| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.99 |
| Liaison | Eric Meliton |
| Submission Date | Dec. 20, 2013 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wilfrid Laurier University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Eric
Meliton Manager: Sustainability Office Facilities and Asset Management |
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 Sustainability Office website provides up to date information regarding Laurier's sustainability efforts on campus and beyond. It provides information on projects and programming to demonstrate how Laurier integrates sustainability into their daily operations. The website includes resources such as a Green Guide for Living, a map of sustainable features on campus, an EcoReads newsletter, as well as an archive of reports and documents, plans, and copies of annual sustainability reports and assessments. It highlights campus and community partnerships, upcoming and ongoing projects, and is a main point of reference for all things related to sustainability at Laurier for students, staff and faculty.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
Laurier's sustainability newsletter, EcoReads, is a short but informative newsletter which is distributed via e-mail to all faculty and students. It features a main story of a recent sustainability event or issue, two or three following articles about campus sustainability news, includes any new features or additions on campus, as well as a monthly green tip and upcoming events and activities at Laurier and in the surrounding community.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:
Dedicated Twitter and Facebook page as well as e-guides.
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:
Scholars Commons @ Laurier is a website which provides public access to intellectual, creative, and academic work of the Laurier community. Its purpose is to make university output accessible to a wider audience than traditional forms of distribution. By sharing content globally through the Internet, the university supports open scholarly communications, collaborative research, and lasting visibility and recognition for scholarship at Laurier. The website can be navigated by area if interest or discipline, allowing the public to easily access articles and student research on sustainability.
Laurier's Sustainability Office website also offers itself as a vehicle to display student research on sustainability to faculty members, students, as well as the general public. The research section of the website is dedicated to student research and highlights current and past research conducted by faculty members and students.
(website link provided in the notes section)
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 :
Two large interactive touch-screen kiosks are installed in high traffic areas of campus, in the Concourse and Science Building Atrium. They display detailed information regarding sustainable features throughout campus and in each building. It also provides real-time data of energy consumption for each university building which can be tracked and compared to other buildings and universities.
Laurier's LEED certified building on the Brantford campus feature highlighted signage demonstrating their LEED accomplishments, and also house signage throughout them.
Laurier's Waterloo main campus is home to a water harvesting/cistern project, which includes an informative sign displayed in front of it explaining its sustainability qualities.
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:
Laurier's Food Service's website dedicates a section to sustainability. Staff and students can easily access information regarding the sustainable food practices that are in place such as local, organic, and vegan dining, as well as operations initiatives such as trayless dining and the reusable takeout container program. Signage is posted in food service areas which promote the use of the ecotainer and inform students of the biodegradable and compostable products they receive such as napkins, utensils, to-go cups etc.
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:
Laurier's community and aboriginal gardens are equipped with signage explaining the native plant species grown there and the sustainable up-keep procedures employed. This includes signage regarding the use of the garden to grow medicines for smudging ceremonies and vegetables for the Aboriginal Student Centre’s soup and fry bread Tuesdays. Signage to promote ways to manage storm water on properties to protect local rivers, and a butterfly garden that uses water that would otherwise erode soil and flow into storm sewers, are also implemented.
Laurier's Waterloo main campus is home to a water harvesting/cistern project, which includes an informative sign explaining it's function and sustainable qualities.
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:
Laurier's Sustainability Map has been integrated into the Welcome Center's resources. These sustainable features are now highlighted by tour guides on walking tours of campus for guests and new and prospective students.
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:
Laurier's Parking & Transportation Resources webpage provides detailed information for commuters on how to use alternative methods of transportation. This includes information on using public transit (local and inter-city bus transit as well as train systems), carpooling, corporate bus passes, cycling services (storage facilities and area trail information), information on the local CarShare program, as well as information regarding the national Commuter Challenge.
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:
We have a sustainability map that includes our bike and pedestrian services.
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:
Laurier's Green Guide for Living is a resource to help individuals become more environmentally aware while on and off campus. It is aimed at all new and existing Laurier members and provides easy tips to make small lifestyle adjustments that will save money as well as reduce environmental impact. It includes a large amount of useful information including food, waste, electronics, transportation, energy conservation, academics, as well as community resources and at-home sustainability tips. The Green Guide is available on the main sustainability website to ensure access for all staff and students (as well as general public) and is distributed to every first year student at the beginning of each school year on a USB key that they are provided with.
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:
Of the 28 issues of Laurier's main student newspaper, The Cord, 7 issues included articles pertaining to sustainability. These articles were focused on either sustainable changes at Laurier, sustainability events, news from the Sustainability Office, or regarding guest speakers present to discuss environmental issues.
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 Ecohawks (student run environmental organization) produce a blog titled "Staying Green @ Laurier". Entries are posted monthly or bi-monthly throughout the main academic year. Blog posts highlight recent sustainability news on campus and provide coverage of events which encourage sustainable practices. The main page of the blog also provides links to information regarding several of the university's sustainable features for users to explore.
The website URL for this material (1st material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
A brief description of this material (2nd material):
Laurier's radio station, Radio Laurier hosts an environmental radio show called 'Noise Pollution'. Noise Pollution broadcasts once a week with open discussion on environmental news, artists demonstrating eco-stewardship, and lifestyle tips centralized around a theme of the week. Local food, natural disasters, vegetarian living, and more are all topics up for debate and discussion on the show.
The website URL for this material (2nd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
A brief description of this material (3rd material):
The website URL for this material (3rd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
A brief description of this material (4th material):
The website URL for this material (4th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
A brief description of this material (5th material):
The website URL for this material (5th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
A brief description of this material (6th material):
The website URL for this material (6th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
A brief description of this material (7th material):
The website URL for this material (7th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
A brief description of this material (8th material):
The website URL for this material (8th material):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Sustainability Office website displaying student research on sustainability:
http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=12304&p=17286
Sustainability Office website displaying student research on sustainability:
http://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=12304&p=17286
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.