Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.79
Liaison Chris Bond
Submission Date Aug. 2, 2011
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

Unity Environmental University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Jesse Pyles
Sustainability Coordinator
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 Sustainability page of the Unity College website gives a broad overview of our sustainability efforts in several key areas including, waste, energy, emissions, planning, history, and personal profiles. This website content is geared toward external audiences and community members with general interest in our sustainability efforts.

Our institutional website includes a top-level link to "Sustainability" on every page.


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

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Sustainability Office twice monthly issues an email "digest" of pertinent blog posts to the entire campus community. This newsletter is exclusively internal and content is derived from the Sustainability Monitor blog.


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:

Every semester, Unity College organizes an academic conference to highlight student research and creative work. Conference participants routinely present sustainability focused work and the conference is regularly highlighted in regional media.

Conference Awards -- including the Sustainability Award -- are announced internally to the entire campus, and documented on the website indicated.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

Residence halls include posted information inside to communicate historical energy performance and environmental attributes of building materials, furnishings, and practices.


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?:
Yes

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

There is a large map on the wall in the main seating area of the college's cafeteria that shows where we purchase local foods from with information about the farms. We also post "producer profiles" to highlight local producers and vendors. Additional information is on the Dining Services website.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes

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

Campus gardens are identified with signs. Wildflower and other landscaped areas managed under our mowing reduction program are also identified with posted signs.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No

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

Revised this year, the Green Guide will be provided in incoming student information packets and highlighted in residence hall meetings. The guide emphasizes energy, waste, water, and transportation resources on campus with additional focus on access to natural areas, community engagement, and sustainability programs.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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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:

Unity does not have a current student newspaper publication.


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

A brief description of this material:

Sustainability Monitor -- blog
The Sustainability Monitor blog is the primary communication and outreach tool for sustainability efforts at Unity College. It's meant to document sustainability assessment and planning efforts including our Climate Action Plan, STARS, and Energy Assessment. The Sustainability Monitor profiles students, staff, and faculty doing sustainability work on campus and throughout the region and includes content from Unity Sustainability's Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube accounts. The Monitor is intended for internal audiences first, and secondarily as a communication tool for the higher ed. and campus sustainability communities.


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

Sustainability Thought and Deed -- blog
The blog "Sustainability Thought and Deed" is maintained by Sustainable Energy faculty member Mick Womersley and highlights student course work and research, editorials on sustainability education and renewable energy, and resources for students in a number of classes.

Professor Womersley also maintains a blog on his Community Wind Research specifically here: http://www.unity.edu/facultypages/womersley/windweb.htm


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:

Unity -- magazine
Unity College publishes two editions each year of
Unity, the magazine of Unity College which addresses environmental topics, issues, and other new and
noteworthy items expressed by our faculty and staff
experts, contributing writers, and Unity students. The magazine also includes contributions by alumni and a class notes section.


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:

Hawk & Handsaw: The Journal of Creative Sustainability -- literary journal
Published annually, the journal explores approaches to creative sustainability through a rich and varied collection of text and visual art. Contributors include established artists and writers as well as emerging voices in the field. Hawk & Handsaw looks to offer contributions that challenge convention and tackle the tougher issues that stem from life in a fragile world.


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:

Other campus blogs.
Various members of the college community have developed and maintained blogs that communicate our sustainability efforts in many different ways. A partial listing of these blogs -- some now outdated -- can be found here: http://www.unity.edu/sustainability/UnityCollegeBlogs.aspx. They include "Living Green in the Unity House" and "Environmental Studies for the Real World" as well as course-related blogs on local foods, community service trips, and more.

Currently, Professor Doug Fox and several Unity students are tracking progress on the development and construction of "TerraHaus" on their website: http://terrahaus.wordpress.com.

Unity College's participation in community energy work is being chronicled by students and community members here: http://energizingacommunity.wordpress.com/


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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.