| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.16 |
| Liaison | Ryan Ihrke |
| Submission Date | July 29, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Green Mountain College
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Amber
Garrard Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability Office |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Created by the Sustainability Office, this website consolidates the Living and Learning, Facilities and Operations, and the Leadership and Outreach domains of sustainability on the Green Mountain College Campus. It highlights new events and initiatives related to sustainability such as the new biomass facility, The Climate Action Plan and sustainability policies, Awards and Accolades, and student run projects through the Student Campus Greening Fund. The Sustainability Website was created to reflect the STARS Reporting Tool outline in order to standardize the campus sustainability information tracked.
None
The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
None
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The GMC Journal is a weekly electronic publication sent to the GMC community. It keeps faculty, staff and students up to date about campus events and activities, and provides a forum for students and faculty to publicize their work. Since a major focus of GMC is sustainability in education, much of the work students and faculty undertake has a sustainability component.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
None
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
No
None
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
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None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
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None
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
A three-panel time-line in the Student Center gives a history of sustainability at GMC, beginning in 1996, when the Environmental Mission of the College was adopted, and leading to Climate Neutrality in 2011.
GMC Eco-Spots are located in various locations around campus, highlighting green features such as recycling, vending misers, lighting projects, locally sourced furniture, water saving devices, and thermal envelope improvements. SAGE Hall, a LEED Gold certified residence hall, has Eco-Spots highlighting various green features throughout the building.
The biomass co-generation facility has an educational sign outside, purchased by students and faculty who came up with the initial idea for the project. The sign not only explains the technology in the facility, but also tells the story of student activism and cross-campus collaboration that made the conversion from a #6 fossil fuel oil heating facility to a renewable fuel facility a reality.
The biomass facility also hosts signage throughout the building explaining the technology in depth, so that visitors can walk through on a self-guided tour.
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes
None
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Signage for composting was created by the Sustainability Office; signs were placed in the dining hall above the trash and compost receptacles. These signs are used to prevent unwanted materials in the compost piles by informing students, staff, faculty, and visitors the proper procedures for separating compost contents and ensuring better quality of compost and less trash and waste.
Signage related to trayless dining and food conservation is provided by the college's food service, Chartwells.
Labels on food designating locally sourced food and produce from GMC's Cerridwen Farm to encourage sustainable choices.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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None
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes
None
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Green Mountain has eight natural areas devoted to preserving native plants and educating the community about ecological processes. The natural areas crew posted signage in 2010 highlighting native plant gardens that were paid for and planted by various student groups on campus (e.g. Student Campus Greening Fund, a Botany Class). This signage highlights the college's goal to increase native species throughout the campus.
With assistance from the National Park Service Rivers and Trails program and the support of the Town of Poultney, VT, a walking trail was developed by the Poultney Mettowee Natural Resources Conservation District that connects the various educational, recreational and environmentally important sites in the town. At various locations on GMC campus along the Poultney River, permanent wooden signs have been placed to inform visitors and students about the characteristics of the location and the environmental management it receives.
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The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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None
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
The GMC Sustainability Website offers an online resource guide for alternative transportation provided to the Green Mountain community. This site includes information on the free shuttle, various bus routes/prices, train information, carpool matching services and Zipcar registration, as well as blogs about students stories regarding alternative transport ("Car Free Semester" blog).
This information is also available in printed/poster form through the Auxiliary Services Office, and through the Student Life Office.
None
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
None
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
GMC Eco-Reps produced a Green Guide in spring 2011 addressing issues such as waste management, sustainable room furnishings, transportation, a local business guide, and local food resources. The Green Guide will be distributed to new students at Orientation.
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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 have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper (either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat)?:
Yes
None
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:
The Mountaineer is GMC's student-run campus newspaper. The Greenpages section of the newspaper highlights campus sustainably initiatives and practices, as well as local and global community initiatives in the field of sustainability.
Some recent publications and topics include:
•Student Greening Fund goes Big
•Farm Crew Retreat
•UN Climate Change Conference At a Glance
•Diversification of Energy Sources: A 2008 Investor’s Perspective Today
•Notes from the Community Conversation: Striving for Sustainability
•Green Mountain College Biomass Facility Update
•Solar Thermal Research Project to Take Place at Cerridwen Farm
•Tips for Greening your Dorm Room
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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:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
Created by the Sustainability Office, instructional signs are located by every recycling bin highlighting what should and should not be placed in each bin. Although the primary purpose of these signs is to increase the amount of recyclable waste collected, these signs are also beneficial for clearing up public misconceptions about recycling and making the job of collecting and sorting of materials easier.
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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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.