Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.84
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Cornell University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Sarah Carson
Director, Campus Sustainability Office
FS - Energy & Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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):

Cornell's home page (www.cornell.edu) features a link to the university's sustainability landing page (sustainability.cornell.edu). The landing page highlights research and engagement opportunities, and links to Cornell's many sustainability centers and resources, including Cornell's Sustainable Campus website (www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu), which consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

Cornell has a bi-weekly newsletter that covers opportunities to Live, Lead, Learn, attend Events, read News, and participate in on-campus and off-campus experiences. Each headline in the newsblast links to a blog post on our website. Currently over 5,500 Cornellians are signed up for the newsletter and it is forwarded to several hundred more individuals through College and Unit communications staff and additional on-campus e-lists. The same news stories are also posted to Facebook and Twitter where we have more than 5,800 followers.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:

Cornell University uses Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram through Buffer to educate the public about campus sustainability. https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/about/connect


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:

The Cornell Daily Sun (Cornell's student newspaper) regularly covers sustainability through various writers and has met with sustainability staff on a annual basis to discuss editorial oversight of the 'sustainability beat.' An online search of the Cornell Daily Sun is the easiest way to see the most recent coverage (see link below).


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

The Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future hosts an annual poster competition that includes student researchers.

In addition the Cornell Undergraduate Research Board (CURB) seeks to enhance the Cornell undergraduate experience by promoting and enriching undergraduate research on campus. CURB is committed to fostering academic excellence through undergraduate interaction at events that bring student endeavors to the forefront of the Cornell community's attention. Specifically the Annual Spring Research Forum is an opportunity for undergraduates from all majors and backgrounds to present their work to the general public and to fellow undergraduates.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

The many LEED Platinum and Gold buildings on the Cornell campus have various types of signage. For example, the Human Ecology Building has a comprehensive sign installed in the main lobby of the building to highlight the various green features.

Fernow Hall has signage outside of the hall to highlight the building's rain garden: http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/initiatives/fernow-hall.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

Cornell Dining has a diverse portfolio of sustainability initiatives including local, organic, and fair procurement efforts, Marine Stewardship Council sustainable seafood certification, tray-less dining, composting and recycling, mug club, and reusable to-go containers. Composting, recycling, and landfill signs are present in dining areas; additional signage explaining the sustainability initiatives listed above would be beneficial.

Cornell Dining employs three Student Sustainability Coordinators who set up signage in various dining locations, spearhead initiatives, create events for RecycleMania (including friendly competitions between café staffs to increase reusable mug use by clients), and verbally educate students about Cornell Dining's initiatives.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:

Tall Grass, Small Gas: Sign in front of a natural landscape on the Cornell Ithaca campus helps inform foot traffic of the sustainability features. Sign text:
"Tall Grass. Small Gas.
Natural landscapes help reduce mowing and chemical use.
Smarter land management. Helping us reach carbon neutrality by 2035." https://www.facebook.com/SustainableCornell/photos/pb.161477558483.-2207520000.1502466623./10156122192633484/?type=3

Among a wide range of sustainable grounds-keeping strategies, two important efforts have been integrated pest management and a naturalization initiative. Several of the signs used around campus to help communicate the naturalization initiative are available in the link below.

Signs are also included to educate passersby about the university's Stormwater Management Wetland Demonstration Project: http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/initiatives/stormwater-management-wetland-demonstration-project

Cornell Botanic Gardens' Natural Areas program stewards 3400 acres of preserves, from Fall Creek and Cascadilla gorges and Beebe Lake—the very icons of Cornell—to remote hilltops of old-growth forest and quiet wildflower-strewn fens that rarely see a human visitor. Educational signage on the ecosystem is provided throughout: http://www.cornellbotanicgardens.org/our-gardens/natural-areas


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

Cornell has an interactive sustainability map to illustrate sustainable activities and resources across campus, ranging from water bottle filling stations to points on the new Sustainable Landscapes Trail. In addition, Cornell now has an interactive waste map showing places on campus where Cornellians can drop off medicine, terracycle, compost, and recycle plastic film, batteries, and electronics. Layers from these maps are also included on Cornell's main campus map as a sustainability layer: http://www.cornell.edu/about/maps/

The Campus Sustainability Office provides Sustainable Campus Tours to groups upon request. Each year the office provides an average of eight "Green" Campus Tours to groups from around the world and across New York State. Additionally, dozens of tours are given of our solar farms, hydro plant, Lake Source Cooling Plant, and Combined Heat and Power Plant.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:

The Facilities Services Department of Transportation and Mail Services provides extensive websites and brochures to inform all staff, students, and faculty about alternative methods of transportation. These resources are broadly publicized through orientation sessions, mailings, and outreach events.


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)? :
Yes

A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

The Department of Transportation provides a brochure about bike safety guidelines, as well as a map of bike lanes. Campus maps are also available for navigational purposes. This information is also posted on their website.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

Cornell's Guide to Living Sustainably is available online and via hardcopy (as requested). This guide is distributed widely during New Student Orientation and at key events throughout the year. Additionally, sustainability living tips are available online in downloadable poster format to post in residential communities; these are also distributed during RA Training every August.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:

The Cornell Chronicle is Cornell's daily news service, with regular coverage of sustainability assigned to two reporters. Currently the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future is premiere location for all Cornell Chronicle stories on sustainability (see link below).

Buzzfeed quiz created for RecycleMania: http://bzfd.it/2F5SwIs

The Sustainable Campus news blog features "Sustainability Life Recipes" aimed to educate staff and faculty on how to bring sustainability home. The Sustainability Life Recipes are featured in Cornell's Human Resources newsletters (Career/Life Digest).
https://hr.cornell.edu/wellbeing-perks/environmental-wellbeing


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.