| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.59 |
| Liaison | Chris Bond |
| Submission Date | Oct. 30, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Unity Environmental University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Steve
Kahl Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
| Yes or No | |
| A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts | Yes |
| A sustainability newsletter | No |
| Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability | Yes |
| A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability | Yes |
| Building signage that highlights green building features | No |
| Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed | Yes |
| A sustainability walking map or tour | No |
| A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation | No |
| Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians | No |
| A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience | Yes |
| Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat | No |
| Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above | Yes |
A brief description of the central sustainability website:
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.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Sustainability Office issues an occasional 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. Additional material or summary material on home energy options for the layperson is also sent to HR for their distribution to faculty and staff. No regular newsletter is presently published.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:
The blog is the only social media platform currently in use internally. Externally, the college regularly produces press releases about sustainability issues and climate change.
The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
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:
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 best practices for residents.
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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. In the newly constructed wing of the dining hall, wall art is being commissioned that will focus on local foods and local farmers. Local farmers will be invited once a month to join the students for dinner.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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 groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
A series of signs about energy, local foods, gardens, landscaping, the former White House solar collectors, and the barn are located around campus.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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:
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:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Revised in 2014, the Green Guide is provided to incoming students 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:
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 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:
A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):
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 (1st material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
A brief description of this material (2nd material):
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 (2nd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
A brief description of this material (3rd 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 website URL for this material (3rd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
A brief description of this material (4th material):
Hawk & Handsaw: The Journal of Creative Sustainability, a 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 tougher life issues.
The website URL for this material (4th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
A brief description of this material (5th material):
The website URL for this material (5th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
A brief description of this material (6th material):
The website URL for this material (6th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
A brief description of this material (7th material):
The website URL for this material (7th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
A brief description of this material (8th material):
The website URL for this material (8th 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.