| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.48 |
| Liaison | Heather Albert-Knopp |
| Submission Date | March 30, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
College of the Atlantic
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Heather
Albert-Knopp Dean of Admission Office of Admission |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Central Sustainability Website
Yes
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The “Environmental Commitment” section of COA's website offers extensive information on the college’s sustainability programs and efforts, including: how COA is maintaining efforts to make its buildings more energy efficient; the college’s use of renewable or sustainable energy sources such as wood pellets, wind, and solar to power the campus; how students are directly involved in international efforts to mitigate climate change; how the college reduces waste by recycling food from the cafeteria into compost; how the college recycles paper, glass, metal, cardboard and plastics; the college’s extensive use of local and organic foods in the cafeteria; and how sustainability is incorporated across the curriculum.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Sustainability Newsletter
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The student-run group Earth in Brackets maintains a blog dedicated to sustainability issues around the globe and student involvement in politics, activism, and on-the-ground projects. Recent articles include: a student discussing her work with cocoa farmers in Ghana; a reflection on diversification for sustainability in the Maine fishing industry; activism related to the Dakota Access Pipeline; and reports from student attending the UNFCCC climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany in November 2017. http://www.earthinbrackets.org/
The bi-annual COA Magazine includes articles and reflections on sustainability projects, classes, and campus guests from the prior months. In the most recent issue authors discussed: the student-run sustainable business ReProduce; a student project installing solar panels at a school in Ghana; as well as other sustainability-oriented material.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Social Media Platforms
Yes
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
In addition to the above referenced blog/newsletter, the student-run group Earth in Brackets has both Facebook and Twitter accounts dedicated to international environmental policy and sustainability issues:
https://www.facebook.com/earthinbrackets/
https://twitter.com/earthinbrackets?lang=en
COA's student-run Discarded Resources Team recently started a Facebook page to educate students about waste management and recycling on campus and beyond:
https://www.facebook.com/Discard-Stories-at-COA-1525287897779080/
The Community Energy Center (CEC) has a Facebook page which posts regular updates on local sustainability efforts and shares helpful resources for the community:
https://www.facebook.com/communityenergycenter/
The student-run committee Campus Committee for sustainability, which deals in college governance especially in relation to topics and projects concerning sustainability efforts at COA, operates a Facebook page keeping the college community up-to-date on Earth Day planning, sustainability-oriented film screenings and talks, etc.
https://www.facebook.com/COACCS/
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
Student Newspaper Coverage
No
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
---
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
---
Student Research Publication
Yes
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The "News" section of COA's website is the college's primary news outlet, along with the college Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. It regularly features articles about all aspects of sustainability on campus, including a focus on student research and projects.
The bi-annual COA Magazine recaps important news and happenings from the preceding half-year, which often includes the student research focused on sustainability that is common at COA.
None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Green Building Signage
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Signage in bathrooms across campus educate readers on water conservation issues related to the functions and infrastructure of the bathrooms. The Kathryn W. Davis Residence Village bathrooms feature informational signage about its composting toilets. Signage in the college's public bathrooms has been developed to encourage the composting of paper towels and other organic material, while also clearly discouraging the disposal of otherwise compostable or recyclable material. Energy-use and conservation signage is present throughout academic buildings on campus, including at each recycling station on each floor of each building one is present. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure is integrated into the buildings on COA’s main campus, as well as at Beech Hill Farm and Peggy Rockefeller Farm. These charging stations are highlighted with signage, explaining that charging is free and indicating the available hours.
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
---
Sustainable Food Systems Information
Yes
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
At each meal in the dining hall, signage indicates which menu items come from local and organic farms, and which items are vegan and vegetarian. A sustainable food systems brochure includes information about the Sustainable Food Systems academic program, the dining hall, the college’s organic farms, and the college’s commitment to utilising each of these features in tandem in order to maintain a commitment to operating within a sustainable food system. Much of the brochure content is posted on the college's website: http://www.coa.edu/sustainable-food-systems.htm
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Sustainable Grounds Signage
No
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
---
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
---
Sustainable Walking Map or Tour
No
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
---
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
---
Guide for Commuters
Yes
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The college has compiled information about alternative transportation methods on its website. These methods include bicycling, using college-owned electric vehicles, and using the college-run shuttles rather than personal cars.
COA also has solar-powered car charging stations that are used for electric vehicles, including those owned by the college and those owned by students, faculty, and staff. The charging stations are available for free, are highlighted on college map bulletin boards, are referred to on the college’s website, and are advertised to the community on occasion using the college’s central email system. The signs at each charging station explain the hours that the chargers are available.
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians
No
None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
---
None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
---
Green Living Guide
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The “Environmental Commitment” section of COA's website is used as the primary vehicle to inform students about sustainable practices at the college. These practices are also discussed in detail in the Community Policies Handbook, which is distributed to all incoming students at the beginning of their first term.
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Other Outreach Materials
Yes
A brief description of these materials or publications:
A website was established to showcase the detailed energy audit and sustainability work done at COA's Beech Hill Farm. This website describes the on-site wind turbine, multiple student-installed solar arrays at the farm, energy audits and air sealing that were performed in the farmhouse as part of classes, tutorials, and independent studies. This information is also contained in a binder that is publically available at the Beech Hill Farm farmstand. A large framed poster at the farmstand also highlights many of these sustainability features graphically.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Optional Fields
---
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.