Duke University
SD-1: New Student Orientation

Sustainable Duke hosts a waste-free first year picnic for the entire freshman class and their families where attendees actively sort their waste into compost and recycling bins. Sustainability has also been highlighted through various other programs during orientation. In fall of 2011, the incoming first year class read the book "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer, which explores issues of sustainable food production and animal welfare. A slideshow at the summer reading event for all students during orientation highlighted Duke's sustainable dining efforts and ways to get involved, like the Duke Campus Farm.

In past years, Sustainable Duke has presented to Resident Assistants during their training. Sustainability information is included in the RA training materials and the First Year Advisory Council handbook (FACs are upperclass students who each meet regularly with a small group of students during their first year). Dorm Eco-Reps are recruited during orientation and work to educate their dorm residents about green living throughout the year.

There are many activities during orientation that actively engage students in sustainability, such as the waste-free first year picnic for all students and their families. Other examples include a trip during welcome week led by a faculty member to volunteer and share at meal at the Duke Campus Farm, as well as another faculty-led trip to the local farmers' market. Early in the semester in Fall 2013 an event will be held on the first-year campus where a fort is constructed from cardboard collected during student move-in to highlight the amount of cardboard material consumed.

Duke’s Office of Sustainability and Duke Recycles collaborate to host a zero-waste picnic, in which all materials distributed are either recyclable or compostable. At the picnic, volunteers educate students about the importance of waste reduction and Duke’s efforts to compost dining waste on campus.

An e-mail with sustainability and green living information is sent to all new students the summer before they arrive on campus. This includes a link to the electronic "Green Book" which explains what students need to know to live sustainably on campus (including areas like alternative transportation, green dining, recycling, etc.). Prospective students are given a tour of a "Green Dorm Room" at Duke and a checklist of sustainable items to include in their shopping before coming to campus. Duke’s Office of Sustainability incorporates information on how to move-in and furnish sustainably in orientation materials distributed to incoming freshmen. In addition, reusable water bottles are distributed to all incoming students and they are encouraged to bring these bottles to all events and use them throughout their time at Duke. Sustainable Duke and the Duke Campus Farm also have a presence at the new student resource fair.