| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.95 |
| Liaison | Parker Long |
| Submission Date | July 24, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Virginia Commonwealth University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Parker
Long Sustainability Reporting and Outreach Coordinator Facilities Management - Office of Sustainability |
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 | No |
A brief description of the central sustainability website:
The VCU Goes Green website is a centralized source to find information on sustainability in and around the university. The website highlights recent initiatives and upcoming events. The website is also a resource for sustainability information, links, and ways to get involved.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
Twice per year the Office of Sustainability creates a newsletter with recent projects, tips and sustainability information that is sent to our listserv.
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 manages Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram accounts under VCUGoesGreen. These social media platforms facilitate an easy way to highlight VCU's sustainable assets and detail the strides the university is making, as well as connecting with students in real-time.
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:
Individual research departments have their own vehicles to disseminate student research. VCU News also picks up stories regarding student sustainability research.
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 is signage at all LEED buildings that highlights individual green features as well as LEED rating. There are 27 signs alone at the Cary Street Gym that touch on everything from land preservation, to water efficiency, to recycled materials used in building construction.
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:
VCU Dining Services has come up with a brochure that highlights their sustainable food initiatives including buying local, serving all trayless meals, and using a solar powered trash compactor.
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:
There is signage at the Harris Hall Rain Garden, xeriscaped (bayscaping) landscaping and Arbor Day tree plantings that highlight sustainable grounds-keeping strategies.
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 VCU Green Map is a Sustainability Walking Map that highlights sustainable assets, including buildings, food, open space and surrounding commercial entities.
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:
Green Unity 4 VCU drafted an Alternate Transportation Guide. This guide highlights the alternative modes of transportation such as: bikes, busses, and walking. VCU also has two Mobility Hub Kiosks oneach campus that have information on alternative 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:
VCU RamBikes promotes bicycling as a safe, fun, economical, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation alternative for the Virginia Commonwealth University campus community. RamBikes provides a full repair shop for students to work on their bikes, and bike ambassadors to offer guidance and knowledge on bike repair and safety.
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 guide was created to provide the VCU community with resources that could aid in everyday life, from water consumption to waste reduction. Every action we take has a consequence that can easily be reduced. This guide provides easy tips for making small lifestyle adjustments that will lessen your personal ecological footprint, and therefore reduce the campus footprint as a whole.
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:
Sustainability events and projects are highlighted in stories in the VCU student newspaper, and the Commonwealth Times (CT). In 2010 there were almost 40 stories featured on VCU Sustainability and almost every issue had some coverage.
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):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
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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:
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.