Hobart and William Smith Colleges
EN-2: Student Orientation

Sustainability programming and activities are prominently included during first-year Orientation and are facilitated by an orientation team that has received sustainability training. The Office of Sustainability and student Environmental Representatives (EcoReps) also plan and coordinate various activities for incoming first years during Orientation to ensure new HWS students understand the Colleges’ commitment to sustainability. Sustainability experiences for first-year students at Orientation include a sustainability-focused lunch and meals throughout the weekend, using our BinMaster program with compostable disposal service ware, providing move-in assistance with guidance on materials management. Signage (e.g. recycling facts) also is placed throughout campus during Orientation. We also like to direct new students to our Go Green video ahead of Orientation, outlining a range of important sustainability efforts taking place at HWS so they are knowledgeable when they get here. The Office of Sustainability is examining the possibility of providing a sustainability session for incoming mid-year transfer students. Graduate students are usually continuing students that have already attended HWS for their undergraduate degrees, thus they are not specifically targeted for sustainability programming/orientation.