Action & Impact

Smith College’s sustainability work is informed and led by a set of strategic plans and policies including the college’s Strategic Plan, the Study Group on Climate Change Recommendations, existing and emerging goals and actions for equity and inclusion, and more.

Taking Action Making Impacts

Action

How does sustainability happen at Smith College? Through the energy, investment, wisdom and trust of diverse stakeholders. There is no one path to a sustainable future, but today’s decisions will have an impact; it is up to all of us to make it a positive one. Through the following efforts, CEEDS and our Smith partners work together to protect the natural, built and human resources that sustain us all.

Leading the Charge

The Committee on Sustainability is concerned with the best long-term use of finite natural resources and the college's impact on the local, regional and global environment. It identifies, implements and evaluates approaches for increasing Smith's commitment to sustainability in all areas of the campus, including (but not limited to) construction, transportation, materials and energy use, waste management, purchasing, investment and the campus curriculum. It will also monitor the college’s progress toward meeting the recommendations from the Study Group on Climate Change and report annually to the community.

  • Amy Rhodes, Professor, Geosciences
  • Beth Hooker, Director of Sustainability and Administrative Director of CEEDS
  • Becca Malloy, Assistant Director of Sustainability 
  • Mehreen Mirza ’25, Quantitative Economics and Statistical & Data Sciences double major 
  • Hannah Durrant, Director of Residence Life
  • Erinn McGurn, Associate Vice President for Sustainable Capital Programs
  • Alex Barron, Associate Professor of Environmental Science & Policy
  • Andrew Cox, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services 
  • Colin Hoag, Associate Professor of Anthropology 
  • Efadul Huq, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy 
  • Skyler Williams ’25, Biological Sciences and Mathematical Statistics double major 
  • Susan Stratton Sayre, Associate Professor of Economics 
  • Sophia Holmes '26J, History and Environmental Science & Policy double major 
  • Judith Cardell, Professor of Engineering

Smithies are passionate about sustainability and environmental justice. Through student organizations, they teach their peers about the environment and start initiatives to make our campus more sustainable. They also work with other colleges and groups to work on issues that impact the local community.

Check the Smith Social Network for an up-to-date list of active student organizations. Take a look at a few examples of what students have been working on (and how to get involved)!

Eco-Reps

Eco-Reps are an elected house position and engage the diverse student body of Smith in conversations and action around the broad economic and social aspects of sustainable living. They monitor recycling, composting, energy usage and other sustainable operations in their respective houses.

Bike Kitchen

The Bike Kitchen is a co-op organization working for bike accessibility for Smithies. They strive to educate and provide for a diverse community. People of all backgrounds (especially with no experience!) are invited to learn how to take apart, rebuild, and maintain bikes. They believe this encourages biking on campus and empowers students to maintain their bikes on their own.

Bike Kitchen has weekly open hours during the school year and hopes to hold more safety workshops and maintenance demos. You can reach them at bikes@smith.edu during the school year, or check out their Instagram (@smith.bikekitchen) to learn more!

Food Rescue Network

FRN is a student-run organization that works toward reducing systemic food waste at Smith and minimizing the food insecurity of vulnerable communities of Northampton. They collect an average of 100 pounds of surplus food from dining halls every day and donate it to Manna Community Kitchen at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Manna then distributes the food to food-insecure community members through their daily meal programs.

If you are interested in reducing food waste and food insecurity, reach out to foodrescue@smith.edu. See what they’ve been up to on their Instagram page (@smithfoodrescue)!

SGA Sustainability Committee

This student government committee works to inform and involve students in practicing sustainable behaviors around key focus areas, such as waste and food, and educates the student body on what the college is doing as it relates to sustainability.

Students smile from atop a wooden platform at MacLeish Field Station

Stay in the Know

Throughout the school year, students can participate in a wide array of events, including conferences, exhibitions, film screenings, fairs, walks, and more. You can find a list of events on our calendar.

Make sure to sign up for the internal ENVIRO mailing list by sending an email to enviro@smith.edu to hear about environmental student work, educational presentations, job opportunities, and ways to get involved on campus! You can also sign up for our newsletter.

Follow our social media pages @SustainableSmith to stay up to date about sustainability initiatives at Smith, collaborations with the Design Thinking Initiative and other campus partners, internships in CEEDS, joining clubs, the house Eco-Reps program, and other opportunities!

Explore Our Impact

Opportunities for Students

On-campus Jobs

Work Study

Many units across the college host academic year and summer jobs that intersect with sustainability including the Botanic Gardens, the Design Thinking Initiative, CEEDS, and the Science Center.  Be sure to follow the Sustainable Smith social media pages @SustainableSmith and sign up for the ENVIRO listserv at enviro@smith.edu to stay up-to-date on these opportunities. 

Spot Jobs

Throughout the year CEEDS will have spot jobs—mostly for zero-waste event workers, including drivers for such events. You will find them on Workday and they will be advertised through the ENVIRO listservs and social media.

Off-campus Jobs

Praxis

Praxis stipends are designed to help students pursue opportunities that expand their education but which cannot or do not pay a summer salary. These internships help students build on their academic studies, make decisions about their careers and acquire the experiences and skills desired by employers and graduate schools. 

You can also find opportunities through the Student Employment Office and The Lazarus Center for Career Development.

Student Research in Departments (STRIDE) Program

Through Smith’s Student Research in Departments (STRIDE) Program, high-achieving students during their first two years are teamed up with Smith faculty as paid research assistants.

