College Programs

Students in Sustainable Residences:

The Ramapo College Student Sustainable Living Residences began operating in the fall of 2010. To be eligible to live in these residences students agree to follow “green lifestyle practices”. The residences consist of apartment style units with food preparation capabilities. These residences are in close proximity to the Sharp Sustainability Education Center where regular lectures are scheduled covering various sustainability related topics.

At the Havemeyer Edible Garden, students living in sustainable housing attend sessions covering topics such as tools needed to start an edible garden, planning a garden, planting a garden and tending it as well as harvesting and preparing food using ingredients from the garden.

Two women standing outdoors, smiling and holding freshly harvested vegetables including carrots, beets, and a green bell pepper. There is a fence and greenery in the background.

1STEP – (Students Together for Environmental Progress) Club Plants the Garden

The Ramapo College Student Sustainable Living Residences began operating in the fall of 2010. To be eligible to live in these residences students agree to follow “green lifestyle practices”. The residences consist of apartment style units with food preparation capabilities. These residences are in close proximity to the Sharp Sustainability Education Center where regular lectures are scheduled covering various sustainability related topics.

At the Havemeyer Edible Garden, students living in sustainable housing attend sessions covering topics such as tools needed to start an edible garden, planning a garden, planting a garden and tending it as well as harvesting and preparing food using ingredients from the garden.

Three people work together in a garden bed, planting or tending seedlings. They are focused on the soil and surrounded by green plants, with trees and a white fence visible in the background on a sunny day.

Five people stand in front of ivy-covered brick wall, all wearing black T-shirts with green text that reads, Green is the new black. They are smiling and posing for the photo.

SIFE – Students in Free Enterprise Club Develops Edible Garden in India

SIFE is described as “…an international non-profit organization that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders”.

In 2011SIFE students raised $250 dollars through the sale of t-shirts. Those funds were matched by Havemeyer Edible Garden funds and were used to initiate a partner edible garden in India. The edible garden will be located in a tribal area in South India where Ramapo College students attend a semester long study abroad program.

Education Opportunity Fund (EOF) Students’ Summer Nutrition Program

All EOF freshmen at Ramapo College attend the Summer Studies Program. This six week program begins during the last weekend in June and requires students to enroll in two to three courses, one seminar, study/recitation session and advisement sessions and tutorials. In 2011all students completed the SNAAKS plus© nutrition education program. The SNAAKS plus© nutrition program is a nutrition education curriculum consisting of six 1.5 hour sessions aimed to improve the eating and nutrition behaviors of college students. The SNAAKS plus© curriculum was developed by Dr. Ehlert who teaches Peer Nutrition Educators (PENE) to deliver the program. PENE training entails week long intensive training sessions lasting 7.5 hours each day. Senior EOF students who demonstrate an academic interest in the health, environmental or fitness fields are chosen to be Peer Nutrition Educators.

A large group of professionally dressed people stand together, smiling, in front of a white building with columns and a porch, posing for a group photo on a sunny day.

A man and a woman stand by a raised garden bed full of green plants, smiling at the camera. The woman wears a pink dress, and the man wears a blue shirt. They are in a sunny yard with a white fence and house nearby.

A group of people, including adults and children, gather outdoors around a tray with small pots, engaging in a planting activity together. Some participants wear gloves and appear focused on the task.

NAAKS; Students Nutrition Attitudes, Action, Knowledge & Skills

Evaluating Your Health

Where are you at and where does your food come from?
Learning to balance your plate.

Rate Your Plate Before It’s Too Late:

Compare your eating to the recommendations from balancing your plate
Goal setting for Health Success.

Getting Fresh On Campus

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily
Goal setting to increase your fresh fruit and vegetable consumption.

Facts of Fast Fats & Sugar

Finding fat and sugar in different fast foods and packaged snack foods
Goal setting to decrease your fast food and packaged food consumption.

Breakfast Grab & Go

Eating whole grains and calcium rich foods daily
Goal setting to increase whole grain and calcium rich food consumption.

Evaluating Your Progress

How far you have come along?
From the beginning of the SNAAKS + program, what have you learned and accomplished?