| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.97 |
| Liaison | Tom Hartzell |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Calvin University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Becky
Haney Associate Professor Economics |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The central sustainability website highlights the broad spectrum of current and past sustainability activities across campus.
The physical plant maintains an additional website that features links and descriptions to all of the sustainability features: https://calvin.edu/about/sustainability/
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
A Watershed Restoration Initiative of Calvin College (Plaster Creek Stewards) publishes a newsletter twice a year.
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?:
Yes
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
Calvin has several facebook pages focused on sustainability: Plaster Creek, Environmental Studies Program, Sustainability Coordinators for each of the dorms, and the Food Recovery Network.
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
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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
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Each semester Calvin college hosts a poster session for student sustainability research class projects as part of the Calvin Environmental Assessment Program (CEAP). This is advertised to the public and is part of an event that includes a keynote speaker related to sustainability.
CEAP is a Calvin umbrella program that promotes academically based service-learning related to sustainability. This program is also referenced under AC-8 - Using the campus as a learning laboratory.
More info: The Calvin Environmental Assessment Program (CEAP) encourages an ethic of service and caretaking by helping students pay attention to that which is closest at hand – the air, wildlife, wetlands, and human communities that surround them.
CEAP is a strategy called for in Calvin College’s five-year plan to improve the equipping of students to better serve as articulate and resourceful community leaders.
CEAP also highlights our interdependence with the local community.
In addition, the science division hosts a poster session each fall to highlight summer research conducted by Calvin students, some of which is sustainability-related.
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?:
Yes
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Our LEED certified Gold Bunker Interpretive Center highlights the green building features. Van Reken Hall has signage for the sustainabile landscaping surrounding the building. The Calvin Energy Recovery Fund (CERF) posts signs explaining energy saving measures associated with the CERF project implemented across a variety of campus facilities.
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?:
Yes
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
The Calvin dining services (CDS) is committed to sustainability and often has signage in the dining halls to point out locally sourced food. Salad items from the Calvin Community garden are highlighted on the salad bar. The website below provides information on the current sustainability efforts. During the annual kill-a-watt program, the dining halls display embodied energy or required water per pound of food types.
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?:
No
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The Campus Sustainability Guide gives tips on sustainable commuting under the section entitled "ReTHINK how you get from place to place". Tips are given on which methods of transportation are sustainable as well as resources for obtaining a bus pass, connecting carpooling students, and where to purchase a bike.
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)? :
Yes
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The Campus Sustainability Guide has resources for cyclists, including links to local bike shops where students can purchase or repair a bike.
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?:
Yes
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Campus Sustainability Guide provides ideas for incorporating sustainability in everyday student and campus life. The table of contents are listed below:
-Why should we at Calvin College care about the environment?
-What does it mean to live sustainably?
Are you living a sustainable life?
What can you do?
ReTHINK your waste
ReTHINK your energy useage
ReTHINK how you get from place to place
ReTHINK your water consumption
ReTHINK your food
How can you get involved?
What has Calvin College already done?
Calvin Sustainability Community Green Wiki
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?:
Yes
A brief description of these materials or publications:
Plaster Creek Stewards is a Calvin College based watershed restoration initiative that connects members of the campus community with residents of the Grand Rapids community. Regular news items are published on this website.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
This information was gathered through interviews with Dr. Gail Heffner, Director of Community Engagement, and through emails to the college newspaper and the head of Physical Plant.
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.