We purchase about 70% of our electricity from renewable sources (mostly solar and hydro) here in Maine. Besides supporting the local green economy, this action reduces Husson's electric bill and those funds can be used elsewhere.
Campus Garden
We have a great campus garden and a vibrant gardening community; check out this garden documentary made by Nate Dumas (NESCOM 2019). We use the garden as an outdoor classroom for a number of courses, including SC109 Introduction to Gardening. Half the produce goes to the Dickerman Dining Commons (DDC) and the other half goes to a local food bank; of course, volunteers always take home plenty! There are numerous opportunities for student involvement in the garden throughout the year.
Minimize Food Waste
Minimizing food waste is always the best option, but the food scraps we do generate at the DDC do not end up in a landfill. Instead, they are hauled to Agricycle Energy in Exeter, Maine to be turned into electricity, animal bedding, or soil amendments. Look for the Husson logo in this short news clip about their operation.
Sustainability Curriculum
As a part of our general-education curriculum, all students take a sustainability course. These classes incorporate a significant amount of sustainability content, and range from NU412 Community Health to SC101 Nutrition to PH220 Environmental Ethics. Some of these are bridge courses, co-taught by faculty with very different academic backgrounds. Examples of these include BR115 History of New England Fisheries (taught by a historian and a biologist) and BR113 What if They’re Right? Individual Responses to Climate Change (taught by a philosopher and a physicist, you can read a case study about this course here).
Employee Investment
Our employees have the option to invest in mutual funds that are divested from fossil fuels as a part of their 403(b) retirement plan.
We have a great campus garden and a vibrant gardening community; check out this garden documentary made by Nate Dumas (NESCOM 2019). We use the garden as an outdoor classroom for a number of courses, including SC109 Introduction to Gardening. Half the produce goes to the Dickerman Dining Commons (DDC) and the other half goes to a local food bank; of course, volunteers always take home plenty! There are numerous opportunities for student involvement in the garden throughout the year.