Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.06
Liaison Allie Schwartz
Submission Date April 14, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Columbia University
EN-2: Student Orientation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Allie Schwartz
Assistant Director, Planning and Outreach
Environmental Stewardship, Columbia University Facilities and Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

The percentage of entering students that are provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability:
100

A brief description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation:

Sustainability is prominent during check-in and is the first line of defense. During each New Student Orientation Program, incoming undergraduate students receive information on environmental sustainability in their first moments on campus. When students arrive, they are immediately directed to the location where they can sign in and receive their student ID cards. EcoReps have a small table set up in this area so that after students pick up their IDs they receive a free made in NYC, BPA-free, recyclable at end of life water bottle. As the EcoReps hand out the water bottles, they engage students in conversation about sustainability on campus and make them aware of various environmental student groups on campus. They also receive a Dining Eco Token from Columbia Dining which allows the students to use an eco washable and reusable to-go container in the Dining Hall instead of using one-time use containers. Environmental Stewardship tables at the New Student Orientation Program Campus Resources Fair, CUMC Welcome Expo, Residential Resource Fair, Law School Welcome Fair, and General Studies Fair to educate the incoming students on campus sustainability. In addition, Housing sends out an orientation e-mail to all new students early in the academic year that includes a link to the Guide to Green Living, which is a valuable tool written by EcoReps with the intention of informing students on how to live sustainably on campus. Housing also includes environmental tips in its emails and on its Guidebook app. All first year undergraduate students also receive a CFL light bulb to use in their personal lamps in their residence hall room. At check-in, EcoReps also give each new student a reusable cloth grocery bag and Green Tips info cards. Additionally, during NSOP students have the chance to attend Eco Tours of the Columbia Campus to learn about the sustainability features of campus (such as LEED certified buildings) and the plethora of opportunities for students. EcoReps also offers tours of NYC at large such as a thrift shop tour of the Union Square Area, visit to a rooftop farm in Midtown, etc.. Additional URLS:
http://newstudents.columbia.edu/undergraduate/explore-campus-services#Environmental
http://newstudents.columbia.edu/undergraduate/explore-campus-services


The website URL where information about sustainability in student orientation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

"EcoReps Green Sale: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ecoreps/GGG.html
NSOP Program lists Eco activities: http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/orientation
Housing Green Living Guide: http://housingservices.columbia.edu/files/housingservices/other/green_living.pdf

Emma Tuzinkiewicz, a senior in Columbia College, helped to complete this section.


"EcoReps Green Sale: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ecoreps/GGG.html
NSOP Program lists Eco activities: http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/orientation
Housing Green Living Guide: http://housingservices.columbia.edu/files/housingservices/other/green_living.pdf

Emma Tuzinkiewicz, a senior in Columbia College, helped to complete this section.

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