California State University, Long Beach
EN-2: Student Orientation

All first-semester freshmen and transfer students are required to attend the Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) Program and complete the online Pre-SOAR Program.

The Office of Sustainability partnered with the Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) ad hoc sustainability committee Sustain U and the university’s Sustainable Transportation Office to host an interactive workshop during the 8-week summer program. Using the Kahoot! Gaming platform, the trivia game provided students with information about the university’s sustainability programs and initiatives, as well as the many ways students can get involved with sustainability efforts on campus. The highest-scoring team in each session was awarded branded, sustainability-related swag including reusable water bottles, reusable cutlery, and more.

At the end of each session, students were asked to complete and take the Sustainability Pledge and fill out a pledge card to indicate which individual actions they would commit to adopting to help the campus achieve its climate commitment and sustainability goals. Students could check off any of the pre-filled options such as “Bike to campus,” “Use hydration stations on campus to refill my reusable bottle,” or add their own sustainability-related goal.

All incoming students are also required to complete the online Pre-SOAR Program that features a module on Sustainable Transportation. The 8-part module highlights the campus’ Carbon Commitment, identifies all sustainable commuting options to and from campus, and discusses ways for students to help reduce the campus’ collective carbon footprint.

In addition to participating in SOAR, the Office of Sustainability included a one-page ad in the Academic Planner & Handbook that all incoming freshmen and transfer students receive at SOAR. The ad featured a checklist for students to “Mark [Their] Path to Sustainability at The Beach,” which included goals such as greening their commute, taking a sustainability-related course, joining a student organization, and other sustainability-related challenges. The Office of Sustainability also tables at “Week of Welcome” each semester, to provide sustainability-related resources and information to both incoming and continuing students.

Reporting Period: AY 2019-2020-Summer 2019

To view the "Sustainability at The Beach Trivia" Kahoot, visit: https://create.kahoot.it/share/sustainability-at-the-beach-trivia/b8d0a6d7-4985-47f9-aad2-cd069727a4ad