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
Portlandia FarmStandia is back!!!
- Rock Creek Campus, Every Tuesday 11:30 pm – 3:00 pm
You can find us every Tuesday, except for campus closures, from 11:30-3pm on the patio outside Building 5!
Will we have seedlings??? YES!!!
Volunteer
Looking to join the team of students, staff, and faculty who are dedicated to creating sustainable solutions? Opportunities for volunteering on sustainability projects at PCC pop up regularly, so check here for regular updates!
Sylvania Learning Garden Work Parties
- PCC Sylvania, Learning Garden
- Wednesdays 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm and Thursdays 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Take a break from classrooms and books and get your hands dirty! Join us in the Learning Garden (across from parking lot 14). Come for a few minutes or the whole time. Meet great people, find purpose in growing food for yourself and for others. Learn, share, teach. We will provide gloves, tools, and tasty snacks. Volunteers get to take home a portion of the day’s harvest! If you are interested in starting up the Organic Gardening Club, contact Venus at venus.barnes@pcc.edu.
Volunteer for Veggies
- Rock Creek, Learning Garden
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Rock Creek Learning Garden has volunteer sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Earn $5 credit per hour to buy fresh produce at Portlandia Farmstandia. More information is available at the Learning Garden’s Get Involved page.
Classes
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.
Featured credit class
Health, Food Systems and the Environment ~ HE 264
A food system includes all the activities, people and resources involved in getting food from field to plate. This course will explore the food system and how production practices and what we choose to eat impacts our world.
In this interactive class, students will have an opportunity to prepare healthy foods in the campus Foods & Nutrition Lab, visit the garden, listen to guest speakers, participate in a honey tasting activity, watch documentaries and help plan campus related events.
Taught by Instructor Alissa Leavitt
Upcoming credit classes
The following classes in the Fall 2018 term include sustainability as a component of their curricula:
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.
ASPCC Rock Creek
Sustainability and Eco Justice Programs Specialist – 15 hours per week
Responsibilities include:
- Deepening your understanding of sustainability
- Implementing sustainable practices on campus
Position open until filled. Applications are available in the Student Leadership Office, Building 5, Room 115. Contact rylie.wolff@pcc.edu or nora.hernandez@pcc.edu with questions.
District Sustainability Department
Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Intern
Portland Community College is looking for a qualified intern to join in our efforts to reduce energy use and increase our employee engagement activities. The intern will support the college’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program and PowerShift energy team by monitoring and tracking energy use, identifying energy efficiency opportunities, and developing employee awareness and engagement campaigns.
This intern should be prepared to work in a fast-paced team environment, and will finish the internship having gained broad experience in various aspects of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Create and deliver employee awareness campaigns; including the creation of signage, marketing materials, informational emails, games and competitions.
- Assist with the preparation and delivery of training materials.
- Work with the college’s energy management system to monitor and track energy use district-wide and by building on a monthly basis.
- Develop reporting mechanisms for different stakeholders to understand SEM efforts.
- Prepare and deliver presentations to employees and staff regarding the SEM program.
- Attend energy team meetings on campus; including taking notes, tracking completion of action items and development of agenda items.
- Research and identify areas in the organization where energy awareness is low and develop plan for engagement.
- Work with maintenance department to track and maintain Energy Action List and ensure completion of identified projects.
- Conduct night audits on a quarterly basis to identity energy efficiency opportunities.
- Review Building automation systems equipment trends for efficiency opportunities.
- Interview and document standard operating procedures for equipment and HVAC systems and develop written requirements based on energy efficiency best practices.
- Review organization’s current purchasing practices, procedures or policies and identify areas to insert energy efficiency requirements.
- Assist with printer reduction research and implementation at Rock Creek.
Qualifications:
- Strong attention to detail
- Experience in engaging individuals, communities and teams
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Familiar with Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in related field
- Ability to work well with other across departments and with different viewpoints.
