INCREASING THE AWARENESS AND ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES THROUGH THE CREATION OF GREEN ZONES AT A HBCU IN A SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY D. Crudup, (S),V. Duren-Winfield. Healthcare Management Department; dcrudup111@rams.wssu.edu; winfieldva@wssu.edu BACKGROUND: Green living is any action or activity that results in a positive impact, to any degree, on the environment so that the planet can continue to support future generations. The goal and purpose of green living is preserving and improving the health of planet Earth for all who live here. Daniel Crudup was selected as the “GO Green” ambassador for Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and was awarded a $500 grant from the United Negro College Fund and the Toyota Green Initiative (TGI) to develop and implement a campus sustainability project.
CONCLUSION: It is everyone’s responsibility for preserving and improving the health of planet earth. Adopting a green living philosophy simply means making choices and decisions that have the most positive effect possible for all environments.
Funding provided by the United Negro College Foundation and Toyota.
PROBLEM: WSSU students were not fully knowledgeable about green issues and needed a spokesperson with passion to get the word out about environmental issues and discuss ways students can get involved. PROJECT GOAL: To secure personal commitments (pledges) from HBCU students and alumni on the reduction of their ecological footprint and adoption of a green living philosophy; to introduce a “Green Zone” in a centralized location on campus were students, faculty and staff could come to learn more about sustainability, green jobs, and healthy choices; and to host fun educational programs to promote green initiatives. METHODOLOGY: Crudup will collaborate with campus organizations to raise awareness and promote the project. Recycling bins, shredding machines and bulletin boards providing sustainability tips and green jobs will be placed in a central location on the campus. Crudup will collaborate with Rams Go Green for a panel discussion on ”sustainability and college students;” Mass Communications Department on a mini-documentary about sustainability at HBCU’s; Campus Activity Board, the Student Government Association and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., on community involvement. Email blasts and classroom visitations will be conducted to encourage students to sign the “GO Green” student pledge. RESULTS: Student pledges to “Go Green” will increase by at least 75%. Students, faculty and staff are motivated to create additional green zones campus-wide.
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