| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.92 |
| Liaison | Leila Lamoureux |
| Submission Date | Dec. 9, 2024 |
Babson College
EN-1: Outreach and Communications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.50 / 5.00 |
Josh
Stevenson Associate Director, Social Impact and Sustainability Lewis Center |
1.1 Sustainability outreach and communications
Website URL of the institution’s central sustainability website:
Does the institution integrate sustainability information into the educational offerings or materials provided during new student orientation or the equivalent?:
Narrative outlining how sustainability information is integrated into new student orientation or the equivalent:
During the move-in process, the Sustainability Interns work with Facilities to collect recyclable packaging materials from the first-year residence halls and organize them for easy removal.
The Sustainability at Babson Team engages with incoming students during a welcome hour at the Herring Entrepreneurial Leadership Village, a live and learn hub on campus and home to the FME (Foundations of Management and Entrepreneurship) classrooms. FME is the hallmark required first year course at Babson. We aim to interact with as many freshman as possible during the first week of class.
Does the institution integrate sustainability information into the educational offerings or materials provided during new employee orientation or the equivalent?:
Narrative outlining how sustainability information is integrated into new employee orientation of the equivalent:
In New Employee Orientation we review the College’s sustainability efforts and encourage new employees to get involved and participate.We have an onboarding process that includes sending sustainability tips and updates will be to new employees in their first 6 months at Babson.
Does the institution have dashboards and/or signage highlighting the institution’s sustainability features or performance?:
Description of the institution’s sustainability dashboards and/or signage:
Our Facilities and Sustainability Intern team plays a pivotal role in promoting environmental responsibility on campus. They design and implement clear, informative signage for our waste management system, including Recycling, Trash, and Composting. These signs are strategically placed on bins across the campus to guide students, staff, and visitors in properly sorting their waste. Additionally, the team creates digital content for our LED screens, displaying educational messages and reminders about sustainable practices. This initiative fosters a culture of sustainability within our community.
All LEED-certified residence halls have informational signs to educate users about the building's features. Additionally, some of the residence halls have occupancy sensor thermostats and there is a poster in each of these rooms letting the students know the benefits of these thermostats. Monitors around campus are used to educate users of the building what energy or water efficiency programs are currently going on. Additional buildings are labeled with LEED information, Energy Star information, and directions to sustainable features such as water bottle filling stations.
In regards to food systems, there is signage in the campus dining hall that informs students about local food options along with signs that discourages food waste.
Does the institution manage a sustainability-focused social media account, newsletter, blog, online community, podcast, video series, or equivalent communications medium or platform?:
Description of and/or website URL for at least one sustainability-focused communication medium or platform:
Please see the information in links below:
https://www.babson.edu/sustainability/news-and-events/
Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/babsonsocinno/
Sustainability stories: https://entrepreneurship.babson.edu/tag/sustainability/
Has the institution coordinated one or more sustainability-focused outreach campaigns during the previous three years?:
Description of sustainability-focused outreach campaigns from the previous three years:
Slash the Trash Challenge: Slash the Trash Challenge is not just a week-long event; it serves as a rallying cry for our student community to rethink their consumption patterns and adopt responsible waste management habits. During this initiative, participants are invited to keep track of items they usually throw away shedding light on the environmental consequences of waste generation. With an emphasis on recycling minimizing usage items and promoting thoughtful consumption, the Trash Challenge seeks to nurture a sense of accountability and empower students to make eco-friendly decisions in their everyday lives. The Sustainability Interns manage this awareness campaign and provide educational resources throughout the program.
End-of-Year Recycling Program with Re-Stream and Boys and Girls Club: This program is a creative effort to prevent items from ending up in landfills while also assisting college students as they transition out of their dorms at the end of the academic year. It acknowledges that many students may possess perfectly usable items that they no longer need or want when preparing to move out of their dorm rooms. Instead of throwing these items away this program offers a sustainable option for students to donate their gently used belongings. During this program major items like refrigerators and microwaves which can’t be collected by re-stream and would just end up in a landfill are collected by Babson students and donate to first generation college students that are part of our community partner the Boys and Girls Club of Boston.
https://www.babson.edu/social-innovation-institute/experiential-learning/sustainability-interns/
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
1.2 Percentage of campus stakeholders reached through sustainability outreach and communications
Percentage of campus stakeholders reached through sustainability outreach and communications:
Approach used to determine the percentage of campus stakeholders reached:
Description of the methodology used to determine the reach of the institution’s sustainability outreach and communications:
To gauge the effectiveness of our outreach efforts and participation in sustainability initiatives, we utilize Microsoft Forms, CVENT, Belong and Canvas. These platforms allow us to collect and analyze data from the campus community regarding their engagement with our outreach sustainability programs. By regularly gathering feedback and tracking participation, we can make informed decisions to improve our strategies and enhance the overall sustainability of our campus.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.