| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.12 |
| Liaison | Patrick McKee |
| Submission Date | Nov. 16, 2023 |
University of Connecticut
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Patrick
McKee Senior Sustainability Program Manager Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:
The Sustainability Newsletter highlights major sustainability updates, events, and milestones for the preceding and upcoming months. It is published by the Office of Sustainability at the end of each month and sent to hundreds of students. A second, more extensive newsletter is sent to UConn faculty and staff each semester.
The Office of Sustainability's social media platforms also focus specifically on campus sustainability. It has an Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn account. The Instagram page, @uconnos, has over 1,800 followers.
https://www.instagram.com/uconnos/
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
In 2014-15, UConn installed “dashboards” in several of its LEED-certified buildings. For several years, these provided data about the energy and water usage of the buildings and also highlighted the buildings’ green features, such as bioretention basins and sustainably-sourced building materials.
In 2017, the two largest of these dashboards, located in the lobbies of two highest traffic classroom buildings, which are both LEED Gold certified, were converted into environmental and sustainability-related digital posters. They now feature continuously scrolling slideshows with sustainability news and event information, plus descriptions and photos of green campus and green building features. OS purchased the monitors using a Foundation account (Green Campus Fund), and its sustainability staff and interns regularly maintain and update these monitors.
UConn offers an on-line virtual Green Campus Tour available from the OS website. LEED Silver or Gold plaques are hung on the walls of certified buildings.
In 2016-17 UConn's sign committee approved the placement of nearly two dozen signs located in LID or green stormwater infrastructure features located either as green roofs or nearby, as part of the building project (e.g., PICP, bioretention basins) and throughout campus. Most of these signs were installed by the end of 2017 and are relatively low profile with concise educational information about the benefits of particular types of LID.
https://sustainability.uconn.edu/energy-dashboards-and-green-campus-tour/
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
UConn’s online sustainability map provides a tour of the sustainability features on campus, including rain gardens, compost facility, and pervious pavement.
http://s.uconn.edu/lidmap
https://ecohusky.uconn.edu/energy-dashboards-and-green-campus-tour/
UConn also provides a guide that highlights 40 of the hundreds of varieties of trees on campus, for “a self-guided tour visiting trees of special interest.” The UConn Storrs campus is recognized as a living arboretum of historic interest, including outstanding specimens of rarity, importance, or advanced age. The walking tour highlights these features:
https://arboretum.uconn.edu/content/TREE_GUIDE_CAMPUS_WALK.pdf
Additionally, there is a Low-Impact Development (LID) walking tour designed by the Natural Resources Conservation Academy (a program for high school students that is put on by UConn faculty and grad students in the NRE department)
https://ecohusky.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2041/2017/01/Development-LID-LID-tour.pdf
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/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
UConn provides guides on incorporating sustainability into the residential experience by providing resources to resident assistants who can disseminate the information among their students. The webpage with RA resources functions as a guide to sustainable dorm/apartment living that all students can refer to. It has information on waste paper reduction, water conservation, and energy reduction. Additionally, on that page is a PowerPoint presentation titled “Sustainable Living in Your Residence Hall.” It has residence hall-specific tips for sustainable living that give students manageable ways to lessen their environmental impact.
https://sustainability.uconn.edu/ra-resources/
https://sustainability.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2041/2022/10/Sustainable-Living-in-your-Residence-Hall.pdf
Also, the Office of Sustainability developed a Sustainability Activity Book that is handed out to students on various occasions and also available on its website. It contains information on sustainability initiatives on campus and ways to live more sustainably on and off campus: https://ecohusky.uconn.edu/sustainability-activity-book/
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources Extension, housed at the Storrs Campus, produces newsletters, youth programs, homeowner extension materials, agricultural extension materials, and resource use materials for the University, surrounding communities, and state.
Their “newsroom” with several sustainability-related articles can be found here: https://cahnr.uconn.edu/news/
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.