Luther College
ER-3: Sustainability in New Student Orientation

The Sustainability Department gives a 15 minute long presentation to all students who participate in new student orientation. During the presentation we offer ways to get involved. Many of our strongest sustainability leaders first became interested in sustainability after hearing the presentation last fall.

Sustainability is also included in residence hall oreintation: RAs receive information to pass along to their residents about recycling, composting and energy conservation. Many RAs choose to do bulletin boards related to sustainability on their floors as a way to passively educate their residents.

All new students participate in a service project during their first week on campus. All service projects are sustainability-related. Students have gone to Seed Savers to help collect heirloom seeds, helped out in the Luther College Gardens and cleaned bricks from an old school that was torn down in Decorah so they can be reused in other building projects. This year students participated in the "Buckthorn Blitz," spending the day weeding out the invasive species of Buckthorn in several Decorah parks.

Luther also holds a zero-waste picnic on the library lawn during orientation. Everything served and used is 100% recyclable/compostable. Students and their parents are invited to the meal. Members of the Green Team create signs to educate eaters about the event.