Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.32
Liaison R. Johnston
Submission Date Nov. 30, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of Missouri, Kansas City
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 R. Kaye Johnston
Sustainability Coordinator
Campus Facilities
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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:

UMKC’s commitment to sustainability is visible across the entire campus. The new Student Union and Herman and Dorothy Johnson Residence Hall are state-of-the-art green buildings. Sustainable gardening is encouraged at three rain gardens and a student-led community garden, and the Student Union and Miller Nichols Library (MNL) have rooftop gardens. The Hub bicycle repair center helps keep students mobile. Students and the community can stay informed through the Recycling-on-the-Go educational kiosk, and can use the solar recycling center east of the MNL. We even reused timbers from the old bleachers at Swinney Recreation Center.

Use the Green Features Map tour of all UMKC’s green initiatives the next time you are on campus and see for yourself!

Through leadership, collaboration and action, the university will continue to achieve its sustainability goals.
2012 Goals

Continue to expand recycling and waste reduction throughout campus culture including all events.
Continue to host more eco-educational events, workshops and conferences.
Create more educational opportunities of alternative transportation options on campus.
Create a green purchasing policy campus wide.
Launch Interactive Voluntary Energy Management Campaign

2010-2011 Awards and Honors:

UMKC has become a leader in our urban community and in the Midwest region because of advancing its Sustainability Initiatives and the hard work of the UMKC Sustainability Team. Here’s a list of honors and awards:

American School and University Magazine Green Cleaning Award 2011 Honorable Mention
Mid-America Regional Council 2011 Top Sustainable Success Stories Honoree
Greenability Magazine Sept/Oct 2011 Issue-UMKC lead article on “Local Colleges Prepare Students for a Greener Future”
Bicycle Friendly University Honorable Mention 2011
Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste Management District 2010 Outstanding Program Award
Top 100 Cool School by Sierra Club 2010


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:
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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:

The Center for Applied Environmental Research offers the following programs and services:

Interdisciplinary Environmental Research
Environmental Education
- Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
- Environmental Justice Issues
- Pollution Prevention
- Environmental Chemistry
- Evening and Weekend Adult Education
- Community Environmental Awareness and Outreach
- Climate Change Impacts and Mitigation
- Environmental Health and Medical Geology
Site Selection and Evaluation
Testing for lead and radon in Residential Structures
Environmental Hot Line
Internships for College Students
International Environmental Consulting
Collaboration With Other Environmental Organizations
Environmental Conferences and Symposia
Water Quality Analyses
Air Quality Assessment and Analysis


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 :

There are two buildings on campus as of spring 2012 that have attained LEED Accrediation. Herman and Dorthy Johnson Hall is LEED accredited and the new Student Union is LEED Gold accredited. Both buildings have interpretive signage that speaks to the highlights of the 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?:
Yes

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

UMKC Dining Services is committed to doing their part to keep the campus green while providing nutritious and innovative dining to the entire university community. Efforts include recycling more than 500 pounds of cardboard every week at University Center alone. Some other ways Dining Services is making a difference:

Compostable Straws along with Bulk Condiments coming January 2012!
Partnership with the UMKC Garden Collective
More locally-grown foods
Organic composting
Cage-free eggs
No-rinse products for dishwashing to use less water
Trayless cafeteria
All napkins made with 100% recycled material
Biodegradable cups
All napkins made with 100% recycled material
Biodegradable cups


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?:
Yes

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

Landscaping

Rain Gardens

UMKC landscaping mitigates potential damage from stormwater runoff through three rain gardens, and the Student Union utilizes best practices through a detention pond to handle storm water. Interpretive Signage on the rain garden construction and plants are posted at each site.

Community Gardening

Located by the School of Education at 53rd and Holmes streets, the community garden is a student-led initiative in partnership with Campus Facilities Management and the local neighborhood. In 2010, The Garden Collective became an official student association. Please follow the link about the 2010 bountiful harvest . Try to join the students winterizing the garden at one of the upcoming calendar dates in 2011!

Tree pruning and planting

Tree pruning and planting on campus are done in partnership with the Bridging the Gap’s Heartland Tree Alliance (HTA). The HTA provides education and assistance with choosing the right tree, planting, pruning, and caring for trees in the long-term.

Tulips on Troost

Tulips on Troost is an annual community tulip planting event that has planted thousands of tulips throughout the Troost corridor from 18th to 47th Streets. To become a volunteer, a certified petal pusher, visit the Tulips on Troost website.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

UMKC Green Features

UMKC Green Map

Take a visual tour with our green features map from roof top gardens to one of our campus rain gardens to LEED Buildings to our recycling program.


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?:
Yes

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

UMKC’s green transportation initiatives include integrating student, faculty and staff all-access bus passes, increasing the number of bike racks and amenities, and developing a multi-modal parking structure to support cycling, bus commuting, pedestrians, ride-share and alternative fuel vehicles.

The university participates in a group of 17 partners that received a $15 million U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities Initiative grant from the Recovery Act. The grant will support the installation of a variety of refueling stations and aid in the deployment of more than 300 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles


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:

This brochure provides an overview of the UMKC campus community’s efforts to take the lead in environmental sustainability. Unless otherwise noted, the primary source for information provided in the Guide to Green Living is from UMKC Campus Facilities Management documents, PowerPoint presentations and websites.


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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)?:
Yes

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:

Sustainability is featured in the UNews each month by various reporters. Since 2008 there have been 60 plus articles showcasing campus sustainability efforts.


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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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