Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.59
Liaison Chris Adam
Submission Date Sept. 7, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Dawson College
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Chris Adam
Coordinator
Sustainability Office
"---" 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):

Dawson's Sustainability web site is second in size only to the college's web site. It offers viewers all of Dawson's sustainability plans, reports, Living Campus educational videos, media features, blogs with weekly updates, project descriptions and documentation, maintenance guides for the gardens and peace garden, biodiversity zone descriptions and maintenance guides, awards, accomplishments, Sustainable Happiness Certificate information, position-papers, volunteer information, and donor information.


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

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

"D-News" goes out weekly to the 1100 employees and has a dedicated section weekly for sustainability news items. D-News is part of a major communication plan for sustainability that involves videos, media features, published books, journal articles and screen/poster campaigns.


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:

A dedicated Facebook page documents student activities related to sustainability and has a person responsible for populating the pages with current information.


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:

Student delegate theme to cover and sustainability is a topic that a newspaper writer is responsible for. The student newspaper URL is not available at this point.


The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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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 Dawson Research Journal of Experimental Science (DrJes) is a publication that seeks to disseminate student research in print form. It provides students with an early introduction to the scientific method and to the business of science. Articles are based on developing a hypothesis, conducting experiments to test the hypothesis and formulating a conclusion. The articles are published after undergoing evaluation by referees who are experts in the field.
For our international sustainability partner institutions in Mexico, we place full thesis work related to the Sustainable Campuses project on the web site. An eBook with partner sustainability research is published and on line at: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/PDF_digital_ArarSembrarCosechar.pdf


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 :

Screens throughout the college highlight sustainability on a regular basis. Green rooftops, vegetable markets with products from our rooftop vegetable gardens, the peace garden and outdoor signs designating biodiversity zones are all used. Nutri-tower hydroponic-growing equipment is labeled as are waste stations in every hallway and a permanent recycling center placed with a two-story sign stating "A Better Planet Begins With Each One of Us" in a high traffic area.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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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:

Dawson is designated a Fair trade Campus and has signage in the cafeteria and outside high traffic areas to build awareness of fair trade purchasing and identify specific products. Sustainable products are advertised on a board outside the cafeteria with healthy and/or sustainable products (example local food).


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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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:

Dawson has biodiversity zones with microhabitats on the grounds and rooftops. Each microhabitat has a sign with a brief description and a QR code that links to more information on the sustainability web site.


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:

Staff volunteer to participate in a Living Campus tour one hour tour of sustainability accomplishments air Dawson. Once they are familiar with the route and the script, they personalize the tour and offer sessions for other staff, guests and students.The peace garden also has a walking tour brochure.


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?:
No

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

There is a Biking Committee that reviews incentives for staff to adopt commuting by bike that includes a free taxi service in case of bad weather or emergency, offers biking lessons and how to use the public bike rental system. This is mentioned in communiques with all staff. Landscaping plans will involve ways to accommodate an increase in bike use. A free bicycle repair cafe is given every year.
All staff received a briefing (Reference2020) on help with route selection, bike safety brochure (Urban Biking - Practical Guide), links and emergency funding help and contact information of a Facilities management employee designated to desalinating bike-related information to the community.


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?:
No

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:

Tour scripts for external groups - seniors, children, daycares, conference visitors. Script for the tours is updated yearly and distributed to employees that are interested in giving tours during the year. Employee volunteers experience a tour with a sustainability Office staff member and then lead their own tours.


The website URL for these materials or publications:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.