Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.79
Liaison Mike Wilson
Submission Date Jan. 27, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Victoria
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" 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

A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):

The Office of Planning and Sustainability has a website that serves as a central hub for the institution’s current green initiatives on the ground, in the classroom and in research activities. The current Sustainability Action Plan and Progress Report are available on the website. Information on sustainability is provided as well as links about current sustainability campaigns, groups, and events and how to get involved. It also displays current sustainability-related news articles, and sustainability-related events in the community.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability sends out a bi-weekly newsletter via email that provides details on current sustainability-related news and events occurring both on campus and in the local community. The newsletter also provides links for recipients to get involved or to learn more about current sustainability initiatives.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:

The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability maintains an active Facebook and Twitter page, and uses the applications for promotion of events and of different sustainability initiatives at UVic.

Staff also work closely on social media collaborations with the Communications + Marketing department such as distributing sustainability-related content on the institution's primary social media channels and Snapchat take-overs.


The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
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 the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:

The Martlet is UVic’s student-run newspaper that hosts a regular column called Eco Tip in their Business|Tech section, which runs every second issue. Eco Tip discusses ways that readers can solve common sustainability problems without unnecessary consumption. They also run irregular sustainability coverage such as in the News, Opinions and Features sections.


The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
No
+ Date Revised: Aug. 24, 2017

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability website includes an Academics and Research page that provides a list of the campus research institutes that have an emphasis on sustainability and it also provides information on how to get in contact with them.


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 :

UVic contains a number of Green buildings including 6 LEED gold buildings with an additional one in the certification process at time of writing. Each designated building has interior signage in a prominent area that signifies its designation and gives some additional information.

One example of signage is a plaque outside the Continuing Studies Building, which cites things like stormwater management, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and energy efficient lighting. Similar signs reference green building features, including the availability of showers and lockers for cyclists, natural landscaping with native plants and energy efficient lighting.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

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

University Food Services and the Student Union Building display signage in cafeteria areas that inform their customers about their local food-purchasing policy.


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 groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:

Signage is currently displayed in certain areas on the campus grounds that describe sustainability efforts in grounds management.


The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
---

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

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The University of Victoria Community Mapping project provides an online participatory mapping and planning system, including learning and technical tools, to facilitate innovative and sustainable development at UVic and in the wider community. Link: http://www.uvic.ca/library/featured/collections/about/CommunityMaps.php

During the academic year, various sustainability-related tours are also offered on campus during events such as Sustainability Week, Orientation weeks and IdeaFest, as well as by special request. Sustainability Week tours included: green buildings, edible campus, campus ecology, and cycling. Link to Sustainability Green Campus Walk: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/Tour-campus%20green%20walk.pdf

The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability also has a campus Forest Biology Treewalk Guide available on their website which has detailed maps and descriptions of various tree species. Link: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/Treewalk.pdf

+ Date Revised: Aug. 24, 2017

The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/Tour-campus%20green%20walk.pdf
+ Date Revised: Aug. 24, 2017

Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

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

The Office of Planning and Sustainability website has a page devoted to providing information on alternative forms of transportation available for students and staff. It includes information such as bus schedules and routes, pass information, cycling information, a cycling map, and a volunteer-run bike rental program called SPOKES. Information on sustainable transportation options is also included in the Human Resources - new employee website as well as the Parking Services website.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
Yes

A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability website houses information about cycling and pedestrian navigation, including the information about public transit route that service campus, a cycling amenities map, cycling route map, and information about UVic's Campus Bike Centre. #sharethespace campaign (peds, cyclists, and vehicles) information is also accessed through the sustainability website. There are also links available to external cycling resources such as campus clubs, local groups, and general safety information.

Links:
Sustainable transportation: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/index.php
Campus cycling amenities map: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/tranportation/3D%20Cycling%20Amenities%20Map.pdf
Cycling to UVic route map: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/tranportation/UVic%20route%20Bikemap%20CRD.pdf
#sharethespace: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/involved/campaigns/index.php
Cycling at UVic: http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/topics/transportation/cycling/index.php

+ Date Revised: Aug. 24, 2017

The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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 incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability provides a Residence Sustainability Guide that outlines sustainability tips to residences at UVic including tips regarding cycling, recycling, composting, energy conservation, buying used and drinking tap water.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:

UVic Green Guide:

This UVic Green Guide has been created to be a one-stop reference guide for offices and labs at the University of Victoria on how to make campus more environmentally sustainable. It includes helpful information on conserving energy, reducing waste and making sustainable transportation choices, plus contacts and references.


The website URL for these materials or publications:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability website is the hub of sustainability publications on campus (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability), and many of the sustainability reports indicated above are available on that website's resources page (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/resources/reports/index.php). Many other units of the institution publish sustainability materials, including the Department of Geography, the School of Environmental Studies, the Faculty of Engineering and the Martlet (student run newspaper at UVic which is cited here).


The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability website is the hub of sustainability publications on campus (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability), and many of the sustainability reports indicated above are available on that website's resources page (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/resources/reports/index.php). Many other units of the institution publish sustainability materials, including the Department of Geography, the School of Environmental Studies, the Faculty of Engineering and the Martlet (student run newspaper at UVic which is cited here).

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.