SUSTAINABILITY Newsletter
Fall 2025
Campus Updates
Solar and Energy Resilience Advancements at SOU
Southern Oregon University has made major strides in solar and energy resilience over the past few months. We recently completed three new rooftop solar arrays on The Hawk Dining, Art Building and Marion Ady. We also installed SOU’s first on-campus battery energy storage system, marking a significant step toward a more resilient and sustainable energy future. The battery storage system provides back up power to The Hawk Dining in the event of an emergency. The recent installations bring us to 900kW capacity on campus — soon to achieve one megawatt!
Even more exciting developments are on the way, with additional solar and resilience projects in planning. At the Institute for Applied Sustainability, we’re building a new program that turns SOU’s campus into a true living laboratory linking our infrastructure and community partnerships to create hands-on, real-world learning opportunities for students in sustainability and energy innovation.
AASHE STARS
This past Spring, SOU submitted our Version 3.0 AASHE STARS report. After a review from AASHE, SOU was awarded GOLD! SOU achieved Gold in 2022 and its overall score increased in the 2025 submission.
STARS is used to score, and rate higher education institutions from around the world. STARS evaluates sustainability in five areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership.
Strong areas for SOU were its sustainability centered courses, graduate programs, student success, civic engagement, outreach, communication, and institutional climate and governance. SOU scored so well in Campus Engagement that AASHE highlighted SOU as a top ten institution in their Sustainable Campus Index among all institutions across the world that use STARS!
The work on STARS isn’t done! SOU will have to submit again in 2028 with the goal to improve in sustainability efforts across campus to increase our score. The ultimate goal is to become a STARS Platinum rated university.
How to Jump In With Sustainability at SOU
Student Green Fund–SOU has a student green fund program, using the student green tag fee. The fee is pooled into resources that allow for student-led sustainability projects that benefit our campus community! The Green Fund helps turn student ideas into realities!
Past projects include…
- Water bottle refill stations
- The Farm at SOU
- EV chargers at Student and Family housing
One of the recent Green Fund Projects contributed to the replacement and expansion of a solar array on the library. The cost of the electricity generated by the solar panels will then be directed to the SOU Student Food Pantry! More information can be found here. If you are interested in starting a Green Fund Project or learning more, please click here.
Take a Walk Around Campus–We are a certified Tree and Bee campus! We have thousands of trees, numerous pollinator gardens and plenty of wildlife! Our entire landscaping team works extremely hard to make the campus beautiful and welcoming.
Free Stuff Tables-SOU has a couple of “Free Stuff” tables in buildings around campus. Books, supplies, interview clothes, electronics, and plenty of other stuff! Be on the lookout for tables next to the Science Building Office, Ed Psych, and on the first floor of Britt. It is a great way to re-use items that would have been thrown out and divert waste away from the landfill.
SOU’s Sustainability Instagram is a good place to keep up with us and our exciting updates. We will be running our Sustainability Art, and Photo Contest again! Last term, we had our first sustainability art and photo contest and the winning photograph is hanging in our office.
The Community Resilience and Leadership Program (CRL)- The Institute for Applied Sustainability is launching a new Student Fellows Program, developed in partnership with academic programs and departments across campus. Launching in the 2025 – 2026 school year, the program will prepare emerging leaders from all majors to strengthen communities and respond to the challenges of wildfire, extreme heat, smoke, and other climate-related disruptions.
This is a unique opportunity for students to get hands-on experience working with community partners on regional projects while building their leadership and project management skills and building career connections in areas they are passionate about. Be a change maker! Learn more about the program here.
Upcoming Events
“Mentorship and Flow” On October 23rd, The Institute for Applied Sustainability is hosting Doug Robinson, a writer, filmmaker, and mountaineer. For anyone interested in sustainable communities, storytelling, filmmaking, creative writing, mentorship, outdoor recreation, leadership, the limits of human performance, and more, please join us in The Meese Room of the Library (Room 305).
“Connecting Campus and Community” On October 31st Dr. Erick Gordon, a former Columbia University Senior Fellow of Innovation; former NYCWP Director. He’ll be sharing successful projects and facilitate a dialogue on sustaining innovative and relationship-driven outreach. If you are interested, please RSVP here. The event will be taking place in the Stevenson Union Gallery Room #323
“From Lalaland to Ashland: The Legacy of Metal Pollution, Wildfire, and Environmental Justice” with Wayne Hung, Ph.D.- Join us to discover how research on urban metal pollution in Los Angeles can shed light on environmental contamination, wildfire impacts, and environmental justice issues here in the Rogue Valley. This talk will share preliminary findings from a summer soil metal assessment. More information and details are coming soon!
The Farm-Dig In: How SOU Students Are Sustaining Spirit
Written By: Archana Sundar, SOU Farm Graduate Assistant
Farm Update
At The Farm at Southern Oregon University, learning about sustainability begins with soil-stained hands at the crack of dawn. Each season, SOU students from multiple majors take part in a living classroom, one where lessons are measured not just in credits, but in crops and community. This past summer, student farmers harvested 3,740 pounds of organically grown produce, much of which was distributed through The Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and the campus food pantry.