SURF Research Fellowship

Every year, the Clark Science Center offers stipends for summer research with faculty mentors. Learn more about the program and how to apply.

MacLeish Field Station

Our 260-acre field station is your playground for environmental research! Students are actively engaged in research at MacLeish related to the hemlock woolly adelgid, groundwater quality, precipitation through fall, the mitigation of invasive species such as multiflora rose and oriental bittersweet, and historic use of the property. Fill out the research proposal form.

NOAA College-Supported Summer Internship Program

Smith’s Environmental Science and Policy Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have partnered to provide internships for Smith students since 1999. This program connects students with 10-week summer internships in conservation science, coastal ecology, resource policy and management, environmental education and science communication. Smith students have interned at numerous NOAA offices, labs and field sites across the country. Interns work side by side with NOAA scientists, policy makers and other staff to address current coastal and marine issues.

Summer internships have a flexible start date. Fellowship stipends of $6,000 are provided by the Agnes Shedd Andreae 1932 Research Internship Fund to support these 10-weeks internships. The fellowships are for Smith College students only. Normally NOAA posts the current list of internships in February each year.

For the most up-to-date more information about the NOAA College-Supported Internship Program and application, visit the ES&P website.

Student Organizations

Smithies are passionate about sustainability and environmental justice. Through student organizations, they teach their peers about the environment and start initiatives to make our campus more sustainable. They also work with other colleges and groups to work on issues that impact the local community. 

Check the Smith Social Network for an up-to-date list of active student organizations. Take a look below at a few examples of what students have been working on (and how to get involved)!

The Bike Kitchen

The Bike Kitchen is a co-op organization working for bike accessibility for Smithies. We strive to educate and provide for a diverse community. People of all backgrounds (especially with no experience!) are invited to learn how to take apart, rebuild, and maintain bikes. We believe this encourages biking on campus and empowers students to maintain their bikes on their own. 

We have weekly open hours during the school year. Next year we hope to hold more safety workshops and maintenance demos. 

You can reach us at bikes@smith.edu during the school year.  
Check out our Instagram (@smith.bikekitchen) to learn more!

Food Rescue Network (FRN)

FRN works toward reducing systemic food waste at Smith and minimizing the food insecurity of vulnerable communities of Northampton. We collect an average of 100lbs of surplus food from dining halls every day and donate it to Manna Community Kitchen at St. John's Episcopal Church. Manna then distributes the food to food insecure community members through their daily meal programs. 

If you are interested in reducing food waste and food insecurity, reach out to foodrescue@smith.edu. See what we've been up to on our Instagram page (@smithfoodrescue)!

Elected Positions

Smith has multiple elected positions that focus on sustainability in our community. Through these roles, you can make a difference in your house community and inspire campus-wide change!

Eco-Reps

Eco-Reps are an elected house position and engage the diverse student body of Smith in conversations and action around the broad economic and social aspects of sustainable living. They monitor recycling, composting, energy usage and other sustainable operations in their respective houses. 

SGA Sustainability Committee

This student government committee works to inform and involve students in practicing sustainable behaviors around key focus areas, such as waste and food, and educates the student body on what the college is doing as it relates to sustainability.

Stay in the Know

Throughout the school year, students can participate in a wide array of events, including conferences, exhibitions, film screenings, fairs, walks and more. You can find a list of events on this calendar.

Make sure to sign up for the ENVIRO mailing list by sending an email to enviro@smith.edu to hear about environmental student work, educational presentations, job opportunities, and ways to get involved on campus!

Follow our social media pages @SustainableSmith to stay in-the-know about sustainability initiatives at Smith, collaborations with the Design Thinking Initiative and other campus partners, internships in CEEDS, joining clubs, the house eco-reps program, and other opportunities!

Leadership & Recognition

About the Committee

The Committee on Sustainability is concerned with the best long-term use of finite natural resources and the college's impact on the local, regional and global environment. It identifies, implements and evaluates approaches for increasing Smith's commitment to sustainability in all areas of the campus, including (but not limited to) construction, transportation, materials and energy use, waste management, purchasing, investment and the campus curriculum. It will also monitor the college’s progress toward meeting the recommendations from the Study Group on Climate Change and report annually to the community.

Committee on Sustainability Members

  • Amy Rhodes, Professor, Geosciences
  • Beth Hooker, Director of Sustainability and Administrative Director of CEEDS
  • Becca Malloy, Assistant Director of Sustainability 
  • Mehreen Mirza '25, Quantitative Economics and Statistical & Data Sciences double major 
  • Andrew Cox, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services 
  • Colin Hoag, Associate Professor of Anthropology 
  • Efadul Huq, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy 
  • Helen Sher '24, Study of Women and Gender major, Education and Child Study minor 
  • Skyler Williams '25, Biological Sciences and Mathematical Statistics double major 
  • Susan Stratton Sayre, Associate Professor of Economics 
  • Sophia Holmes '26J, History and Environmental Science & Policy double major 
  • Judith Cardell, Professor of Engineering

Specific policies that guide operations on campus will be listed below as they are adopted.

Smith College Bottled Water Policy (PDF)

Smith College Copier and Printer Paper Purchasing Policy (PDF)

Smith College Energy Star Purchasing Policy (PDF)

LEED Silver Statement of Practice (PDF)

Green Cleaning Policy (PDF)