Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 47.51
Liaison Kelly Wellman
Submission Date Feb. 14, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.0

Texas A&M University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Ben Kalscheur
Sustainability Assistant Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:

The Office of Sustainability website is designed to educate about sustainability, to promote sustainable practices both on and off campus, and to provide resources and support for people who wish to incorporate sustainable practices into their work and life.


The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
---

The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
---

Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

Explorations is a student-run journal guided by faculty and administrators that selects and publishes student-authored articles of general interest in any area. Articles are submitted in a two-stage process: first, proposals for articles are reviewed by faculty-student teams; secondly, the resulting full-length articles undergo a second round of peer review. Acceptance to the journal is competitive—less than 20% of submitted proposals are accepted. Recently published articles have been from a wide range of academic fields: music, creative poetry, forensics, cancer biology, astrophysics, nanomedicine, computer algorithms, business, geosciences, sociology, aerospace engineering, and cultural anthropology.


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?:
No

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 food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
No

A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
---

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 grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
No

A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
---

The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
---

Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
---

The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
---

Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
No

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
---

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
---

Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

The Residence Hall Association (RHA) recognized that to be good stewards, students need to lead the push to retool the built environment, in addition to our lifestyle and habits. Several students in RHA created this Sustainability Guide document to motivate change that encourages fiscal, environmental, and social responsibility.
We encourage you to take the time to read through their plan and consider the potential that this simple guide has to offer. Students at Texas A&M recognize the profound changes, both individually and collectively, needed to transition into a more sustainable, positive, and necessary world.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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)?:
No

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 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:
---

Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

The Office of Sustainability has developed a Sustainability Pledge that students, faculty, and staff can take online. This pledge offers a plethora of information regarding sustainable actions individuals can take in their lives, why it is so important, and links for further reading. The pledge is also specifically tailored to A&M's culture.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

The Office of Sustainability has available both online and in print, a sustainability flyer that gives students insight into the function of the office, as well as tips for being more personally sustainable. The flyer is a mainstay at all outreach events attended by the office.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

At outreach events the Office of Sustainability uses cork board displays and banners that highlight the function of the office, success stories, and contact information to visually engage participants.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

At outreach events the Office of Sustainability uses free-give-a-ways branded with our office logo as outreach materials. Free give-a-ways include t-shirts, reusable grocery bags, and notepads. These work as a form of free advertising every time the recipient uses the item.


The website URL for this material:
---

Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

The Office of Sustainability advertises on the university shuttle service that has both on-campus and off-campus routes. Example campaigns have encouraged riders to take the Sustainability Pledge and also pique their curiosity about sustainability by running the campaign slogan: It’s not just about Recycling.


The website URL for this material:
---

Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

The Office of Sustainability invested in two solardok picnic tables that run completely off solar power. The tables have both 110 electrical outlets and USB ports that allow users to charge their laptops and portable electronics such as cell phones. The table has our brand logo in the awnings, as well as a Quick Response (QR) code that directs the user to our website.


The website URL for this material:
---

Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

Through an Aggie Green Fund grant, the Office of Sustainability invested in nine water bottle filling stations on campus. At the grand opening event for each water bottle station, the Office of Sustainability distributed free water bottles that were branded with the Office of Sustainability logo.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
---

A brief description of this material:
---

The website URL for this 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.