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

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.

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.

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.
https://www.hws.edu/about/trees_map.aspx

A map showing sustainable locations on campus, such as the student garden, electric car charging stations, compost tote locations, water refill locations, and more are shown on an interactive google maps website that is accessible for the HWS Environmental studies webpage.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1wsoxNOPo-AAtSPURqoY8dyjTqKkFSscG&ll=42.87634023323989%2C-76.99252100000001&z=13

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.

The Office of Sustainability works with the Intercultural Affairs department 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.
https://www.hws.edu/studentlife/pdf/ic_greenF18.pdf

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).