- Comfortable taking initiative and working on projects in a self directed manner
Benefits:
- Paid internship – $15 an hour
- Flexible work schedule
- Opportunity to gain valuable experience working in the higher education system
- Great professional development opportunity with Energy Trust SEM workshops
- Work with a team of fun and dynamic people
- Multidisciplinary energy management approach allows career exploration across a broad spectrum of energy-related fields
To apply please email your resume, cover letter and three professional references to briar.schoon@pcc.edu. Application deadline is Monday, September 10, 2018.
Sustainability Work Study Assistant
Assist the Sustainability Manager with a variety of tasks and projects to advance the college’s sustainability efforts. Potential tasks and projects may include, but are not limited to:
- Coordinating waste audits and recycling education
- Conducting research on sustainability best practices
- Data entry
- Promoting sustainability awareness & outreach
- Other duties as assigned
Desired Qualifications:
- Passion for sustainability and social justice
- Dedication to promoting sustainable practices
- Competency in Microsoft Office Suite & Adobe Suites
- Skills in research, critical thinking, project management, and data entry
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
Projects can be varied to align with student’s knowledge and experience.
Position open until filled. Must be work study approved through financial aid. Please contact briar.schoon@pcc.edu with any questions, and to apply for the position after accepting your work study award.
Sylvania Environmental Center
Outreach Coordinator
As our Outreach Coordinator, you would:
Help with E-Center communications:
- Update the our sustainability outreach materials
- Creatively design new signage
- Work on our Newsletter around events and education
Help with sustainability projects:
- Plan events including Upcycling and Earth Week
- Talk with fellow students at tabling events
- Help with sustainability activities, like learning garden work parties
- Help with composting and recycling programs
Keep up and organize the Environmental Center office.
Contact Peter Ritson, Environmental Center Coordinator, peter.ritson@pcc.edu for more details.
Garden Coordinator
As our Garden Coordinator, you would help with:
- garden planning
- volunteer coordination
- planting/harvesting
- garden outreach
- other projects
We looking for team members who have skills, experience or wants to further develop in, outreach, people skills, organization, and planning. Contact Peter Ritson, Environmental Center Coordinator, peter.ritson@pcc.edu for more details.
Rock Creek Sustainability Office
Sustainable Practices Educator
Work Schedule: flexible
Hours per Week: 5-11
Wage/Salary: $11.25/hr for Work-Study
Portland Community College’s Rock Creek Sustainability Office is looking for a passionate, enthusiastic and organized student to join our team to advance the college’s sustainability practices. Under direction of the campus Sustainability Coordinator, the Sustainable Practices Educator will assist with new and current sustainability practices and initiatives as well as provide administrative support to the team.
Some duties may include:
- Assist with the coordination and promotion of existing sustainability programs, such as the Green Office program and PowerShift.
- Contribute to our sustainability online presence, including website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
- Conduct research on potential new initiatives and opportunities that will contribute to the achievement of college-wide sustainability goals.
- Assist with the implementation of new sustainability programs/initiatives and develop sustainability resources.
- Conduct sustainability assessments and gather data for activities such as waste audits and energy conservation projects.
- Support events and programs related to sustainability, such as Earth Week, Eco Challenge, Pollinator Week and Harvest Fest
- Coordinate promotional activities and tabling during college events.
- Develop educational materials for staff and students and coordinate outreach campaigns.
- Perform general administrative tasks, including: note taking, writing document summaries, sending emails and returning phone calls.
Qualifications:
- Passionate about sustainability or a related fields.
- A basic understanding of sustainability and social justice.
- Skills in data collection, critical thinking, project management, and data entry are a bonus.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to effectively organize and meet established deadlines.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
- Comfortable using social media i.e. Facebook, Twitter
- 18 years of age or older.
- Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Application Details: Please email a resume, cover letter and two professional references to elaine.cole16@pcc.edu. If you have any questions, please call 971-722-7635.
