Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.17
Liaison Megan Litke
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

American University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Hannah Debelius
Sustainability Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability? :
Yes

Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes

Name of the campaign:
Recyclemania

A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged:

Recyclemania 2017 was a campus-wide waste reduction and diversion competition that engaged students, faculty, and staff in waste management for eight consecutive weeks. The Office of Sustainability and Facilities management worked together to collect weekly data for eight weeks to reflect the campus diversion rate. Student Sustainability Educators engaged the campus community through outreach to residence halls, tabling on the campus quad and in academic buildings, communications to the campus community and events such as a Zero Waste Basketball game with 600 attendees and the Patagonia Worn Wear Fair attracting 500+ member of the campus community.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:

Through Recyclemania we were able to tangibly assess our waste diversion data and identify breakdowns in the collection of data and literal waste. Through weekly meetings with key waste stakeholders, we simultaneously engaged the campus community in behavior change and addressed back-of-house-operations issues in waste management such as location of dumpsters and education of staff, leading to a more streamlined system. This campaign was a catalyst for campus operations to renew composting efforts and transition to single stream recycling. There was a slight increase in diversion rate over eight weeks.


The website URL where information about the campaign is available:
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Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Green Office

A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged (2nd campaign):

The Green Office program harnesses the power of collective action by engaging faculty and staff throughout the university in sustainability initiatives that meet the goals of AU's strategic plan. Green office encourages sustainability behavior and office policy changes. The program has periodically been updated to reflect changing needs and utilize new engagement strategies.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):

Since 2011, nearly fifty campus offices and more than 600 staff and faculty have participated. As a result of the green office program, more staff are engaged in resource management and occupant behavior and have a greater understanding of AU's strategic sustainability goals leading to a more pervasive culture of sustainability. Networking and understanding of the green office program have also inspired departments across campus to host zero waste events.


The website URL where information about the campaign is available (2nd campaign):
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns, including measured positive impacts:

Bike Month in May 2017 encouraged students, staff, and faculty to bike to campus, logging their hours on Ride Amigos, AU's rideshare platform. All riders were entered to win weekly bike themed prizes and feedback was given to the campus community about carbon saved. Faculty and staff logged over 700 bike miles in May.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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