Overall Rating Platinum - expired
Overall Score 88.14
Liaison Tonie Miyamoto
Submission Date Dec. 6, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Colorado State University
EN-2: Student Orientation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Kirstie Tedrick
Sustainability Coordinator
Housing & Dining Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Are the following students provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability?:
Yes or No
First-year students Yes
Transfer students Yes
Entering graduate students Yes

Percentage of all entering (i.e. new) students (including transfers and graduate students) that are provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability (0-100):
100

A brief description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation (including how multiple dimensions of sustainability are addressed):

Orientation at Colorado State includes several opportunities to learn about and engage in sustainability on campus. Several departments, including Housing & Dining Services and Parking and Transportation Services, prominently feature sustainability presentations and engagement opportunities throughout orientation. Just a couple of examples include a Zero Waste Student and Family Picnic for all new students and their families the first night, the "We Ride! A Celebration of Bicycles at CSU" program for all new students, and "We are CSU" a program for all new students that is focused on setting expectations around diversity and inclusion at CSU. Rams Against Hunger and Off Campus Life also share resources with students who may be experiencing food insecurity or housing insecurity. Multiple fairs and materials shared during orientation also provide new students an opportunity to engage in environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability via student organizations, committees and clubs, websites, academic programs, service learning/volunteering, and events.

Orientation is required for all new undergraduate, transfer, and international students at Colorado State University. The Graduate School conducts a separate orientation that is offered five times during the year. During each of these sessions, sustainability materials are shared and the campus Alternative Transportation Manager attends in-person to share sustainability resources.

CSU has a live-on requirement for first-year students and the Eco Leader peer education program is very active in each hall and Aggie Village apartments. In the residence halls and campus apartments during orientation, students are introduced to green living guides that focus on energy, waste, and water reduction, the composting program, alternative transportation options, and much more (http://www.housing.colostate.edu/sustainability). During Move In, the emphasis is placed on waste diversion programs that capture cardboard boxes, styrofoam, and plastic thin film for recycling. These facilities are easily accessible and conveniently located for students in each hall. In fall 2018 over 27 tons of cardboard, 60 cubic yards of styrofoam, and 209 pounds of plastic thin-film was diverted from landfills through these programs.

From the beginning, starting with Admissions materials through the start of classes, students experience CSU as a sustainability-focused university. The university strives to educate and engage students on sustainable commitments and opportunities from their first day as Rams.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Additional Information:
Housing & Dining Services initiatives: http://www.housing.colostate.edu/sustainability
Ram Welcome schedule: http://www.otp.colostate.edu/fy-ram-welcome.aspx
First-Year Mountain Experience: http://www.otp.colostate.edu/fy-outdoor-orientation.aspx
CSU Visitor's Guide: http://collegian.com/csu-visitors-guide/


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.