Online Application Address: http://www.pcc.edu/about/sustainability/rock-creek/
Rock Creek Learning Garden
Learning Garden Assistant (Job ID: 30197)
Harvest and Farm Stand Associate (Job ID: 33522)
Education Assistant (Job ID: 35574)
Clubs
Cascade Environmental Justice Club
Our club members are advocates of environmental and social justice and champion equity and inclusiveness for all our fellow students, this is the way we see true sustainability happening on our campus and in this world. Supporting each other is a big step towards being able to support our place in the bigger systems of this BIG planet! A part of our new focus is finding the intersectionality between student clubs, organizations, and resource centers to cross promote sustainability awareness and collaborative efforts to build more resilient community on our campuses. The club has transformed from the Environmental Sustainability Club to the Environmental Justice Club to broaden it’s scope and to become even more of an action oriented club. We have volunteer opportunities, community outreach projects, and grant writing opportunities to fund green initiatives that will be implemented around Cascade Campus and/or district wide. Join the club on the Panther Hub and if you have any questions, comments, or just want to say hello, you can contact Joe Culhane at joe.culhane@pcc.edu
Southeast Learning Garden Club – Food Justice
Inspired by students passionate about gardening and breaking down barriers to food security, we have created the Southeast campus’s first Food Justice Club. The club is open to all PCC students and is dedicated to building awareness and resources to empower fellow students. For more details, please contact selearninggarden@pcc.edu.
Southeast Green Team
Are you a student at Southeast and interested in getting involved in sustainability initiatives on campus? Join students, faculty, and staff in the Southeast Green Team! We are in the process of developing a learning garden that will be a comprehensive outdoor learning space for our students to learn, our faculty to teach in, and our Southeast Campus to enjoy. This will provide opportunities for students to work outside of the standard classroom and to connect sustainability and gardening with learning and everyday life. We promote a number of other green initiatives, like the Bike Rental Program and annual Earth Week events. If you are interested in learning more about the club or attending a meeting, contact Nicole Seery at nicole.seery@pcc.edu.
Sylvania Garden Club
The purpose of the club is to learn more about organic gardening, share gardening knowledge, plan events for the Learning Garden, and attend field trips and guest speaker events. There is still time to join. If you’re interested, email venus.barnes@pcc.edu.
Sylvania Environmental Club
This is a new club! If you’re interested, email dylan.gregory@pcc.edu.
Habitat Restoration Team at Sylvania
- PCC Sylvania, HT 320 (room is on the north side of the building)
- Fridays, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
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 Fong.
Food Recovery at Rock Creek
This club works to prevent campus food waste by recovering and donating unsold, unconsumed food while promoting sustainability and giving back to our community. If you are interested in learning more, contact Stephanie Saunders at stephanie.saunders1@pcc.edu.
Rock Creek Garden Club
The Panther PAC (Progressive Action Club)
Bi-weekly meetings starting Wednesday, November 16th from 6:30pm-7:30 pm in HT 205. The PAC wants to affect political action around the environment and social justice. While the problems in our community and our world can be heavy, you can join us to find hope and energy! We are a group of intelligent, informed, and passionate PCC students looking to make a difference.
Thinking of starting a club?
First contact the district sustainability department, who 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
Rock Creek Garden Community Plots
Calling all gardeners! Interested in caring for a plot in the community beds at the Rock Creek Campus Learning Garden? Sign-ups begin soon. For more information, contact Elaine.
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 towards 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 acknowledgement 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!
Want to learn how to be more sustainable on the day-to-day?
Take the Sustainable Choices Pledge.
GPSEN College Network of Environmentalists
Stay in the loop of networking events in Portland, discuss goals and ideas for the future, and more!
Panther Pantries
We know that keeping students fed is imperative to equitable student success, that diverting food waste lowers PCC’s carbon impact, and that projects like the Learning Garden and Food Forests build community resilience to the impacts of Climate Change.
Panther Pantries are on all four comprehensive campuses and provide food for students in need: Cascade (Second Floor, Student Union Building); Rock Creek (Room 113, Building 5); Southeast (Room 105, Mt. Tabor Hall); and Sylvania (Room 102, College Center).
Find more resources for students on PCC’s Student Life page.
