Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 69.91
Liaison Julie Hopper
Submission Date Dec. 20, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Southern California
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Julie Hopper
Data Analyst
Office of 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

Website URL for the central sustainability website:
https://sustainability.usc.edu

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

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 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 Month programming.

The Office of Sustainability has an Instagram account (@green.usc), an X (formerly Twitter) account (@GreenUSC), a Facebook page (@USCOfficeofSustainability) a TikTok account (@green.usc), and a YouTube channel (@USCOfficeofSustsinability) 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 interviews and informational sessions with other groups at USC, such as Residential Education, Student Life, and the Arts and Climate Collective.

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:

Digital screens in lobbies and lounges of USC Housing buildings feature messaging on current USC strategies to green our operations (e.g. 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
- ITS screens: KOH and WPH Computing Centers (two screens each)
- Leavey library (four screens), and Taper Hall (four screens)
- FPM screens: Norman Topping Tower, and the FPM, ZMT, VBB, CDF, and ADM buildings
- Student Life screens: Sample Hall concierge desk, entrance column, 1st floor elevator landing, and 4th floor elevator landing; and TCC Plaza (near Seeds exit)

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.

Finally, messaging is regularly included in the online version of USC's student newspaper, the Daily Trojan via GIF advertisement.


Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

USC’s sustainability map features the locations of water bottle refill stations, battery recycling stations, bike racks, EV charging stations, farmers markets, gardens and other green projects, etc.: https://sustainability.usc.edu/take-action/map/

USCs Office of Sustainability collaborates with the USC WorkWell Center and leads several sustainability-focused guided walking tours of USC (open to the USC staff, faculty, postdocs and the public): https://calendar.usc.edu/event/sustainability-themed_walksc_walks

In addition, the USC Office of Sustainability has provided the USC Admissions Office (in charge of giving campus tours) highlights for eight UPC sustainability initiatives to mention , 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?:
Yes

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, fod, and recycling.

Website URL: https://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://customsitesmedia.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/467/2021/11/30115454/Little-Green-Guide.pdf


A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Data current as of 9/22/23.


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.