Habitats: Fresh Water Biology
- BI 163 Organic Gardening
- BI 164 Bird ID & Ecology
- BI 202 Botany
- BI 213 Principles of Biology
College Success and Career Guidance
Chemistry
Criminal Justice
Communication Studies
Economics
English
Environmental Studies and Resources
- ESR 141 Individual Sustainability
- ESR 150 Environmental Studies Orientation
- ESR 171 Environmental Science: Biological Perspective
- ESR 172 Environmental Science: Chemistry Perspective
- ESR 200 Intro to Environmental Systems
- ESR 204 Intro. to Environmental Restoration
Geology
Geography
- GEO 105 Human Geography
- GEO 106 World Regional Geography
- GEO 209 Climate Change & Human Systems
- GEO 212 Geography of Global Issues
- GEO 215 Geography of Latin America
Health Studies
- HE 251 Community and Public Health
- HE 264 Food Systems and Public Health
- HE 278 Human Health and Environment
History
Interior Design
Landscape Technology
- LAT 250 Plant Disease, Insect, Weed ID
- LAT 262 Native Plants of Oregon
- LAT 272 Sustainable Landscaping
Microelectronics Technology
Philosophy
Paralegal
Political Science
- PS 202 US Pub. Policy & Dem
- PS 211 Peace and Conflict
- PS 221 Globalization & Int. Relations
- PS 297 Environmental Politics & Policy
Race, Indigenous Nations, and Gender
Social Justice
Sociology
Sustainability Focus Award
The Sustainability Focus award recognizes students who have completed a broad range of sustainability-related courses. The award is designed to encourage students to learn to see environmental issues from multiple perspectives and to increase their experience in this multi-disciplinary topic. The earning of this focus award can demonstrate to potential employers and transfer colleges that the student has a deep and broad understanding of sustainability issues.
Jobs
We frequently have work-study positions available at the campus and district level. Please see the PCC Work Study page for available positions or email sustainability@pcc.edu. Please note that not all positions may be available at this time.
Sustainability Department
Check back soon.
Student Life & Leadership
Cascade Learning Garden
Gardening Assistant: Cascade campus
This is a Work-Study position that requires Financial Aid eligibility. To learn if you have work-study eligibility, please reach out to workstudy@pcc.edu and include your G number.
Work Study Position: 4-10 hours/week
Pay: $15.45/hour
Are you a student passionate about organic gardening and education? The PCC learning gardens are beautiful and fun environments to work in. We grow a variety of food crops for our students in our all natural, no-spray gardens. Working in collaboration with the Learning Garden coordinator, the learning garden assistant will have the opportunity to tend and grow our gardens at the Cascade or Southeast campuses. We offer a flexible working schedule around your classes. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Job duties may include:
- General garden upkeep including in-ground and raised bed preparation, seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and delivery of food to Panther Pantry
- Maintain a safe working environment at all times
- Maintenance of garden tools
- Distribution of flyers for learning garden events on campus
- Assistance with educational and community events in the Learning Garden, including volunteer work parties and class projects
- Learning garden ambassador at campus and district work team and committee meetings
Southeast Learning Garden
Gardening Assistant: Southeast campus
This is a Work-Study position that requires Financial Aid eligibility. To learn if you have work-study eligibility, please reach out to workstudy@pcc.edu and include your G number.
Work Study Position: 4-10 hours/week
Pay: $15.45/hour
Are you a student passionate about organic gardening and education? The PCC learning gardens are beautiful and fun environments to work in. We grow a variety of food crops for our students in our all natural, no-spray gardens. Working in collaboration with the Learning Garden coordinator, the learning garden assistant will have the opportunity to tend and grow our gardens at the Cascade or Southeast campuses. We offer a flexible working schedule around your classes. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Job duties may include:
- General garden upkeep including in-ground and raised bed preparation, seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and delivery of food to Panther Pantry
- Maintain a safe working environment at all times
- Maintenance of garden tools
- Distribution of flyers for learning garden events on campus
- Assistance with educational and community events in the Learning Garden, including volunteer work parties and class projects
- Learning garden ambassador at campus and district work team and committee meetings
Rock Creek Learning Garden
Sylvania Environmental Center and Learning Garden
PCC Environmental Center Outreach Coordinator
This is a Work-Study position that requires Financial Aid eligibility. To learn if you have work-study eligibility, please reach out to workstudy@pcc.edu and include your G number.
The PCC Environmental Center is seeking a student for part-time work while joining our fun and dynamic team. We are looking for team members who will help to publicize, inform and educate about sustainability-related events, projects and ongoing programs. This position may be virtual or on campus. Contact peter.ritson@pcc.edu if interested or have any questions.
Salary Level: $15.45 an hour
Number of Openings: 2
Approximate Hours Per Week: 5-12
Work Schedule: flexible
Qualifications
- Express interest in graphic design, art or social media, and in person communications
- Flexibility between office and various work spaces on campus or work from home
- Strong work ethic and able to work independently on projects with deadlines.
