Colorado State University
EN-2: Student Orientation

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 student orientations throughout the year. Examples include zero waste dining events during Ram Welcome, 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. All RA training includes sustainability content, including Eco Leader programs, Rams against Hunger, and waste sorting education. 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 residence hall and Aggie Village apartments. During orientation, hall and and apartment residents are introduced to green living guides that focus on energy, waste, and water reduction, the composting program, alternative transportation options, and much more (https://housing.colostate.edu/about/sustainability/).

During Move In, Housing and Dining largely focuses on waste diversion programs that capture cardboard boxes and styrofoam for recycling. These facilities are easily accessible and conveniently located for students in each hall. In fall 2021, over 20 tons of cardboard and 820 pounds of styrofoam 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. Ram Orientation even offers Ram Connect: Mountain, an add-on outdoor extended orientation experiences designed to help incoming students build stronger connections at the CSU Mountain Campus.

Additional Information:
Housing & Dining Services initiatives: https://housing.colostate.edu/about/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/