| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.27 |
| Liaison | Stephen Ellis |
| Submission Date | July 2, 2012 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Boston University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Dennis
Carlberg Associate Vice President for Sustainability BU Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
BU's sustainability website was launched in January 2010 and is a central source of information for all things sustainability-related on campus. It is organized by "What We're Doing", "What You Can Do", "Campus Resources", "Academics", "Reference", and "News". These broad categories house information on Facilities and Management projects, Dining, grounds, purchasing, student group activities, green campus tour, academics, and much much more.
In 2010 the sustainability website won a Webby Honoree award in the environmental category and a MITX award in the educational institution category.
None
The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
None
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The sustainability@BU newsletter is distributed to all students, faculty, staff with a BU email address and anyone else who chooses to subscribe on the sustainability website. It is a publication that disseminates information about current sustainability happenings on campus and in the Boston area.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
None
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
"Synapse" is the Boston University Undergraduate Science Magazine that is published online every semester. The publication focuses on many disciplines ranging from life sciences to physical sciences, engineering to mathematics, and finance to economics. The magazine is peer and faculty reviewed, and is advertised with routine, campus-wide distribution of pamphlets highlighting featured articles.
Synapse publicizes and encourages undergraduate work outside the classroom. With over 15,000 site visitors from 40 countries and almost all 50 states, student research, review, and opinion pieces are published and widely read.
None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
None
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Sargent College has teamed up with sustainability@BU to create informational and behavioral signage for inhabitants of the building. The LEED certified Makechnie Study Lounge has eight signs explaining the low impact, local, and reclaimed materials used in construction. Behavioral signs are placed on each floor in order to inform employees and students about lessening their environmental impact through simple daily actions.
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
None
Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes
None
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
As part of Dining Services’ commitment to both serving local food and educating the BU community, all local, organic and humanely-raised food is identified with signage. Signs are updated regularly with information about local foods, farm names, and locations.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
None
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes
None
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
In keeping with BU’s commitment to sustainability, Facilities Management & Planning has introduced a number of eco-agricultural initiatives such as implementing organic lawn treatments. Signage is placed throughout campus green space in order to educate the BU community about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies.
None
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
None
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The Boston University Green Campus Tour features locations within the Charles River Campus that support sustainable working, learning, and living such as the campus’s first geothermal building, energy efficient building retrofits and a bicycle-powered office that runs off of the grid. The five hour walking tour is available once or twice each year and the virtual tour is always available with podcasts on the sustainability@BU website.
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
None
Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Information about alternative forms of on-campus transportation is available on the sustainability@BU website. Bicycle, school shuttle, rideshare, Zipcar, and public transportation pages provide detailed information about each of these more sustainable options.
None
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
None
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Green Room Guide provides suggestions for living more sustainably in dorms as well as offices and classrooms. Information about best practices can be found on the sustainability@BU website.
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
None
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)?:
No
None
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:
---
None
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:
---
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
The School of Education produces a sustainability newsletter called Stomata.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
---
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
---
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
---
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
---
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
---
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.