Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.89
Liaison Allie Schwartz
Submission Date Aug. 29, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Columbia University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Jamie Nash
Digital Communications Manager
Columbia University Facilities and Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Central Sustainability Website 

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
Environmental Stewardship maintains a central sustainability website that showcases the University Sustainability Plan, as well as initiatives, information, and ways to get involved in the sustainability movement on campus. The site is responsive, so users can sort through programs by topic, get news updates, and browse a list of events related to sustainability on any device. Additionally, the central University events calendar is kept up-to-date with environment-related events and activities. The website, sustainable.columbia.edu, serves as the main hub of all things sustainability for the University. The site also features a comprehensive recycling education page, where students/staff/faculty can learn where to throw various items at Columbia, based on the New York City recycling rules. The site also announces campus upgrades in sustainability as they occur, as well as a comprehensive Transportation Demand Management services list for those commuting to and from campus.

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
http://sustainable.columbia.edu/

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
"Sustainable Columbia" is a newsletter sent 2 to 3 times per year from the Executive Vice President for University Facilities and Operations, David Greenberg. The newsletter features highlights from all Columbia campuses and provides a high-level overview of current initiatives, awards, and recognition, with the option to read on through external links if interested. This newsletter is distributed to everyone with a Columbia University email address.

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
https://sustainable.columbia.edu/newsletter

Social Media Platforms 

Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
Sustainable Columbia is active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Additionally, there is an online real-time sustainability dashboard that displays energy usage from the Columbia undergraduate residence halls.

The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
https://www.facebook.com/SustainableColumbia/

Student Newspaper Coverage 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Sustainability activities and initiatives are reported on in the Spectator on a regular basis.

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
http://columbiaspectator.com/

Student Research Publication 

Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The Earth Institute holds a Student Research Showcase for research specifically in the areas of the environment and sustainable development. Students discuss their unique research experiences of working to understand and solve pressing environmental and sustainable development issues. All of the projects are conducted by students who have received support, guidance or funding through an Earth Institute affiliated education or student program including a travel grant, internship, or research assistantship from the Institute.

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/3166

Green Building Signage 

Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Every undergraduate residence hall has a flat screen located in the lobby, which highlights green initiatives like "Green Monday" as well as updates during energy challenges. The messaging also encourages students to use the stairs instead of the elevator, and to shut their lights when not in use. Academic buildings utilize similar digital displays, advertising sustainability initiatives and events in each school. The new Jerome L. Greene Science Center on the Manhattanville Campus displays digital signage related to its LEED-ND Platinum designation to educate visitors.

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
http://manhattanville.columbia.edu/campus/sustainability

Sustainable Food Systems Information 

Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
There are flat screens monitors located outside the entrance to John Jay Dining Hall that inform students as they wait in line about sustainability initiatives. Additionally there are signs at food stations and information on the Dining website about sustainable food systems, local, organic, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan offerings, which now coordinate with the Green Monday campaign.

None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
http://dining.columbia.edu/local-sustainable

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Columbia’s award-winning grounds are maintained by the Facilities and Operations team. Visitors can learn more about the plants and trees, including perennials and red maples, on the Morningside Campus by taking part in a self-guided or coordinated group garden tour. Materials to assist in a self-guided tour include a list of plants on Morningside campus and Garden Tour Map and/or Disability Access Campus Map. For pre-arranged group tours, Facilities and Operations’ experts in landscaping and grounds management will lead tours of the University's majestic gardens, free of charge.

The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
http://facilities.columbia.edu/garden-tours

Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Sustainability is incorporated into the Facilities and Operations Garden Tour.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
http://facilities.columbia.edu/garden-tours

Guide for Commuters 

Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The transportation website lists many alternative transportation options to campus including by subway, train, bus, campus shuttle, and biking. The Sustainable Columbia website also lists these under Programs and Initiatives.

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
http://transportation.columbia.edu/

Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
Yes

None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Columbia Transportation provides educational tools for bicyclists on its website, including information about Columbia's bike share partners: Zagster and Citi Bike. Both have multiple locations throughout the Morningside and Manhattanville Campuses with discounts and incentives for Columbia community members. The Office of Work Life also provides periodic bike safety workshops to keep bike commuters informed and aware of the rules of the road.

None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
http://transportation.columbia.edu/getting-columbia

Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Guide to Green Living is a guide written by Columbia students, for Columbia students and is hosted on the Housing website. New incoming residential students are directed to the guide for eco living tips.

None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
http://housing.columbia.edu/sustainability.

Other Outreach Materials 

Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:
Consilience is Columbia University’s Journal of Sustainable Development. Consilience is published twice a year once each semester in the Fall and Spring. Briefings are added throughout the year to address current topics. It is run and managed by Columbia students in conjunction with a Faculty Board (includes Jeff Sachs, Michael Gerard and Steve Cohen amongst others) who desired to build a global, online publication dedicated to the promotion of interdisciplinary dialogue and solution-oriented research on sustainable development amongst students, professors and practitioners.

The website URL for these materials or publications:
http://www.consiliencejournal.org/

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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