Farmingdale State College (FSC) may have evolved from an agricultural school into a technological college since its 1912 inception, but the school’s inherent connection to the environment has never wilted. As a designated Bee Campus and Tree Campus, FSC is dedicated to making its operations more sustainable. As highlighted in the College’s Eight for ’28 strategic plan, promoting energy conservation and sustainable practices are some of its top priorities.
To reach both internal and state-mandated goals, FSC’s Office for Sustainability has initiated various new programs with the integration of campus- wide waste reduction, reuse, and recycling at the forefront. The College has made significant improvements across campus to make it easier and more convenient to waste less. As the campus phases out single-use plastics and transitions to more sustainable alternatives, it has prioritized the appropriate infrastructure improvements as well. For example, new hydration stations have been installed in the Campus Center, Delores Quintyne Hall, and the School of Business building, enabling everyone on campus to fill their reusable water bottles with chilled, filtered water.
“All of these efforts are designed to bring about a paradigm shift toward greater resilience within our campus community.” FSC President John S. Nader, PhD
Reducing waste requires more than just the proper infrastructure; it requires educating the campus and local community about why it’s important to do so. Through a $20,000 grant received from the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute’s Community Grant Program, FSC has launched the Long Island Sustainability Series, an educational series teaching Long Island residents how to reduce their environmental impact through actions such as waste reduction. In its first two months, the program has educated more than 100 Long Island residents about pollution prevention methods.
Additional new programs have been introduced to increase operational sustainability. Beginning in 2023, the Office for Sustainability has hosted biannual Green Giveaway events, where lightly used items are collected, sanitized, and recirculated back into the campus community at no cost. Items that typically would have been thrown out, such as clothing, dorm items, or textbooks, can now be donated to the Green Giveaway program and kept out of a landfill. In the first year alone, Green Giveaway has kept over 1,000 pounds of items from being discarded. This program embodies the very essence of sustainability: it’s good for the environment, it’s equitable, and it’s economically viable.
“All of these efforts are designed to bring about a paradigm shift toward greater resilience within our campus community,” said FSC President John S. Nader, PhD. “We want to raise awareness and improve our performance in both energy usage and the impact our campus has on the environment.”
Engaging the campus community through various events and programs has gotten the campus excited about sustainability, particularly during FSC’s Earth Week events each April. Earth Week is an event-filled collaboration between the Office for Sustainability, the Office of Student Activities, Campus Recreation, and various academic departments. Events have included tree plantings, Green Giveaways, educational documentaries, clean-up hikes, and outdoor workout classes. Throughout the week, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to be more conscious about their actions and build sustainable habits that they can take with them when they leave FSC.
Campus members can engage in sustainable activities not just during Earth Week, but year-round. With the support of Bethpage Federal Credit Union and Pedal Share, FSC launched its first-ever bikeshare program in 2023, which allows users to rent bikes to get to local destinations or ride recreationally. The FSC stations are among the most popular across Long Island, with over 380 rentals in their first year. In addition, FSC’s Giving Garden now provides opportunities for students to learn about native plants, gardening, pollinators, and food security. In its first year, the community-run garden donated over 200 pounds of organic produce to the FSC Food Pantry. Esther Sherry, ’23, a horticulturist at Bethpage State Park, spearheaded the revival as a senior at FSC.
“I am so thankful we restored the Giving Garden at a time when people on campus really needed it,” said Sherry. “It is a space where the entire campus community can spend time outside and enjoy nature. The appreciation for the environment and where our food comes from stems from involvement such as this. That’s our goal with this garden, and we are excited to see its continued growth.”
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