Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.54
Liaison Jay Price
Submission Date March 2, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Tennessee at Knoxville
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Preston Jacobsen
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 Yes
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 Yes
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 Yes
A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation Yes
Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians Yes
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 Yes
Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website:

The UT Office of Sustainability website serves as a central place for members of the UT community to learn about sustainability-related news, initiatives and features around campus. It also has resources for students and employees to become more involved in on-campus sustainability. Additionally, the UT Recycling website (http://recycle.utk.edu/) has information about campus recycling, compost, and waste reduction efforts, as well as ways to get involved.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Green Leaf, a newsletter published by the Office of Sustainability, allows UT community members to keep up with on-campus sustainability initiatives and events.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:

The Office of Sustainability has four main outlets for social media, which help the office to disseminate information about events and volunteering opportunities, as well as to better engage students in on-campus sustainability on a day-to-day basis. These include a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MakeOrangeGreen), a Twitter account (https://twitter.com/MakeOrangeGreen), an Instagram account (http://instagram.com/utsustainability) an a Flikr account (https://www.flickr.com/people/makeorangegreen).

Additionally the UT Recycling office has several social media accounts for outreach and volunteer recruitment, including a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/utrecycling), a Twitter account (https://twitter.com/UT_Recycling), and an Istagram account (http://instagram.com/utrecycling).


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:

The Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE) strives to promote research with clear environmental and sustainability impacts. Each year they publish an annual report that outlines sustainability research done at UT. This report includes student projects and student research done in collaboration with professors.


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 :

There are signs in buildings around campus that highlight features such as LEED certified buildings, energy efficiency lighting and geothermal heating systems.


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 are signs in the dining halls that highlight organic, local and vegetarian food options, food waste and composting opportunities, as well as pointing out composting stations and the university's use of unbleached napkins.


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:

'Adopt-a-spot' signs mark areas on campus that student organizations have pledged to keep clean. This program holds students responsible for cleaning their area of any litter, old fliers, tape, etc. from their areas twice a month, as well as reporting any vandalism or issues.


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:

The UTK interactive campus map includes a sustainability layer that marks sustainability highlights around the campus, as well as pedestrian walkways and bike paths.


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 Parking & Transit Services website has an Alternative Transportation section that highlights information and resources for bicycles, electric vehicles, travel to other parts of the state, car sharing, smart trips, the Knoxville public bus system, and MegaBus.

Additionally, "the T", the on-campus bus system maintains a website that provides information about routes, schedules, and live tracking of bus locations. The buses are powered by biodiesel and free for any person on campus, regardless of whether they're affiliated with the University or not. (http://ridethet.utk.edu/)

The Office of Sustainability also has a summary of alternative transit resources on campus on their website. (http://environment.utk.edu/on-campus/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:

On their page on alternative transportation, UT Parking & Transit Services has a section for bicycles that includes information about the bike shop, a local bike map and information about parking and storing bikes on campus.

Additionally, the UT Outdoor Program maintains a section of their website dedicated to resources for bicyclists. This website include information about renting bikes through the University, on the road help for cyclists, local bike maps and shops, and biking groups on and off campus. (http://recsports.utk.edu/Programs/Outdoor%20Rec/Bikes/resources/index.php)


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:

The Big Orange Green Guide outlines tips for green living on campus. Additionally, the Office of Sustainability website has weekly green living articles that focus on a specific aspect of college life, such as greening your technology, or back to school green tips. http://environment.utk.edu/news/tip-of-the-week/


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:

There is a section in weekly updates that includes a sustainable themed story, and at least one feature a month on a green initiative on campus.


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 Division of Student Affairs highlights campus sustainability efforts in their monthly staff newsletter.


The website URL for this material (1st material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (2nd material):

Facilities Services regularly published press releases and articles in Tennessee Today on the progress of the Office of Sustainability and initiatives on campus.


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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.