Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.74
Liaison Kathleen Crawford
Submission Date July 28, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Florida Gulf Coast University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Katie Leone
Sustainability Coordinator
Environmental Health & Safety
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
Yes or No
A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts Yes
A sustainability newsletter Yes
Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability Yes
A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability Yes
Building signage that highlights green building features Yes
Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems Yes
Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed Yes
A sustainability walking map or tour Yes
A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation Yes
Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians Yes
A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience Yes
Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat No
Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website:

The mission of the Environmental Coalition of FGCU (ECOFGCU) is to amplify and increase the visibility of environmental organizations on campus, while developing synergy among groups to further FGCU's mission of sustainability. ECOFGCU will help cultivate and maintain an integrated network within FGCU to connect campus departments and environmentally-based registered student organizations (RSO's) with each other, and all other individuals and groups interested in taking action to further FGCU's mission of sustainability. Events and projects of common interest are posted as well as discussion pages.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Center for Environmental and Sustainability Education sends quarterly newsletter e-mails to stakeholders with information on recent Center activity, upcoming events, and other news from FGCU.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:

Most of the student groups described in EN-3 use social media to communicate with their peers and many have their own sustainability-focused social media pages.

The Environmental Health & Safety Office runs a Facebook and Twitter page for the Ride2FGCU ride share program. These pages promote sustainability events on campus and posts on numerous sustainability topics in addition to sustainable transit options.

FGCU's Service Learning Facebook Page promotes environmental service opportunities such as RecycleMania, semi-annual trail clean ups, Tree Campus USA tree care and tree planting events, campus cleanups and helps organize volunteers that make such events successful.

Student Government creates videos that they share on Youtube to promote sustainability on campus and

Many Colloquium classes use social media such as Pintrest and Youtube to document wildlife that they encounter.

FGCU's Instagram Page shared photos of wildlife sightings on campus on a regular basis as well as and pictures of Tree Campus USA and other environmental sustainability events.


The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

Faculty Senate Grants and Research Team and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs hosts an Annual Research Day. A student poster competition and general viewing opportunity highlights student research activities.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

Building signage has started with our first academic building built to LEED standards. This LEED platinum building has signs demonstrating the sustainable practices both inside the building as well as outside. These include, but are not limited to the following: -signs that explain how campus buildings are designed to reduce heat islands
-signs that tell the benefit of biking and where to find showers and lockers on campus so that biking is a more feasible mode of transit in the heat.

Our campus solar field also may be monitored with real-time information on the electricity that it produces.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

Dining Services has a "Make Your Mark" flyer outlining the various sustainable efforts of dining services on campus, which include trayless dining, EnergyStar procurement policy for equipment, discounts for reusable cups/mugs, local and regional food sourcing, etc.

Additionally, there are signs in the cafeteria that remind students not to feed the wildlife as well as signs about making healthy and seasonal food choices.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:

There are 30 "conservation area" signs for the protected areas of campus grounds and alligator education signs at waterways to inform visitors to campus of protected areas and to be aware of native wildlife.

There is a sign near Academic Building that lets people know that the area is "Zeroscaped" with native plants which don’t require irrigation or fertilizer.

There are over 50 signs within the FGCU Food Forest that correspond to an array of tropical and subtropical fruit species, perennial vegetables, and native species. These signs include student illustrations, brief information regarding fruiting times, fertilizer needs, cold hardiness, and native origin. In addition the signs utilize QR codes that link to websites that expand on the information on the sign, including Harvesting techniques, basic preparation for consumption in the case of the edibles, Nutritional content, and ecological benefits.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The Welcome Center tour guides point out bike racks, LEED certified buildings, solar compactors and recycling bins. They also talk about FGCU's efficient cooling system and electricity generated from solar field.

Campus Naturalists lead tours to Colloquium students that point out the campus's sustainability features in developed areas and take students through campus nature trails.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

Information and links regarding transportation options are found on FGCU's Department of Environmental Health and Safety's Website.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

Bikes & Skateboards:
There are stations around campus where campus community members can fix their bikes. There is a bike lane around the main loop of campus. There are places to check skateboards.

Pedestrians:
There are covered walkways all around the academic spine, which shade the walkways and make them more comfortable for pedestrians. Bike racks and skateboards checks are outside of this area so that the shaded walkways are for pedestrians only, which increases safety.

The cross walk outside of the Cohen Center connects the North Lake Village/Sports & Recreational Facilities to the main campus and is audible for the visually impaired.


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

The Office of Housing and Residence Life is committed to creating a greener environment for its residents. Each fall, the Green Eagle Festival is held on the library lawn. Different vendors and Registered Student Organizations (RSO) who help make our campus greener or have a focus on the environment are invited to participate by tabling at the event. Attendees can try everything from homemade granola to making their own laundry detergent! The Office of Housing's Sustainability Committe has also participated in and sponsored other events, including Lights Out for Earth Day, Tree Campus USA and RecycleMania.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:

Not at this time.


The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
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A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):

The FGCU Food Forest website is updated regularly and offers innovative educational and service learning opportunities for students, alumni, staff, faculty, and community members and through enhancing awareness of sustainable food production, permaculture techniques, and whole food nutrition. Furthermore, the Food Forest seeks to elevate the environmental sustainability of the institution through providing organic fruits and vegetables to the campus and southwest Florida communities.


The website URL for this material (1st material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (2nd material):

We are always looking for creative ways to connect with FGCU students on wellness topics. One of our Peer Educators took this concept, often used in traditional residence halls, and wanted to execute it on main campus. Working with the Vice President of Student Affairs and FGCU Physical Plant for project approval, we debuted our first InSTALLment in July 2013 to rave reviews.

Wellness InSTALLments are featured in bathroom stalls of the Library, Howard Hall, McTarnaghan Hall, the Wellness Center, the Cohen Center, and Alico Arena. New InSTALLments will appear at the start of each month. They are written by our Peer Educators and go through a final edit before publication.

We will archive InSTALLments here: RA's can print these for bulletin boards, or you can see what the "Question of the Month" is for your chance to win a gift card for $10 Eagle Dollars. We hope you enjoy these InSTALLments as much as we enjoy putting them together for the campus community.


The website URL for this material (2nd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
No

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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
No

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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
No

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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
No

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.