| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Jenny Isler |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Clark University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Jenny
Isler Director of Sustainability Physical Plant / Facilities |
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 of Sustainable Clark is located on the Clark University website, so is accessible to the world as well as internal users. The website includes: live news feed, slideshow, Clark's Climate Action Plan and all annual updates (data rich), Clark's Sustainability Report, resource management (waste and recycling) data and reports, and links to: Environmental Task Force, Thrift Store, Eco Reps and other sustainability-oriented campus groups, Green Dining Services, green transportation options, academic catalog with listing of all sustainability-oriented courses, actual student research papers and proposals, regional and national sustainability resources, University partners in sustainability, and more. the website is updated constantly to stay current with new developments.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Clark Sustainability Collaborative publishes a bi-weekly electronic newsletter which is sent to a mailing list of over 1,200 self-identified interested people, across all sectors of Clark (total campus population = <4,000). The newsletter includes a calendar of events as well as news articles and tips.
It is sent by email, so there is not a website URL.
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 Community Thrift Store, EAC/Eco Reps, CSC, The Local Root, Herban Gardeners, Arboretum Advocates, Recycling Crew, etc all have their own social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. They frequently re-post articles from the Newsletter and the main sustainability website, so although they each have their own agendas there is quite a bit of cross pollination and general information.
Since sustainability at Clark is built into the culture and there are so many platforms, there is not one primary social media platform.
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 weekly campus newspaper, the Scarlet, often publishes articles regarding aspects of sustainability on campus because it is of interest to all, but there is no longer a "beat reporter".
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 website of Sustainable Clark includes a section called Curriculum and Careers, where the complete annual report of student research in the course 'The Sustainable University' can be found.
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 :
Clark's LEED certified buildings are full of building signage - ranging from small plaques to wall-sized posters - that identify sustainable building features. Its not on a wbsite, its in the building for a hands-on learning experience.
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:
A single description will not express the range of information available; Clark Dining Services has a variety of signage in the dining hall, on the food service line, in the cafe and the bistro, and outside these areas that address various aspects of sustainability incorporated in the dining experience, from metrics regarding the volume of water saved in the tray-less service line to an explanation of Fair Trade coffee to captioned photographs of the farmers from whom we procure produce to banners outlining the sustainability principles of the Better Tomorrow plan. As far as information regarding holistic and complete sustainable food systems, Real Food Challenge, CHEFS, and SMART information is all posted. Specific food items are marked on a daily basis regarding their organic or local provenance. Additionally, the Better Tomorrow Plan is accessible on its own table for all to follow the localized food system objectives and goals for improvement over time.
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 rain garden has descriptive signage explaining the value and science of a rain garden, including pictures.
Its not on a website URL, its in the garden.
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 escorted Green Campus Tour is offered to all prospective students as a part of Admissions Open Houses and prospective student visits; it is also offered at Alumni Reunion, to staff on a periodic basis, and to all students who wish to take a guided tour. The guides are trained students or the Sustainability interns. In addition, the virtual tour on the Admissions website and the 'standard' escorted walking tour include many sustainability features.
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:
As mentioned previously, one of the features of the Sustainable Clark website is an entire section dedicated to more sustainable transportation options, such as MassRides, NuRide, mass transit stops and schedules (bus and train(, Zipcar, etc. Commuting students have a separate new student orientation program in which sustainable transportation options are addressed and bus schedules provided. Human Resources includes the same information in new employee packets, and also supports the NuRide and MassRide programs in the employee handbook.
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 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 sustainable lifestyle guide is available on the Sustainable Clark website, is provided as a handout in residence hall education and tabling events, is included in new student orientation packets, and is posted in the halls. It includes tips for sustainable lifestyle choices such as cold water washing, monitoring phantom loads in dorm rooms, using the bike share program, reducing heat loss and many other tips for campus living. In addition, Clark has a Green Room Audit program available to all resident students, with a multi-page questionnaire which serves as a sustainable living guide. The questionnaire s available on the Sustainable Clark website as a link to the Green Room Audit program.
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:
The George Perkins Marsh Institute publishes an annual report of all the sustainability research it is conducting and the sustainability projects it has sponsored
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.