Emory University
ER-3: Sustainability in New Student Orientation

In 2009, Emory held its first "Zero-Waste" Orientation. This tradition has continued every year since. All possible divertible material, e.g. recyclables and food waste, is collected via Emory's recycling and composting programs and sent to the appropriate vendor. Zero-Waste Orientation events included the Orientation Fair, a required event for all new students on the first day of orientation, the Parent's Breakfast, and the Orientation Cook-out and Coke Toast, and reaches over 4,000 new students and parents and diverted over 1.74 tons of waste from the landfill.

For several years, new Emory students have received 10 sustainability tips and a general introduction to sustainability at Emory in a flyer and/or via the Orientation website, which has replaced pre-arrival paper orientation material sent to new students. Information on alternative transportation options and “back to school” shopping tips are also provided.

On arrival at Emory, new and returning students receive a door hangtag with 10 energy saving tips. Each student receives a reusable water bottle (and information about problems with bottled water) and a recycled-content tote bag, with information about sustainability on it. All residence halls have active, in-room recycling programs.

The Office of Sustainability Initiatives, the Emory as Place program and Bike Emory have three tables to provide information to incoming students at the Orientation Fair, which all new students are required to attend. Educational Garden Project information is available, compact fluorescent light bulbs are provided to students, and sustainability t-shirts are available for sale. Recycled-content tote bags are also provided to students at the fair. Students are encouraged to peruse the new sustainability website and to volunteer for activities and sign up for the listserv. Zip Car and Bike Emory also have a major presence at the fair, offering bike safety tips, bike check-out program, and alternative transportation information.

For graduate students, the Emory as Place Sustainability Initiative provides a 30-minute slide-show introduction as part of regular orientation. This program highlights Emory's and Atlanta's history, civil rights struggles, environmental challenges, and opportunities for students to contribute. In addition, all new graduate students receive a recycled-content tote bag with information about recycling, and there is a table at orientation with information about alternative transportation and Bike Emory.

In the Goizueta Business School, the BBA Program Orientation has moved in recent years to reduce the amount of paper distributed to students and instead direct them to a list of helpful websites. Each new student receives a reusable water bottle as part of the orientation program and recycling is present throughout the morning orientation program

In the School of Nursing, the School Life Committee highlights sustainability in the new student orientation by showing the "Emory as Place" video, going on a woods walk, and distributing sustainability reusable grocery totes and water bottles.

In Candler School of Theology's orientation, Emory's Director of Sustainability Initiatives, Ciannat Howett, presented at a sustainability panel.