Alongside the produce, members of the CSA program received weekly harvest updates and seasonal recipes, providing fresh inspiration to turn each box into meals that celebrated the flavors of Southern Oregon. A member wrote, “I love the student involvement,” while another added, “The workers were super friendly and helpful this year. Thank you!” Others echoed a sense of gratitude for the student-led approach, and a request for “more please” of snap peas, carrots, peppers, cucumbers, and berries.
This kind of hands-on agriculture shapes both skill and character. From seed to harvest, students learn to tend to teamwork, discovering how each small act of attention builds toward a sustainable future – including the CSA’s small touches, such as popcorn, honey from the farm’s bees, and recipe guidance. The program’s success rests on a simple but powerful foundation: community support. Each summer, CSA membership directly contributes to The Farm’s operations, creating a cycle where learning, growing, and giving back are deeply intertwined –sustaining service well into the fall term.
Our New Graduate Assistant!
In the same vein, we’re excited to introduce Archana Sundar as our new Graduate Assistant at The Farm this fall. Archana is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at SOU, bringing curiosity and a growth-oriented approach to purpose-driven work. In her role, she connects the Ashland community to The Farm through volunteer opportunities, tours, educational events, and CSA engagement. Archana is dedicated to fostering a culture where people and the planet thrive together, helping students and community members alike learn, grow, and contribute. Outside of her role as a Graduate Assistant and therapist-in-training, she enjoys hiking, swimming, watercolors, and photography.
Whether you’re a student, educator, local food enthusiast, or a community builder, The Farm welcomes you to be part of this ongoing story of growth, resilience, and connection. Find us on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on the Fall and Winter seasons – including farm tours, volunteer opportunities, apiary events, and community events.
Interested in hosting your educational, service learning event on The Farm? We’d love to hear from you! Please email thefarm@sou.edu for more information.
Sustainability Spotlight
Sustainability Spotlight
Did you know SOU has its own Recycling Center? This term, our sustainability spotlight is on the recycling center and the students who work there.
The Recycling Center program is committed to providing comprehensive recycling services including conveniently-located recycling stations throughout the SOU campus, development of educational programs and events, and serving as a resource center for SOU.
Anything thrown in the blue and red recycling bins across campus ends up in the recycling center, where five hardworking student employees sort each bag. Sorting recyclables involves separating glass, cans and bottles, paper, metal, wood, and cardboard.
The Recycling Center is one component of campus operations that has lead to a 52.4% diversion of waste away from the landfill
Who Are the Recycling Center Staff?
Charlie Bahr, Senior Art and Nursing. Third year working at the Recycling Center.
Emily Bellant, Junior Health and Exercise Science. Third year working at the Recycling Center.
Felipe Garcia-Fisher, Sophomore Health and Exercise Science. Second year working at the Recycling Center.
Regan Mitchell, Junior, Biomedical Science. Third year working at the Recycling Center.
Sophia Jetton, Sophomore, Biomedical Science. Second year working at the Recycling Center.
We Asked the Recycling Staff a Few Questions!
What’s the most important lesson that you have learned about while working at the recycling center?
Sophia “I’ve learned just how much there is to recycling and how that fits into the larger picture of sustainability, as well as a need to educate the public on how they can better improve their waste generation habits for the benefit of our environment”
Charlie “I’ve learned that there are materials that people try and to get rid of that can be repurposed and re-used. I’ve made countless art pieces and given new life to things that I’ve found that would have been otherwise thrown away or discarded”.
Emily ”I’ve learned about how complex recycling can be and that there are many things that you would think are recyclable but are not.”
What drew you in to wanting to work at the Recycling Center?
Regan “I have a strong interest in sustainability and doing my part to help the environment in our campus community”
Felipe “I wanted to play a role in helping the SOU community and keeping it clean and safe”
Biggest surprises when it comes to recycling and waste management on campus?
Charlie “My biggest shock has been what gets thrown away that could be reused or donated. SOU has a small amount of redistribution tables across campus, and we’re trying to expand on that idea.”
Regan “What surprised me the most about recycling and waste management was that a lot of gets put in the recycling doesn’t align with the local or state wide recycling rules”
Is there anything that would you want the SOU community to know when it comes to recycling and waste on campus?
Sophia” I’d like for the greater SOU community to understand that the good recycling habits they build at home really do make a difference. Please take the time and effort to learn about what is recyclable so that they, as consumers, can make sustainable choices”
Felipe “That it is important to learn about the details of recycling and tell others around you about what can and cannot be recycled in the area. This is a benefit to the campus community, and environment”.
Emily “Even though it’s silly, I’d like the SOU community to know that pizza boxes are not recyclable, if cardboard is dirty, it is not recyclable”
