| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.56 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bentley University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
| Yes or No | |
| A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts | Yes |
| A sustainability newsletter | No |
| Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability | Yes |
| A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability | Yes |
| Building signage that highlights green building features | Yes |
| Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed | Yes |
| A sustainability walking map or tour | No |
| A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation | Yes |
| Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians | Yes |
| A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience | Yes |
| Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat | No |
| Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above | Yes |
A brief description of the central sustainability website:
The Office of Sustainability website, hosted on the Bentley website, has all of the information about the office, news, events, initiatives, how to get involved, academic sustainability concentrations, and other sustainable campus resources. This website is continually managed and updated by one of the office's interns.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
We discontinued the Sustainability newsletter because of lack of resources.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:
The Office of Sustainability hires a part-time intern to manage its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. These pages are updated daily with upcoming events and links to current media stories about sustainability.
https://twitter.com/SustainBentley
https://www.facebook.com/BentleyOfficeofSustainability/
https://www.instagram.com/sustain.bentley/
The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Student research on sustainability is published and disseminated by the Dept. of Natural and Applied Sciences and by the Valente Center. Capstone research project posters are on display during a student research fair in April of every year. Bulletin boards and display cases also showcase student sustainability research in buildings on campus.
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Each summer, one residence hall is renovated to improve energy efficiency. All the sustainability features of the renovation are described on placards in the stairwells of the building (6-8 in each building). Permanent signs have been used in exterior campus spaces to educate the community about LED retrofits that have saved the university $100,000 per year.
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Our food service partner, Sodexo, promotes sustainability through rotating signs which highlight Sodexo's progress with environmental issues such as waste generation and donation. Finally, the green dining intern writes sustainability reminders such as "Did you know that the bread served at this deli is from a local bakery?" on the sneeze glass of deli/salad bar.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
Permanent signs are installed in gardens across campus, educating the community about organic fertilizer use.
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The Office of Sustainability does not current have a sustainability walking map or tour.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
The Office of Sustainability has several webpages devoted to educating commuters about alternative methods of transportation. The webpages include information on taking public transportation, biking, walking, running and carpooling to campus.
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The Office of Sustainability hosts bike-to-work safety presentations to educate faculty and staff about safe bike commuting. In these sessions, all safety tips are covered including equipment, signaling and riding on the road. Routes to and from the campus are reviewed and analyzed for safety.
Tips for bicyclists and pedestrians are available on our transportation website listed below.
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
There are many resources available on our sustainability website about green living including cleaning, cooking, moving, and reducing energy consumption.
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
The Bentley Student Newspaper ("The Vanguard") typically covers 1-2 sustainability topics per year. From 2013 - 2015 the Office of Sustainability had a strong relationship relationship with the student newspaper where an intern was able to publish a sustainability column monthly. Since the change in the newspaper's leadership the monthly sustainability column has not been maintained but remains a priority for the Office of Sustainability should the opportunity present itself again.
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):
There is profuse signage about proper recycling activities throughout all eateries, kitchens, copy rooms, residence halls, academic and administrative buildings on campus.
The website URL for this material (1st material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
A brief description of this material (2nd material):
A pamphlet about all recycling initiatives on campus (single-stream, electronics recycling, etc) is given to all new university employees at their orientation session.
The website URL for this material (2nd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
A brief description of this material (3rd material):
A pamphlet advertising Bentley's online carpool matching and emergency ride home services is provided to new employees at their orientation and given out to employees during 2-3 tabling events per academic year.
From Bentley's HR Website:
MassRIDES Emergency Ride Home (ERH) program supports commuters who use public transportation, walk, bike, carpool or vanpool to work with a free ride if an unexpected emergency arises during the workday.
Here is a link to the website which gives more details: http://www.commute.com/sign_up
The website URL for this material (3rd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
A brief description of this material (4th material):
The Office of Sustainability created "business cards" which explain our mission, vision, and progress. These are given out at major sustainability events and tabling opportunities.
The website URL for this material (4th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
A brief description of this material (5th material):
The Office of Sustainability's PR intern maintains a blog with student perspectives on sustainability initiatives and activities both on and off campus.
The website URL for this material (5th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
A brief description of this material (6th material):
The website URL for this material (6th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
A brief description of this material (7th material):
The website URL for this material (7th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
A brief description of this material (8th material):
The website URL for this material (8th material):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.