| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.45 |
| Liaison | Keisha Payson |
| Submission Date | May 8, 2024 |
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?:
Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:
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 in the first year residence halls and sophomore College Houses. Additionally, the Sustainability Office creates end of semester e-newsletters that are shared widely with the campus community and Bowdoin alumni, which feature the semester's sustainability initiatives, news, and events. The Environmental Studies Program sends out weekly email newsletters highlighting news and events with sustainability- and environment-related job opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and events on and off campus. The McKeen Center has a service newsletter that often contains opportunities for building stronger communities and institutions by addressing social and environmental issues like food insecurity. The sustainability office and student employees maintain the Sustainable Bowdoin Instagram account. Sustainable solutions, student initiatives and events, and sustainability-themed media are shared through this platform. https://www.bowdoin.edu/sustainability/newsletters/index.html https://www.instagram.com/sustainablebowdoin/
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
All six 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 the Buck Center for Health and Fitness 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 highlight its particular green building features throughout. Signage is also located near the Farley Field House and Greason Swimming Pool with information about the solar panels located on these buildings. 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 sharing information about composting and encouraging students to reduce their food waste.
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The Office of Sustainability has an interactive self-guided tour that highlights sustainability initiatives and projects that Bowdoin has implemented in recent years. Eco Reps display this on an iPad while tabling in the Student Union and users can access this through the Sustainable Bowdoin website and view this on their mobile devices as they walk around campus.
https://www.bowdoin.edu/sustainability/sustainability-map.html
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/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Sustainable Living Eco Rep Team runs the Green Living Commitment (GLC) Program in which students individually commit to a series of sustainable living goals, each with an assigned point value. Students who participate in the GLC receive a sticker to show their commitment and are entered into semester 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 and help answer questions from their peers surrounding sustainable practices.
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
Eco reps often put up signage on how to reduce energy use and campus waste. In addition, the campus has extensive signage about recycling, composting, and food waste reduction. Eco reps are often involved in updating signage and working on ways to better publicize sustainability information on campus.
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.