College students, faculty, administrators, and staff have long been among the nation’s most stalwart champions for sustainable environmental practices. In embracing the recommendations of the college’s Sustainability Committee, President Michael Claire said, “We are proud to be named the third certified Bee Campus USA in the nation. There already are many students, faculty and staff working on pollinator health and sustainability issues and the members of the Sustainability Committee will provide good leadership to our Bee Campus USA efforts. CSM students and faculty look forward to kicking off our Bee Campus efforts with workshops as part of our Earth Day Celebration.”
Said Bee Campus USA director, Phyllis Stiles, “Imperiled pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of two-thirds of the world’s plant and tree species. The College of San Mateo has the potential to start a pollinator protection movement across campuses throughout Silicon Valley. Their talented faculty, staff, and students offer an invaluable resource for the entire community seeking ways to manage ornamental landscapes in more wildlife-friendly ways.
According to Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Operations Karen Powell, the College of San Mateo plans to develop a Campus Pollinator Habitat Plan for its 153-acre landscape to include a locally native and pollinator friendly plant list with regional sources for plants as well as a least toxic integrated pest management (IPM) plan to be shared on the web as a tool for the community at large.
Facilities Manager Michele Rudovsky said, “Through ongoing dialogue among members of the Bee Campus USA subcommittee of the Sustainability Committee, the College of San Mateo will become a student and a teacher of sustainable practices. Its membership includes faculty, students and operations and maintenance staff. Our goal is to model pollinator-friendliness in our landscaping practices by incorporating locally native plants and using as few and the least toxic pesticides as possible.”
Biology Instructor and faculty chair Paul Hankamp said, “We believe Bee Campus USA certification will provide our college with an important platform for fostering wider conversations on and off-campus regarding pollinator awareness and initiating student service projects that could benefit the San Francisco Peninsula. We are excited about offering courses or workshops on pollinator ecology, integrated pest management, or landscaping for pollinators, and hosting annual campus events to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators. We want to celebrate our college’s certification as a Bee Campus USA.”
About College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo is located at the northern corridor of Silicon Valley and situated on a beautiful 153-acre site in the San Mateo hills that provides a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay. Since 1922, CSM has been a gateway to higher education leading to university transfer, career preparation and advancement, and professional and personal development. The College currently serves approximately 10,000 day, evening and weekend students each fall and spring semesters. CSM students reflect the diversity of the Bay Area and have a range of educational goals. To best serve our students, the curriculum offers a wealth of programs that include traditional, semester-length and short courses in addition to distance education.
Students can experience a vibrant campus life to complement classroom learning that includes leadership development, student government, more than 30 student clubs and educational and cultural activities. CSM is proud of its championship intercollegiate athletic teams which compete at the highest community college level. Many student-athletes receive scholarships and continue at four-year institutions and numerous CSM athletes have gone on to professional careers. To ensure student success, CSM offers a comprehensive selection of academic support services. Resources include financial aid and scholarships, counseling, transfer services, tutoring, employment assistance, health services and child care, among many others.
For more information about the college, visit collegeofsanmateo.edu/explorecsm. Guided campus tours can be scheduled through collegeofsanmateo.edu/tours. For more information about Bee Campus USA at College of San Mateo, contact Paul Hankamp, Phone: 650-574-6626 or email, [email protected].
