| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 58.21 |
| Liaison | Julie Hopper |
| Submission Date | July 29, 2021 |
University of Southern California
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Elias
Platte-Bermeo Sustainability Program Assistant 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 Office of Sustainability generates a bi-monthly e-newsletter catered to students, staff, faculty and alumni which features updates on campus sustainability initiatives and achievements, details of upcoming sustainability events hosted by various staff departments and academic programs, and information on opportunities to get involved in sustainability work and advocacy at USC and beyond. Additional special issues of the newsletter are sent out to promote important events, e.g., Earth Week programming.
The Office of Sustainability has an Instagram account (@green.usc) and Facebook page (USC Sustainability) that surface sustainability updates and allow us to promote events from across the university related to sustainability, climate change and the environment. Social media accounts have been used by the Office of Sustainability to co-host live interviews and informational sessions with other groups at USC, like the Undergraduate Student Government.
Link to past issues of the e-newsletter and social media accounts: https://green.usc.edu/about/stay-connected/
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
Digital screens in lobbies and lounges of 20 USC Housing buildings feature messaging on current USC strategies to green our operations (e.g. new low-flow fixtures installed in restrooms) as well as ways that all Trojans to do their part to help make USC more sustainable through individual behavior change (e.g. reduce time spent in the shower). Similar messaging also appears on digital screens in the following locations:
- USC Bookstore
- 12 ITS screens: KOH and WPH Computing Centers (two screens each)
- Leavey library (four screens), and Taper Hall (four screens)
- 11 FPM screens: Norman Topping Tower, and the FPM, ZMT, VBB, CDF, and ADM buildings
- Four Student Affairs screens: Sample Hall concierge desk, entrance column, 1stfloor elevator landing, and 4th floor elevator landing; and TCC Plaza (near Seeds exit)
Messaging about campus sustainability initiatives also is posted in USC Transportation bus shelters across the UPC and HSC campuses, and in USC Transportation buses that carry Trojans across and between USC's campuses.
USC Dining restaurants feature messaging encouraging guests to be mindful of portion sizes to reduce post-consumer food waste.
Multi-stream interior and exterior waste bins across campus feature signage on how to properly sort waste.
Tilley Tower, visible from on and beyond our campus, has featured messaging about zero-waste athletics events hosted at USC.
Finally, messaging is regularly included in the print and digital versions of USC's student newspaper, the Daily Trojan.
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The self-guided USC Sustainability Tour highlights eight UPC sustainability initiatives, including public transportation, urban gardening, solar power, LEED buildings, and a water thermal storage tank.
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:
The green living guide lays out tips for a more sustainable lifestyle, focusing particularly on energy use, water use, food, and recycling.
Website URL: http://housing.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/USC-Sustainability-Booklet-2017_digital.pdf
Additionally, the USC "Little Green Guide" is distributed to all incoming students during new student orientation and as a door hanger on each on-campus dorm before student move-in.
Website URL: https://green.usc.edu/files/2020/07/OoS-The-Little-Green-Guide_FINAL.pdf
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
Sustainable Event Planning Guide: https://green.usc.edu/files/2019/08/RSO_Slides_Final_8_14_19.pdf
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.