Office of Sustainability Job Opportunities
Be sure to sign up for Handshake for the most up to date jobs available in the office.
Sustainability Peer Educator Program
The Office of Sustainability hires Sustainability Peer Educators (SPEs) annually. WCU SPEs are undergraduate students hired to help organize and lead sustainability
education and outreach programs on campus. SPE applications open at the end of every
spring semester.
Graduate Assistantships
The office hires three Graduate Assistants: a GA for Social Media, a GA for Data Monitoring
and Analysis, and a GA for the SPE Program. If positions are open, the office typically
posts them to Handshake in mid-May.
Campus Gardens
The Campus Gardens hire interns from March-November annually. Students with experience
gardening are preferred, but having an interest in gardening, food justice, and sustainability
is also important.
Gordon Natural Area
The Gordon Natural Area hires interns annually. Reach out to Dr. Nur Ritter, GNA Steward, for more information.
Volunteer Opportunities
The Campus Gardens accept volunteers. Check the Gardens website for the most up to date information or reach out to us at gardens@wcupa.edu.
On occasion, Dr. Nur Ritter, GNA Steward, needs volunteers for a project. Reach out
to him if you're interested in volunteering at nritter@wcupa.edu.
The Sustainability Council
The Sustainability Council (SC) is the premier forum for advancing environmental,
social, and economic sustainability at West Chester University. Students, faculty,
staff, and community members work together on SC subcommittees and task forces to
implement initiatives such as sustainability in the curriculum, zero waste, carbon
neutral transportation, sustainable development, and community outreach. Everyone
is welcome to attend SC meetings and join our subcommittees to help WCU meet the pressing
demands of 21st century society... you are invited!
Learn more about the SC and its committees on the SC website.
We have three campus gardens!
North Campus
The North Campus Outdoor Classroom, Laboratory, and Demonstration Garden promotes the use of native plants and organic gardening. A three-season organic vegetable
garden, green wall, warm season grasses, water feature, rain barrels, rain garden,
container gardens, assortment of berry plants, fruit trees, hugelkultur bed, and on-site
composting demonstrate a variety of sustainable gardening and landscaping techniques.
It is behind the Science Complex next to the Planetarium.
South Campus
The South Campus Demonstration Garden is a three-season organic garden producing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and pollinator
friendly flowers. It is located within the South Campus Apartments between buildings
837 and 835. The garden serves as a means for the university to promote sustainable
agriculture, combat food insecurity on our campus and in our community, and it serves
as a pedagogical laboratory and recreational space.
Natural Pigment and Dye Garden
Established in the summer of 2019 outside of the E.O. Bull Center, our newest garden features plants used to make natural pigments and dyes for use by instructors and students
in WCU’s Art + Design Department.
Everyone is welcome to use the gardens by contributing to the compost bins, picking
fresh fruits and vegetables, or just sitting and watching the birds. If you’re interested
in learning more about the gardens or volunteering, visit the garden website or email
the gardens.
Community Partners
The West Chester Green Team
The West Chester Green Team is a non-governmental civic organization in Chester County PA that works to educate
the local public and to establish and nourish green initiatives in the community in
harmony with nature and each other, promoting the health of all living things and
of planet Earth. The Office of Sustainability collaborates with the Green Team on
several events throughout the year.
Chester County Planning Commission Sustainability Office
The mission of the Chester County Planning Commission is to provide future growth and preservation plans to citizens, so that they can
enjoy a Chester County that is historic, green, mobile and prosperous. The Office
of Sustainability collaborates with the County's Sustainability Director, Rachael
Griffith on events and initiatives.
The Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC)
TMACC represents all of Chester County and advocates for sustainable transportation practices
and connectivity. The Office of Sustainability partners with TMACC on transportation-related
initiatives like Share-a-Ride and events like Park(ing) Day in September.
