| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.20 |
| Liaison | Maddie LoDico |
| Submission Date | Nov. 5, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Colby College
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Maddie
LoDico Director of Sustainability Sustainability Office |
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):
Green Colby is a website where all of Colby’s sustainability initiatives, guides, news, and events are posted, along with some additional resources. There is also information about student groups and resources to help students get involved in sustainability. There is a link to the Green Colby site on Colby’s home page.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Environmental Studies Department sends out a weekly email containing events and opportunities for students. Additionally, the EcoReps send out a newsletter a few times each semester with any initiatives they are working on and Green Tips to help students live a more sustainable lifestyle.
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 Office of Sustainability has active Facebook and Instagram (@green_colby) accounts to post about events and other initiatives on campus.
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:
Although there is no assigned or regular report, sustainability is often featured in the Colby Echo.
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:
Colby College has held a student research symposium every spring since 2000. Students give presentations, and display posters about the research they have done. This is a cross-departmental symposium, giving the students an audience that includes people outside of their area of discipline. Many of the hundreds of students involved present sustainability research, including senior honor theses and other class projects. The abstracts of all of the research projects are published in a booklet that is distributed at the symposium and a full symposia schedule is available online for students prior to the event.
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 :
Colby College has signage in all of its LEED certified buildings. The most common sign is “What’s Green About This Space,” found throughout most LEED spaces. Others are visual displays including touch screens that allow visitors to pinpoint several of the sustainable features of the building and learn more about them.
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:
All three of Colby College’s dining halls have signage about sustainable food systems. The menu signs identify local and organic food being served and there is a list at the entrance of each dining halls of which local farms that day's selections came from. Foss dining hall has signage about its participation in Meatless Mondays, exaplining how reducing the demand for meat has a positive environmental impact. Each table in every dining hall has a sign from the Dining Services provider, highlighting sustainability information about the company and the food they serve. In addition, Dining Services has a website that highlights the sustainability and wellness policies the company abides by.
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:
Colby has installed signs throughout campus that highlight sustainability-related features and initiatives in the four broad categories of energy, transportation, land, and resources. There are currently three signs in the land category. One highlights our organic lawn management practices, another describes the benefits of native plant landscapes that have been planted on campus, and the third is at the new Outdoor Competition Center, a sustainably designed athletics facility that is pursuing SITES certification.
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:
N/A
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:
On the Green Colby website is a list of all of the available alternative transportation options on campus, along with links to any external websites with a registration process for easy accessibility. The listed services include a ride board, a bike share program, buses, a weekend shuttle, rentable fuel-efficient cars, and a Colby-sponsored taxi service to get into and around Waterville. Faculty, staff and especially students all have access to these alternative modes of transportation, reducing the need for access to a car. Additionally, in the Green Living Guide, there is a section on transportation at Colby that lists all of the options available to students.
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:
Campus Life offers Bike Mechanic training to students and staff. There is also a fixit station open to everyone. The iBike program allows students who may not own their own bike to rent a bike and helmet for free for up to 24 hours. Additionally, there is a map posted on Colby's website of the nearby trails, some of which are bicycle-friendly, while others are for walking. Bikes are allowed on all parts of campus, with bike racks outside or inside nearly every building.
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:
Colby College has a green living guide on the Green Colby website, one for students and one for employees, that gives members of the Colby community tips on how to live more sustainably. Tips include information on waste reduction, efficient transportation options, energy reduction, sustainable laundry, and sustainable dining.
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 Green Purchasing guide is a guide for students to help them when selecting and purchasing items to bring to school. It emphasizes reducing and reusing foremost and then gives a series of tips on how to make the least environmental impact when purchasing various products.
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.