Preferred Qualifications
- A basic understanding of sustainability and social justice with the desire to learn more
- Team player with a can do attitude
- Open to giving and receiving feedback
- Likes to think outside the box
SY Learning Garden Assistant
This is a Work-Study position that requires Financial Aid eligibility. To learn if you have work-study eligibility, please reach out to workstudy@pcc.edu and include your G number.
Are you a student passionate about organic gardening and education? The PCC learning gardens are beautiful and fun environments to work in. We grow a variety of food crops for our students in our all natural, no-spray gardens. Working in collaboration with the Learning Garden coordinator, the learning garden assistant will have the opportunity to tend and grow our gardens at the Sylvania campus. We offer a flexible working schedule around your classes. BIPOC and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Job duties may include:
- General garden upkeep including in-ground and raised bed preparation, seeding, planting, weeding, harvesting and delivery of food to Panther Pantry
- Maintain a safe working environment at all times
- Assistance with educational and community events in the Learning Garden, including volunteer work parties and class projects
- Learning garden ambassador at campus and district work team and committee meetings
Clubs
Student Sustainability Club
This is an organization of students from Portland Community College who believe that a collective effort can make a difference for a better world. Our mission is to build awareness about the issues of environmental degradation and environmental social justice, and to help the community adopt a sustainable lifestyle in their own lives and on campus. We have community outreach projects, volunteer opportunities, and outdoor activities.
Please check out our page on Panther Hub or contact Jade Menchaca at jade.menchaca@pcc.edu with questions or concerns!
Bee Campus USA Committee
Are you passionate about pollinators? Are you interested in increasing pollinator habitat on our campuses? The PCC Bee Campus USA Committee is seeking new members. Your commitment would be to participate in meetings 3-4 times per year, serve as an advisor and help educate the PCC community about the importance of pollinators and their habitat, our campus apiary, beekeeping classes, and our fundraising efforts (honey sales). If you are interested in joining, please email sustainability@pcc.edu.
Tree Campus Higher Education Committee
You have the opportunity to join forces with us to protect and promote trees, enhancing the natural environment in and around all of our campuses and centers at PCC. The PCC Tree Campus Higher Education Committee welcomes students, faculty, staff, and community members to help with this important college-wide effort.
We work together to:
- Establish policies and guidelines for planting, maintaining, and removing trees
- Ensure that adequate funding and staff time is provided in support of the program
- Organize activities in observance of National Arbor Day
- Create opportunities for students to participate in tree-related service learning projects
- Educate the community about the important ecosystem benefits that trees provide
For more information or to join the committee, contact tree-campus-group@pcc.edu.
Nature For All: Environmental Club
Want to share your love for sustainability and the environment, need volunteer hours, or just want to learn more about the world that surrounds us, then come join Nature for All. Participate in trail maintenance at RCESC; participate in Adopt-a-road clean up along 185th; write restoration proposals for grants; participate in restoration projects on and off PCC campuses; and network with like-minded individuals and local environmental agencies, like Clean Water Services and Portland Audubon Society. Interested in learning more? Contact ezra.sinclair@pcc.edu or visit the Panther Hub page.
Southeast Food Justice Club
We are here to organize around personally-relevant issues of food justice, challenge systemic inequity, recreate and reclaim healthy community food ways, increase access to food-growing knowledge within the community, and build awareness among students of the many resources on and off campus that relate to these issues. For more details, please contact selearninggarden@pcc.edu.
Sylvania Food Justice Club
The Sylvania Food Justice Club/Cohort is comprised of food justice champions from multiple Identity Based Equity Centers (IBEC) including the Queer Resource Center, Multicultural Center, Women’s Resource Center, and Veterans Resource Center. Collectively, the cohort organizes advocacy and education around food insecurity and how to help students in need. Our mission is to tackle the root cause that continues to perpetuate the same outcome. We stand by three fundamental strategies that can address systemic hunger: teaching, connecting, and advocating. This includes policies, practices, and norms here at PCC. At PCC Sylvania, we draw strength from all who support us on campus and in our community. We hope people across the city and state will see our efforts in taking the lead in addressing hunger here in Oregon. All are welcome. If you are interested in being a part of this cohort, email Peter Ritson at peter.ritson@pcc.edu.
Organic Garden Club
The purpose of the LAWNS club (Land Air Water Nutrients Space) is to make gardening accessible to all PCC students, staff, and faculty and open the door to promote the transformation of LAWNS into biodiverse environments that engage all plants and gardeners by bringing access to affordable, sustainable gardening and awareness to food sovereignty. To get involved, contact Peter Ritson at peter.ritson@pcc.edu.
Habitat Restoration Team at Sylvania
Would you like leadership and environmental field experiences? Come join the team! We don’t usually meet for two hours but sometimes we write grants, show movies, do a walkabout, or have a mini-work party. The Habitat Restoration Team, working with the Sylvania Grounds crew, PCC students and staff, and community members, works to remove invasive species, plant NW native plants, and help stabilize creek beds. To get involved, contact April Ann Fong at afong@pcc.edu.
Rock Creek Food Justice Club
Our main goal for this club is to bring awareness to food insecurity among college students and campuses. We want to do outreach to educate others on what the Food Justice Movement means and how they can help. As students and as human beings we have the right to fight for our right to have quality, healthy food for every meal.
