Sustainable Southern

SCSU is part of a coalition of colleges and universities across the United States and internationally that have formally committed to climate leadership, net-carbon neutrality by 2050, and actively engaging campus and surrounding communities in climate resilience and adaptation.


News and Updates for 2024

Fall Harvest Festival

Oct. 17th, 2024

The annual Fall Harvest Festival quickly approaches! Celebrate the fall season in the community garden with your peers. We have free food (including Ben and Jerry's ice cream!) and many fall-themed activities for everyone to enjoy. Stop by and learn from some of our wonderful on and off-campus partners. All are welcome! Feel free to come in costume, though they aren’t required.

Harvest Fetival

New Swap Shop Location

Our reuse office supply store has found its new home in Engleman C108! For the 2024 Fall semester, the Swap Shop is open to staff and faculty from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Stop by before buying new or leave donations with us to help reduce waste. Curious if we have something? Email us at sustainability@southernct.edu and we'll let you know.

Cartoon owl wearing a shirt that says Swap Shop

Beaver Brook Turnout

The Beaver Brook clean-ups held 1/26, 2/2, and 2/9 were a great success. Our group from the Office of Sustainability, Friends of Beaver Pond Park, and West River Watershed were thrilled to see such a turn out, big thank you to all who joined us! We did great work during these events and hope to continue in the future. Keep an eye out for upcoming events this spring!

A group of people in a forrest, clean and collected garbage with garbage bags

Newhallville fREshSTARTs and Food Recovery Partnership

The Office of Sustainability is glad to support Newhallville fREshSTARTs through our food recovery program, providing meals for their up-and-coming fREsh-taurant; a community kitchen. fREshSTARTs, like us, hopes to support its community and plant the seeds for a bigger and brighter future, all while saving waste. This is a mission we at SCSUs Office of Sustainability can proudly stand behind. To learn more about Newhallville fREshSTARTs, check out some recent news coverage by Patch News and the New Haven Independent

A group of four people


News and Updates for Fall 2023

Fall Work Party at Massaro Community Farms

Join us every Friday for a visit to our neighbors at Massaro Community Farms! We will help the crew wrap up the end of the season: harvesting fall produce, winterizing rows and beds, and touring the farm to learn more about organic farming methods. If you are interested, connect with our office to coordinate carpool options: sustainability@southernct.edu

We will be outdoors, so dress in warm clothing with closed toe shoes and expect to leave with some soil on clothes and shoes. Tranportation is not guaranteed, but please reach out and we can discuss any carpool plans. *Poor weather will affect these sessions; please confirm with us if inclement weather is forecasted. OwlConnect link

Where: 41 Ford Road, Woodrbidge, CT 06525

When: 

  • Friday, November 3 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
  • Friday, November 10 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
  • Friday, November 17 from 10:00am to 12:00pm"
Students and faculty working in a garden

Fall Harvest Festival

Our end of the season celebration on October 26th was a success! It was great to see so many old and new faces enjoying the garden, pumpkin carving/painting, getting their face painted, learning about other organizations, and of course enjoying the food. We are grateful for the donations we received for the food pantry. See you again next year!

Fall festival themed baked goods

Faculty Development Update

We had an amazing turnout for the last three faculty development events this spring--sailing on the Argia in Mystic, restoring endangered species habitat on Falkners Island, and tagging horseshoe crabs at Audubon's Milford Point location. These events are open to all faculty and staff, and typically feature an awesome partner like US Fish and Wildlife or our friends at Project Limulus. I

nterested in joining next time? Interested in future trips? Look for updates on our webpage, social media, OwlConnect, or email our office at sustainability@southernct.edu.

A collage of faculty and staff at a shore

Make Your Mark Event!

Thank you all for your submissions and participation in our paint-by-number event! Did you miss the submission deadline? Let us know and we can add your ideas to the next event! 

A group of students working to paint a mural

Head Outdoors for Spring Faculty Development!

interested in outdoor place-based teaching and learning?

Spending time together outdoors is important for community resilience, fostering wellbeing, and can improve teaching and learning outcomes. This series was open to all faculty, sponsored by a faculty development grant and the Office of Sustainability. Each event featured SCSU faculty and a local community partner. Are you a new or recently hired faculty member? Welcome to SCSU and we hope you join us exploring some local outdoor treasures. Interested in sharing research, creative activity or curriculum that connects to one of the previous events? Contact us! 

Suzie Huminski, Sustainability Coordinator huminskis1@southernct.edu