| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.21 |
| Liaison | Lindsey Kalkbrenner |
| Submission Date | May 5, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Santa Clara University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Cara
Uy Sustainability Coordinator Center for Sustainability |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The Santa Clara University sustainability website is a resource that helps to foster a culture of sustainability throughout campus. The website is organized into seven broad categories: Take Action, Events, Programs, Academics, Operations, University Commitments, and About the Center.
The website serves as an information hub for all interested in sustainability, but specifically for current students, faculty, and staff. It highlights the many events and programs that the SCU community can get involved in to learn more about sustainability and includes practical information to help readers become more sustainable in their everyday lives.
Additionally, the website showcases the University's Climate Action Plan and other steps SCU is taking towards climate neutrality, zero-waste, and sustainable water consumption.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The University's Center for Sustainability publishes a monthly "Sustainability Update" that showcases current sustainability-focused projects and events on campus. The Update also profiles SCU community members (students, faculty, staff) that go above and beyond to promote sustainability. Additionally, the newsletter includes tips to take action in regards to sustainability and the monthly theme.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
SCU's Center for Sustainability maintains an online presence via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube. These platforms are used to update followers on sustainability-themed events and projects on campus as well as to give sustainable actions they can take in their daily lives.
Facebook: facebook.com/sustainableSCU/
Twitter: twitter.com/sustainablescu
Instagram: instagram.com/sustainablescu/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/sustainablescu/
Youtube: youtube.com/user/sustainabilityintern
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
Does the institution have 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 the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The campus weekly newspaper regularly features articles and opinion pieces about sustainability.
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The Center for Sustainability's website includes a Research page with a section dedicated to student research. Additionally, there is a Living Lab Database that allows users to search past student research projects that incorporated a sustainability component.
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Dining Services by Bon Appetit informs guests about low impact food choices and sustainability practices in many ways. On guest tables and in signs around the cafe, they share information about pressing sustainability issues and relevant policies, including antibiotic use on animal farms, animal welfare issues, sustainable food choices, etc. Using their Circle of Responsibility (COR) program, they communicate sustainability attributes of ingredients through online and in-cafe menus. Menus are labeled with COR icons that denote the following (and more): if the dish includes local ingredients, and which farm they are from; if the dish includes animal products from a farm with a third party animal welfare certification; if the dish includes seafood rated as Green or Yellow by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program; if the dish is vegetarian or vegan.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
The majority of SCU's landscaping is irrigated with recycled water. To showcase this, there are small purple signs scattered around campus that state "Irrigated with Recycled Water." There are also a few larger signs that inform passers-by that "Recycled Water Keeps this Landscape Green. Recycled water saves drinking water."
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
This tour showcases a few of the many efforts to maintain environmental justice and sustainability on the SCU campus. Stops focus on elements that contribute to our goal of carbon neutrality and include sites such as the Forge Garden, Solar Decathlon houses, the Sustainability-themed Residence Hall, LEED Gold buildings, and Solar energy sources.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Guides for living sustainably on- and off-campus are easily available on SCU's Sustainability website. Both guides include simple ways to reduce water and energy usage. They also list resources where students can find more information and ways to get involved in sustainability on campus, such as annual events and liaison groups.
"The Quick Guide to Sustainable Living On-Campus at SCU" also includes ways to be more sustainable in regards to food on campus (e.g. using a reusable to-go container, meatless mondays, composting), whereas "The Quick Guide to Sustainable Living Off-Campus at SCU" has information on eco-friendly cleaning products and focuses on how living more sustainably can also save money.
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
A brief description of these materials or publications:
"This Week at SCU" is the weekly digital newsletter that the Associated Student Government Public Relations Vice President sends out to the entire student body. Each week there is a Sustainability News section featuring the "Tips & Events of the Week" that informs students about sustainability-related events happening on and off-campus, as well as behavior changes they can make to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.