Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.79
Liaison Mary Whitney
Submission Date Sept. 22, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Chatham University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Mary Whitney
University Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 Yes
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 Yes
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 Yes
Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website:

Chatham University's Office of Sustainability is the administrative home of all campus sustainability projects. The office works to initiate change on campus with the hope of moving Chatham to carbon neutrality. We coordinate with University departments, faculty, and student groups to take steps to a more sustainable living, learning, and working environment for the campus community.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

Our sustainability newsletter is called "Small Change" and has been sent out to the Chatham community since 2007. "Small Change" highlights current and future ways to get involved in the sustainable movement and what people can do to help make positive small changes in the environment, both on campus and in the community.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:

Chatham's Office of Sustainability has a Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, and Pinterest pages that promote sustainability information and events concerning Chatham.

Facebook: Facebook.com/chathamsustain
Twitter: Twitter.com/chathamsustain
Youtube: youtube.com/user/sustainablechatham
Instagram: Instagram.com/chathamsustain
Pinterest: pinterest.com/chathamsustain


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:

Graduate students in the Falk School of Sustainability are required to publicly present their thesis research papers and thesis projects, which are open to all Chatham students, faculty, and staff. In this format, students share their findings as they relate to sustainability and field questions and comments about the research or project. The theses are then available on the Chatham University J.K.M Library online database for access by the Chatham community and in print at the library and with the thesis director.


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 :

Chatham University posts various signs around campus that highlight green building features. For example, some signs describe how our solar water system works and are posted next to the residence halls that use the water. Signs outside of Rea House, our Environmental Living & Learning Community, explain the environmental features of the building, including those that save energy and water. Other signs across campus highlight our campus-wide ban on the sale of bottled water.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

In Anderson Dining Hall on the Shadyside campus, we have several signs posted that highlight local food, non-GMO milk, and how to compost. Brochures are also available on Farm Source, which is the local food program of our dining service provider, Parkhurst, and Farm Source information is posted as napkin holder inserts at Anderson Dining Hall and Cafe Rachel. There is also signage at Anderson Dining Hall about subscribing to a CSA with Penn's Corner Farm Alliance that can be picked up on our Shadyside campus, as well as a brochure that is sent out electronically to all students, faculty, and staff.


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:

At our Shadyside campus, we have a sign posted next to our rain garden that highlights our non-potable water usage and storm water management. At the Eden Hall Campus farm, there are signs about the farm's organic practices and current attempt to get USDA Organic Certification. In addition, in the Eden Hall campus Dairy Barn Cafe, there are signs about mushroom growing at Eden Hall farm, the farm's hoop houses, and the standards and practices associated with Eden Hall Coffee, which is served there and at Cafe Rachel on the Shadyside campus.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

Chatham University has several different walking maps and tour maps available. We have an arboretum walking map, a Rachel Carson’s life tour map, a historical restorations tour map, and a green features tour map. Public tours of the Eden Hall campus are given by students multiple times per year during events, and during summer 2015, public tours of Eden Hall's sustainable campus buildings and systems were given every Wednesday.

A copy of our rain water harvesting map, arboretum walking map, a Rachel Carson’s life tour map, a historical restorations tour map, and a green features tour map are available on Chatham University's intranet website which is available to any student, faculty, or staff member.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

Chatham University has a guide to car transportation through Commute Info on the university's website. Free shuttles are provided from Shadyside campus to Eastside campus, Eden Hall campus, and a few other neighborhoods, and can be tracked live using the LIVE Shuttle Tracker (http://www.chathamshuttles.com). Commuters can also ride any Port Authority of Allegheny County bus for free and the information is provided to students as part of orientation and in the student handbook.

We also have a guide to bike commuting that details how to safely bike in Pittsburgh. This guide is located conveniently for the students in the bike shop. Bike routes are also marked on the campus maps.


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 Pittsburgh Bike Map is available to all students in the Bike Works bike shop, which details the safest bike routes throughout the city and offers safety tips as well. The bike map is created by Bike Pittsburgh, a bicycling and pedestrian safety non-profit organization, and can also be used by pedestrians to identify sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks, and trails.


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:

The student handbook provided each year to all students outlines ways for students to incorporate sustainability into their residential experience through the "Be Green" section of the "140 Things To Do at Chatham Before You Graduate." For undergraduate students particularly focused on green living, students can apply to live in the Rachel Carson Environmental & Sustainability Living Community in the Rea House dorms. The students who reside in this living community share an interest in participating in a environment which focuses on sustainable and green practices. Students work closely with staff and faculty to plan activities which focus upon different aspects of living a green lifestyle. All students who wish to live in Rea House must apply to be part of the Living Community.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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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 sustainability department used to have a regular column in the student newspaper called "Small Changes" that was written by students detailing sustainability events and news, but instead, there is now a columnist who is the designated sustainability reporter and writes about green living.


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:
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A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):

The Office of Sustainability operates a Wordpress blog hosted by Chatham University that is linked directly to our website. The blog provides updates on our sustainability initiatives and achievements, as well as reflections on events held by the office. The blog also provides a platform to post flyers and information that is sent out to the Chatham University to be more accessible to the public.


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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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