California Polytechnic State University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Cal Poly Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) began the 2017 school year with the loss of two major parking lots, giving it an added impetus to encourage alternative transportation. TAPS also was undergoing a rebranding, with the need to educate students, faculty, and staff about its new initiatives. The "My Other Car Is" campaign served both purposes. It showcased students, faculty; and staff who carpool ("My Other Car Is Haley"), ride a bike ("My Other Car Is My Bike"), take the bus ("My Other Car Is the Bus"), and walk ("My Other Car Is Flip Flops/Boots/Etc.") to campus. The campaign's 141,779 social media impressions (six per campus member) in its first two months proved its popularity. The marketing and communications team's integrated marketing campaign was targeted to people living, working, and visiting Cal Poly. It included posters, flyers, digital signage, monthly print advertisements, and social media platforms. Events such as Rideshare Week, Walk to School Day, and the Re Cycle Bike Fair further encouraged the use of alternative transportation. The campaign netted a significant drop in cars on campus and freed up more parking permits for commuter students. Local public transportation authorities also expanded bus service to accommodate student commuters.

The campaign's 141,779 social media impressions (six per campus member) in its first two months proved its popularity. The campaign netted a significant drop in cars on campus and freed up more parking permits for commuter students. Local public transportation authorities also expanded bus service to accommodate student commuters.

The Zero Waste campaign is a campus-wide initiative developed by the Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability team to help the campus reach CSU 2014 Sustainability Policy goals of 80% diversion of waste by 2020.

In 2016 and 2017, Cal Poly achieved 90 percent and 86 percent diversion from landfill for all waste produced on campus, including traditional recycling of cardboard, paper, bottles and cans, construction and demolition debris, scrap metal, surplus equipment, and collection of food scraps, yard waste, and animal manure for composting. Waste audits performed by Cal Poly student groups have demonstrated that Cal Poly cannot reach zero waste by recycling and composting alone. Through outreach and education, improved signage, standardization of bins, and strategic procurement, Cal Poly aims to eliminate 1,000 tons of material from landfill annually.