| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.71 |
| Liaison | Keisha Payson |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bowdoin College
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Keisha
Payson Sustainability Director Sustainable Bowdoin |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Sustainability Office creates a monthly bulletin containing sustainability tips, notes about upcoming events, and other sustainability news. This bulletin is printed out on "good-on-one-side" paper collected from campus printers and displayed around campus. Pdfs of this bulletin are also shared by student employees with all campus residences. The Environmental Studies program emails a weekly newsletter with sustainability and environment related job opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and events on and off campus. The McKeen Center has a service newsletter which often contains opportunities for building stronger communities and institutions by addressing social and environmental issues like food insecurity and indigenous peoples' rights.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
The Sustainability Office and student employees maintain the Sustainable Bowdoin Instagram and Facebook accounts. Profiles of students, ideas on sustainable solutions, student initiatives, green events and sustainability-themed media are shared through these platforms.
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
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?:
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The Environmental Studies, Earth and Oceanographic Studies, Arctic Studies, Chemistry, Biology, Kent Island Research Station and McKeen Center for the Common Good all feature student fellowships, research, and internship opportunities and experiences that touch on student research into aspects of sustainability on their web pages.
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
All 6 LEED-certified buildings on campus are indicated as such with a plaque. Each building has a page on the Sustainability Website detailing the green building features. Watson Arena and Buck Fitness center both have posters on the wall showing how they achieved their LEED certification. The Roux Center for the Environment is a LEED Platinum science building that opened in October 2018. Interpretive signage and educational materials are in process to highlight its particular green building features and will be completed by June 2019.
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
The dining halls have informational posters mapping the locations of companies and farms they source their food from. Any produce sourced from the Bowdoin Organic Garden is indicated as such. The dining hall also provides labeled vegan, vegetarian, and organic options. It regularly does "Locavore" dinners in which all foods are locally sourced within Maine and New England to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable, locally oriented food systems. Both dining halls also maintain a bulletin board where they provide information on healthy eating habits. The dining hall also has signage encouraging students to reduce their food waste, and sharing information about compost. Dining has been very receptive to Sustainability student employees creating "Carbon Footprint Dinners" where the carbon footprint of items on the menu are noted and themed information and activities are hosted by students during those dinners. This is as a more informative and inclusive alternative to the "Meat Free" meals and days that other campuses participate in--the same information about the carbon footprints of meats versus veggies is shared, but in a way that allows students to reach their own conclusions. We have had student push-back from meatless initiatives, so this carbon-focussed alternative works well on Bowdoin's campus.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
An annotated 18-stop map for self-guided sustainability tours was available on the Sustainability website until September 2018. Student employees will work during Spring 2019 to reexamine the map, the stops, and determining the best way to update the material and format. Currently, tours of the Roux Center for the Environment, our newest LEED platinum building, are available through pre-arranged appointment with the Environmental Studies Coordinator and the Sustainability Office.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
A guide is produced by the Bowdoin security office, but is also disseminated through email lists, facebook posts, posters etc. Bowdoin has a bike share club, provides security shuttles, publicizes the Breez bus that goes to Portland, and Concord Trailways and Greyhound buses as well as Amtrak for further destinations. Bowdoin has also created a Ride Share app in which students can post and offer rides to students for carpooling.
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The Office of Safety and Security has a webpage on bicycle safety. The college has also produced a guide to trails in the area, which contains tips for biking and hiking safely.
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The First Year Eco Reps in 2017-2018 designed a "Guide to Green Living" to share with the Class of 2022 upon their arrival. This booklet addresses local places to get outside, eat, and shop consciously on and off campus, as well as providing information about green/sustainable opportunities on campus. Eco Reps will be working on updating the brochure in the spring of 2019. In the winter of 2017, Sustainability Office staff replaced the Green Dorm Room project with a Green Living Commitment program. Through the GLC, students individually commit to a series of sustainable living goals, each of which has an assigned point value. By making the commitments individual, rather than dorm-room based, students are able to follow through on their interests, regardless of their roommates' green ethics, which creates more harmony in their living spaces. Students who participate in the GLC are entered in monthly raffles for gift cards to local businesses, depending on what level--Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Green--commitment they have attained. The Office of Sustainability works with Residential Life student staff at the start of the school year to provide basic information about sustainability on campus, and Eco Reps frequently partner with Residential Life on projects and programs within the residence halls--nature documentaries and recycled craft nights are particularly popular.
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
A brief description of these materials or publications:
Ecoreps often put up signage in laundry rooms and bathrooms on how to reduce energy use and water waste. In addition, the campus has extensive signage about recycling, composting and food waste reduction. It also has signage on containers used to recycle soft plastics and technotrash as a way to reduce and divert waste. Eco Reps are often involved in updating signage and working on ways to better publicize sustainability information on campus.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.