1. Growing a Student Environmental Resource Center Hanna Morris Manon von Kaenel Katherine Walsh

2. AGENDA A Brief HistoryDetermining a Need for a CenterChallengesMission and ObjectivesGrowing Support and PartnershipsSuccessLearning OutcomesWhat’s Next?Q&A

3. A BRIEF HISTORY Hired staff Director in December 2013 and officially became a functional area within the LEAD Center, a unit of the ASUC Student Union. Functioned as a student org with advising from TGIF Coordinator; hired student staff to implement programming. Received funding from The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) and the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Student Services and Fees (CACSSF). Established in 2012 by students. 2012-2013 Directors 2013-2014 Directors

4. DETERMINING NEED FOR A CENTER Student Environmental Resource Center The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) needed a relatable team in the LEAD Center. UC Berkeley offers 546 sustainability courses and 74 sustainability degree programs- represents 20% of graduates. UC Berkeley has 75-100 environmental and sustainability focused student organizations who need advising and support for leadership development, collaboration, projects, campaigns, etc. LEAD Center aims to provide leadership development, advising, and support for individual students, student orgs, student government, and campus communities. TGIF has funded over 220 student sustainability internships.

5. CHALLENGES Developing a mission, goals, strategic plan, and brand. Determining scope of SERC and its services. Securing a University Departmental home. Securing student engagement and buy-in to SERC. Developing partnerships. Hiring staff (students and career staff). Securing sustainable funding. Securing permanent campus space. Transitioning from an independent student organization to a University-supported center.

6. MISSION The Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) cultivates a collaborative space to strengthen the collective effectiveness of the sustainability community, and provides resources for students to actualize their visions of a more equitable, socially just, and resilient future.

7. OBJECTIVES To provide institutional memory and leadership transition support for student orgs, projects, and initiatives To cultivate safe space for civil discourse and the expression of diverse opinions To engage students in applied and active education To create a collaborative working space To provide advising, financial, and leadership development resources to students To offer educational programming and skills-based trainings To communicate student-focused resources and opportunities To build community centered on visions of a more equitable, socially just, and resilient future

8. GROWING SUPPORT & PARTNERSHIPS  College of Natural Resources  Career Center  LEAD Center and ASUC Student Union  Campus Recycling and Refuse Services  Office of Sustainability  Environmental and Sustainability Student Organizations  Berkeley Climate Action Coalition  California Student Sustainability Coalition Who shares similar values and objectives? Whose work aligns with SERC’s mission? What can SERC offer a potential partner? What can a potential partner offer SERC?

9. SUCCESS Over 30 events hosted and co- sponsored. Sent 10 students to PowerShift 2014. Secured temporary space in two locations Launched the SERC Blog and Words of the Watershed SERC students taught four semester-long “DeCal” classes. Co-hosted a “Mondo Banana” screening with the SF Green Film Festival. Hired a full-time staff director, became official campus unit. Secured over $230,000 in grant funding to date. Secured temporary space in two locations.

10. DEVELOPING LEARNING OUTCOMES Each student will be able to define sustainability and the 3 E's and explain their interrelation. Each student will learn how to use SERC and the Career Center to benefit their personal and career growth. Each student will understand his/her/their organization's mission and goals, and be able to articulate the mission and goals. Each student will learn to create collaborative relationships with fellow ECO Advisory Council members in order to achieve goals. Each student will learn how to apply concepts of sustainability to their campus and community by engaging in the challenges and solutions of sustainability on their campus. (ACPA)

11. WHAT’S NEXT? The Green Initiative Fund Zero Waste Research Center Student Environmental Training Program SERC Workshop Series ECO Advisory Council SERC Career Series & Nourish SERC Blog Earth Week Leadership California Student Sustainability Coalition Chapter Words of the Watershed Journal DeCal: Communicating Sustainability DeCal: Introduction to Sustainability & Environmentalism at UC Berkeley DeCal: Student Environmental Activism Mixed Greens Socials Green Certification for Student Orgs SERC Book & DVD Library Environmental & Sustainability Organization Database The Den: Hibernated Projects Clearinghouse Peer and staff advising for students and student orgs Support for students to attend sustainability conferences and trainings Connections with on and off-campus environmental and sustainability resources Advertising for student organization activities

12. CONTACT INFORMATION Student Environmental Resource Center Hearst Gym 102 MC 4500 Berkeley, CA 94720 serc@berkeley.edu 510-643-2992 http://serc.berkeley.edu QUESTIONS?