Emory University
EN-2: Student Orientation

Since 2007, the Office of Sustainability Initiatives (OSI) has partnered with schools throughout Emory in varying capacities to incorporate sustainability into new student orientation. Listed below are Emory’s current efforts to integrate sustainability in orientation.

• Almost all incoming students (undergraduate, transfers, and graduate) receive either reusable water bottles, reusable bamboo utensil sets, or farmers market tote bags that include Emory's sustainability goals to encourage sustainable behaviors from the beginning of their time at Emory.

• The Office of Sustainability has a booth at orientation fairs/expos with Emory College, Rollins School of Public Health, School of Medicine, School of Law, and Laney Graduate School. The Office of Sustainability participates in a post-orientation student engagement expo hosted by the School of Theology.

• The Office of Sustainability leads a campus sustainability tour during Orientation which is open to all incoming students and their parents.

• In 2009, Emory held its first "Zero-Waste" Orientation and participation and numbers increase each year. Prior to the 2018 Waste Management Policy was adopted, composting and recycling bins were ordered and provided for major events such as the Orientation Fair, so that all materials from these events are diverted from the landfill. Starting with Spring 2019 orientation events, the campus was equipped with uniform recycling and composting bins to allow for landfill diversion in all academic units of the University. Student volunteers are stationed by waste receptacles to educate students and their parents about how to properly recycle or compost waste. Orientation planners are contacted by the Office of Sustainability Initiatives and are sent reminders to plan their Orientation events as Zero Waste events.

• The Sustainability Showcase has been held for the past twelve years in partnership between OSI, Residence Life and Emory College Orientation. During the in-person, informational event, sustainability student groups, operational departments, and academic departments all gather in the Living Green residence halls to provide first-year students a chance to find sustainability engagement opportunities early in their time at Emory. Generally, between 50 and 100 students stop by and participate in the event.

• Prior to arrival, new Emory undergraduate and graduate students have received shopping tips, move-in recycling information, sustainable commute information, and a general introduction to sustainability at Emory through an electronic packet and/or via the Orientation Blackboard website.

• All student residents moving into the residence halls have clearly marked locations to place their cardboard and Styrofoam to ensure that it can be recycled instead of sent to landfills during the move in process.

• OSI and the Educational Garden Project have tables to provide information to incoming students at the Orientation Expo. Transportation and Parking Services, Emory Recycles and Enterprise CarShare are also present at the Expo, offering sustainable commute and waste management information.

• All Resident Advisors (RA), Sophomore Advisors (SA), and Orientation Leaders (OLs) receive sustainability training by the Office of Sustainability staff prior to first-year students arriving on campus.

• For the Anesthesiology Assistants, Physicians Assistants, Master's in Development Practice, International BBA and the Genetic Counseling programs, the Office of Sustainability Initiatives staff presents Emory’s sustainability story during orientation activities.

Data reported for the AY 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.