Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.33
Liaison Michael Amadori
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Hobart and William Smith Colleges
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Michael Amadori
Sustainability Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Central Sustainability Website 

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The HWS Sustainability website is overseen by the Office of Sustainability and managed by the Office of Communications. The site features a range of important content, including student resources, student sustainability grants, significant documents/sustainability notices, recent news, links and additional information.

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
https://www.hws.edu/about/sustainability

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) publishes a monthly electronic newsletter. The newsletter includes columns dedicated to HWS sustainability initiatives, community development center concepts, environmental education, Finger Lakes invasive species, and food systems. The FLI newsletter has readership throughout the Finger Lakes region, and HWS students, faculty and staff can also subscribe to receive it free of charge.

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
https://flihappenings.com/

Social Media Platforms 

Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
Both the Office of Sustainability and Finger Lakes Institute are active on Facebook and Twitter. Facebook and Twitter are used to post campus sustainability initiatives, programs, events, while also informing followers of local, regional, and global sustainability programs/events.

The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
https://www.facebook.com/GreenHWS

Student Newspaper Coverage 

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

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Sustainability coverage appears in The Herald student newspaper as well as regularly in the Office of Communications’ HWS Update, which publishes articles on a daily basis on the various events and news around campus. Captioned photos representing sustainability initiatives (e.g. competitions, sustainable lunch during Orientation, environmental cleanup initiatives) are regularly in the Colleges’ popular “This Week in Photos” photo gallery on the HWS website.

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
https://hwstheherald.com/

Student Research Publication 

Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Research is disseminated through the Finger Lakes Institute, Environmental Studies program, and Office of Sustainability websites. Specifically, the Finger Lakes Institute monthly e-newsletter is used as a platform to disseminate student, faculty and staff research on sustainability.

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
https://flihappenings.com/

Green Building Signage 

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 testament to the Colleges’ longstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental leadership, the Gearan Center for the Performing Arts earned LEED Gold from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the first building on campus to receive an official LEED certification. The Gearan Center officially opened in January 2016 and includes signage throughout to highlight the different sustainability features of a LEED facility. The Finger Lakes Institute (FLI) offers signage about building awards, Tree Campus USA plaque, and HWS sustainability awards. In addition, there is a walking tour and guide sheet of the FLI building that highlights many of the sustainability features of the building including the geothermal heating system, low VOC furnishings and finishes, rain garden, and adaptive re-use of an 1890s-built building. Additionally, during Orientation, Food Week, Earth Week, and for other sustainability-related events and programs throughout the year, posters and signs are hung around campus reminding students, faculty, and staff about sustainability behaviors on campus.

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
http://www2.hws.edu/gearan-center-earns-leed-gold/

Sustainable Food Systems Information 

Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Signage is located in the Colleges’ various dining services locations and includes information about the source of the food, healthy choices, local products, and any qualities associated with growing practices (organic, fair trade, etc.). In Saga, the main dining hall, one board is dedicated to sustainability efforts of dining services.

None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
https://hwsdining.sodexomyway.com/explore/sustainability

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
There are several other locations on campus, such as the Finger Lakes Institute and the HWS Houghton House grounds, which have public educational displays that explain sustainable landscaping and rain garden applications.

The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
http://www.hws.edu/fli/projects_green.aspx

Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Hobart and William Smith Colleges have been designated an Arbor Day Tree Campus USA campus. The Colleges have a “Heritage of Trees” walking tour that highlights the wide variety of campus trees. There are more than 1,500 established trees on campus from 42 genera and 73 species. Of note, there is a red oak that is more than 200 years old, a 150-year-old Austrian pine, more than 100-year-old beech trees and a very rare osage orange tree. Self-guided campus tree tours are available through the Office of Advancement or visitors can print out our Map of Unusual Trees. Approximately 28 campus trees have been tagged with a label so visitors can more easily identify them.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
https://www.hws.edu/about/trees_map.aspx

Guide for Commuters 

Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The Colleges have a variety of alternative transportation options available (e.g. bike share program, Zipcar, shuttle service, etc.). These programs are coordinated between the Office of Sustainability and Division of Student Affairs. All alternative methods of transportation are identified and explained on the Office of Sustainability website. Information about alternative transportation options is also made available during the Green Room Certification. There is signage that marks Zipcar parking.

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
https://www.hws.edu/about/sustainability/campus_sustainability.aspx

Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
No

None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
---

None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
---

Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Green Room Certification, coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Representatives (EcoReps), outlines how to live a sustainable lifestyle while at HWS. Additionally, sustainable living tips are given out to all incoming first years during Orientation. Posters are hung up and sustainability guides are made available.

None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
https://www.hws.edu/about/sustainability/take_action.aspx

Other Outreach Materials 

Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:
The Office of Sustainability works with the Intercultural Affairs dept on campus to publish The Green Update, which highlights the connections between the environment and social justice. A new paper is published each semester and it is written mainly by student interns giving them flexibility to explore topics of interest to them.

The website URL for these materials or publications:
https://www.hws.edu/studentlife/pdf/ic_greenF18.pdf

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Many materials are produced in hardcopy and/or online formats (e.g. comprehensive alternative energy handout is given to all students in hardcopy form and handed out with Student Handbook, while trolley schedules, for example, are available online).

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.