Our main goals are:
- Collaborate with local non-profits
- Collaborate with resource centers that are stationed on the Rock Creek campus
- Do service projects on and off campus
- Create one event on campus to do outreach and promote resources that college students can use
To get involved, contact Kathryn Lopez at kathryn.lopez@pcc.edu.
Get involved with the garden and learn more about organic gardening, composting, and greenhouse production. Help host work parties and events in the Learning Garden. Now’s the time to get growing! For more information email Moon Rose Doherty at moonrose.doherty@pcc.edu.
Green Team
Comprised of staff, students, and faculty, this group of dedicated people is the champion of sustainability at PCC. Functionally serving as an advisory committee to the Sustainability Office, this group has a strategic influence on department-level sustainable practices, information dissemination, and Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP), as well as serving as contacts for campus-wide initiatives and education. It is this group of sustainability promoters that keeps us going! We always welcome interested folks! We usually meet once per month. The Green Team always has something going on. Please contact Jade Menchaca at jade.menchaca@pcc.edu to learn more.
Thinking of starting a club?
First contact the district sustainability department, which can connect you with people and resources that you will need to know. Who knows – maybe there’s already a club that exists, waiting for someone like you to step into a leadership role!
Resources
Summer Panther Pantry Hours
All pantries are closed July 4 and August 18-September 25
- Southeast: Mt. Tabor Building, Room 152, Wednesdays 1-5pm and Thursdays 3-7pm
- Cascade: Cascade Hall, Room 102, Tuesdays 1-5pm and Wednesdays 3-7pm
- Sylvania: CC Building, Room 215, Wednesdays 1-5pm and Thursdays 3-7pm
- Rock Creek: Building 5, Room 113, Tuesdays 1-5pm and Wednesdays 3-7pm
The schedule is subject to change. Visit the Panther Pantry website for updates.
Eco Social Justice Grant
Issues of environmental degradation, inequality, and economic disparity impact us all. Here at PCC, we value our students, staff, and faculty and their commitment to sustainability as well as their advocacy and efforts toward creating more equitable, diverse, and inclusive spaces across the district.
We are supporting and fostering a culture of collaborative, innovative problem-solving using environmental sustainability and social justice initiatives to accomplish these goals. From our learning gardens, water bottle fill stations, our great bike programs, and farm stand, to our annual #EcoSocialJusticeEvent, we have been working together to address our community’s most pressing ecological and social challenges with fresh ideas. We also feel that it is important to both celebrate and give thanks and acknowledgment to the amount of time, money, and effort that students have put towards making Portland Community College a nationally and globally recognized higher education institution and leader in the sustainability movement.
In 2008 the Associated Students of Portland Community College (ASPCC) District Student Council approved a ten-cent addition to the student activity fee, creating The Green Initiative Fund. At the beginning of 2018, the ASPCC District Student Council unanimously agreed to change the name of this fund to the Eco Social Justice Grant (ESJG), this name change better reflects the broader scope of what these grants have been and will be dedicated to. This fund exists so that students, staff, and faculty can participate in our culture of innovation and contribute meaningful advances to sustainable practices. At PCC, our goal is to achieve sustainable excellence in all operations, to live our commitment to social justice, and to meet our targeted greenhouse gas reductions as detailed in the Climate Action Plan. If you have an idea for a project that moves PCC towards these outcomes, we want to hear from you!
Learn more and apply for the Eco Social Justice Grant!
Sylvania Environmental Center
The PCC Sylvania Environmental Center promotes sustainability, education, and action. We invite students to protect and sustain our local and global community. We are located in the Science Technology building, ST 213. Our office hours are Monday and Wednesday 8:30am – 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30am-2:30pm, Friday 9am – 3pm. Email peter.ritson@pcc.edu if you have any questions.
Climate Research Guides
An updated climate change research guide is now live on the PCC Library website. This updated guide has a tab highlighting the PCC Climate Action Plan. One of the best ways to support students experiencing eco-anxiety and climate grief is to help them connect with a community doing meaningful climate justice work.
Also, there are two more guides in production focused on integrating climate change into classroom curriculum: Teaching Climate Change in the Community College and Climate Change Curriculum. Would you be able to contribute some PCC-specific content to help complete these additional guides?
Specifically, the guides would benefit from:
- assignments and curriculum related to climate change created by PCC instructors
- PCC instructors and staff willing to advise or support colleagues wanting to add a climate component to their courses
Please reach out to Roberta Richards at rrichard@pcc.edu if you have assignments to share or are willing to be listed as a support person.
The Menstrual Project
Cascade Women’s Resource Center is providing more free reusable menstrual products through the Eco Social Justice Grant to help students and PCC reduce their waste and lower the amount of money used on menstrual products.
Go to our Instagram at @cascadewrc to find more information on the products!
You can directly request products at any time via The Menstrual Project. Request products by filling out this form.
GPSEN College Network of Environmentalists
Stay in the loop of networking events in Portland, discuss goals and ideas for the future, and more!
Want to learn how to be more sustainable on the day-to-day?
Take the Sustainable Choices Pledge.
Social & News