Cal Poly Humboldt
EN-2: Student Orientation

The mission of the Humboldt Orientation Program (HOP) is to communicate what it means to be a member of the HSU community, to prepare students to be socially and environmentally responsible members of diverse societies, and to teach students to use their education to make a positive difference in the world. Prior to the start of each fall semester, HOP coordinates a multi-day new freshmen orientation, required for all new students. Sustainability has been prominently included into HOP through the following:
• Mandatory attendance for all new freshmen and transfer students to the Alternative Transportation Fair. Each year the Office of Sustainability, Parking & Commuter Services, and HOP work together to promote on- and off-campus alternative transportation resources and information to new students as part of the orientation program. This annual event showcases campus resources and programs such as the Jack Pass bus service, Homeward Bound express bus charter, Zagster bike share, ZipCar car share, Zimride ridesharing network, Carpool preferential parking program, the Bicycle Learning Center, Center Activities group bike rides, University Police and the HSU Cycling Club. Off-campus exhibitors include the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (displaying electric vehicles), the Eureka Community Bike Kitchen, Humboldt Transit Authority and the City of Arcata. During the fair, new students sign up for programs, get free items (e.g., Humboldt Bay Area bike maps), test Zagster and Cycling Club bikes, watch bike repair demonstrations, and kick the tires of an electric car. https://admissions.humboldt.edu/freshman-orientation-schedule-gold-timeline
• The campus also promotes alternative transportation via a similar fair to prospective students and their families. The next one will be during Fall Preview on November 8, 2019, https://admissions.humboldt.edu/fall-preview
• Zero waste lunch hosted for all new students and their families. Dining Services serves the lunch in the Jolly Giant Commons Dining Hall on durable tableware. Pre- and post-consumer food waste and food-soiled paper is composted. Leftover food is recovered and donated to the Oh SNAP! Pantry.
• Integration of campus sustainability attributes and features into orientation tours
• Sustainability training of HOP staff
• Welcome to Humboldt gift bag provided to all new freshmen. The gift bag is sustainability-themed and includes a re-usable canteen, a Zagster bike share membership 50% discount, a token for OZZI reusable containers, and a campus Sustainability Guide in a re-usable bag.
• During Housing’s Opening Day, student groups such as (WRRAP), Green Campus, and Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) host information tables next to registration tables. Facilities Management provides free clothes hangers and three-ring binders to new students, which had been collected during move-out the previous semester.
• Oh SNAP! Thrift Shop hosts a pop-up thrift shop during orientation to help new students access affordable items and reduce waste. The thrift shop sells donated items from students moving out of the residence halls in the previous spring. All money raised goes to support the on-campus pantry, farm stand, and emergency housing fund.
• The Office of Sustainability, Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, and other campus organizations table at the Transfer Student Orientation and the New Graduate Students Orientation to interact with students and to provide them with sustainability guides, discounts to Zagster bike share memberships, and other campus sustainability resources.