Agnes Scott College
EN-1: Outreach and Communications

During first-year move-in and new student orientation, the Environmental Residents (ERs) assist with waste diversion through collection of and education about hard to recycle materials, such as plastic film , styrofoam, and polyethylene foam. ERs additionally assist with single-stream recycling. This introduces new students to the college’s waste diversion program and the Environmental Resident Program, and ensures that new students hear from peers about sustainability on campus.

Additionally, Center for Sustainability staff host a table during the college’s resource fair that takes place during first-year orientation. This tabling introduces new students to academic, professional, and extracurricular sustainability opportunities.

Agnes Scott also hosts a Welcome to Decatur Fair during first-year move-in, and members of the Climate Resilience Plan Implementation Task Force table about the Climate Resilience Plan and provide information on how students can get involved. There is participation from the Task Force from Agnes Scott community members alongside City of Decatur staff, including Decatur Fire, the Decatur Energy and Sustainability Coordinator, and the Decatur Mayor.

Information on clean commuting options and the Georgia Commute Options Program is available in the Employee Benefits Guide that is made available to employees during employee orientation. The information highlights discounts and benefits offered to employees who take part in clean commuting options. The guide also provides information on various available methods of alternative transportation.

The first of two geothermal HVAC systems has an educational and donor recognition sign prominently displayed on the Science Quad. It shares information about the underground system that fully heats and cools the adjacent Campbell Hall. 

Additionally, in LEED Gold-certified Campbell Hall, sustainable signage is located throughout the building to highlight the LEED features of the building. The topics include: sustainable sites, site selection, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental air quality, and materials and resources. The entire green building tour for Campbell Hall can be found at the Center’s website. 

For the LEED Platinum-certified building, Rebekah Scott Hall, there is an iPad in the Welcome Center that allows visitors to click through LEED credits of the building before and/or after their full tour.

The Center for Sustainability uses social media, through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube to update the campus community on both sustainability at Agnes Scott, and to post on sustainability interest stories.

• Instagram and Twitter: sustainableasc

• Facebook: Agnes Scott Sustainability

• YouTube: Agnes Scott College Sustainability

In FY23, Agnes Scott participated in the National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Race to Zero Waste through submission of a case study about composting on campus. The case study focused on increasing campus awareness about best composting practices, promoting positive behavior change, and increasing composting in the dining hall by diverting compostable waste from the landfill. After identifying and researching issues related to composting on campus, the team created infographics and informational signage to help educate diners. The team additionally tabled in the dining hall to raise awareness about composting on campus and help diners sort compostable materials. The team worked with dining hall staff and the facilities department to help increase engagement and support.

Agnes Scott College sends out a daily campus-focused newsletter called “The Irvine” that the campus community uses for news, announcements, opportunities, and more. The newsletter is populated through campus community members submitting content. The Irvine is published 5 times a week during the academic year, and 2 times a week during the summer. The Irvine publishes~230 newsletters each year. The Agnes Scott community is automatically subscribed to the newsletter when they join the college, meaning that 100% of students, faculty, and staff receive the Irvine newsletter. It can be assumed that the total percentage is lower than 100 to account for those that choose to not open the e-newsletter. 

The Center for Sustainability, along with other sustainability-related groups and organizations on campus typically use the Irvine as a primary means of communication with the campus. Sustainability and sustainability-related posts and content appear in the Irvine at least once a week, from various student groups, academic departments, the Center for Sustainability, and other groups on campus involved in climate action, justice and sustainability. Because 100% of the campus community receives The Irvine, it can be assumed that the 80-100% of the campus community receives sustainability or sustainability-related communication at least once a week. See the chart on the next page for an example of a month long period of sustainability announcements featured