| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.15 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The Office of Sustainability maintains a website that serves as a clearinghouse of information for all things sustainable at WKU. For special events, such as Earth Day, conferences, or other activities, we add an event page that is temporary, however most of the site is used to describe our initiatives and projects.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
None.
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?:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
WKU Office of Sustainability uses Facebook and Twitter. The Office of Sustainability also maintains a Facebook page for Big Red Bikes. The Sustainability Coordinator is an administrator on the WKU Facebook feed, so can post there, as well as the Facilities Management Facebook page, so can also post sustainability related information there.
WKU Resource Conservation maintains a Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter page, that depicts current events that WKU Resource Conservation hosts, as well as links for recycling and resource conservation specific to campus.
https://www.wku.edu/recycling/
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?:
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The student newspaper, the WKU Herald, assigns a reporter to the Facilities and Sustainability beat. Aside from this, stories about campus sustainability efforts and programs are regularly featured in the student paper. Additionally, the University publications staff - WKU News, specifically, covers stories on sustainability efforts and accomplishments.
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?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
WKU Office of Sustainability partners with various departments on this effort. Student sustainability research is included in the Office of Sustainability website, as well as on other department sites. Additionally, the annual student research conference at WKU showcases student research, including sustainability-related research.
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?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
The WKU Green Tour is a series of signs around the main campus that interpret various sustainability features, including green buildings, thermal solar, LED lighting upgrades, sustainable groundskeeping practices, and others.
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?:
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
In the main campus dining hall, signage identifies locally produced products, in this case "Kentucky Proud" or "Udderly Kentucky" products, and also highlights the farms and farmers from which the food came. Signage is used to describe the composting system in place, as well as share successful composting rate numbers. Signage is also used to explain how "trayless" dining helps in diversion of food waste, as well as saves wasted energy and water in washing the trays.
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?:
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
The WKU Green Tour includes signs that explain practices such as rainwater collection for irrigation, as well as our Campus Forest and Tree Campus USA designation. Western Kentucky University is recognized as an accredited arboretum in The Morton Register of Arboreta.
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?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The WKU Green Tour is a series of signs around the main campus that interpret various sustainability features, including green buildings, thermal solar, LED lighting upgrades, sustainable groundskeeping practices, and others. The tour is most often given by request, and led by the Sustainability Coordinator. The tour can also be self-guided. The Green Tour signs are often read by a non-formal audience - campus students and visitors walking by.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The WKU Parking and Transportation Department maintains a page on their website called "Car Free" which describes all of the various options for sustainable transportation, including biking (linked to the Big Red Bike program page), car sharing, ride sharing, shuttle schedules, and other information.
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)? :
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The WKU Dept of Parking and Transportation created and maintains a campus biking policy, campus bike rack maps, local bike route maps, and Greenways trails on a webpage. Also included are locations for bike rental and repair, as well as a list of community resources and groups for cyclists.
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?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
none
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?:
A brief description of these materials or publications:
The WKU Sustainability ibook - Big Red, Small Planet, is available for download through iTunes or as pdf. This interactive ibook describes sustainability programs and efforts campus-wide, including operations, curriculum, research, and student affairs.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
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.