| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.02 |
| Liaison | Christine Bruckner |
| Submission Date | Jan. 24, 2025 |
Illinois State University
EN-1: Outreach and Communications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 5.00 |
Christine
Bruckner Assistant Director Office of Sustainability |
1.1 Sustainability outreach and communications
Website URL of the institution’s central sustainability website:
Does the institution integrate sustainability information into the educational offerings or materials provided during new student orientation or the equivalent?:
Narrative outlining how sustainability information is integrated into new student orientation or the equivalent:
All incoming Freshmen and Transfer students attend orientation events to acclimate them to campus. The "Preview" event and "Transfer Days" begin with the invitation to bring a school supply for donation to local elementary schools. This immediate introduction to ISU's core value of Civic Engagement is followed by induction into our culture of environmental literacy where students are provided information on our free public transportation systems, and toured through campus where tour guides that explain various environmental aspects of our campus including our Tree Campus Higher Education status and our arboretum.
The Office of Sustainability is one of the informational tables available for new students to visit during their Preview/Transfer Days orientations. Additionally, the campus Share Shop is open for new students to learn about and shop the free resource which educates students on the importance of reuse and shopping second-hand. They are able to select gently used items for their dorm rooms while visiting the Share Shop during Preview orientation.
As an urban campus, the economic and political aspects of our host community are evident in an easy transition from the campus into the Town of Normal's sustainability award winning "Uptown Normal." During orientations, students and their families are invited to shop at locally owned businesses while walking past solar powered trash compactors, and beautiful landscapes filled with native plants and provided water through an embedded water catchment system. The campus and community prominently display sustainability integrated into everyday life. https://www.normal.org/index.aspx?NID=910
Does the institution integrate sustainability information into the educational offerings or materials provided during new employee orientation or the equivalent?:
Narrative outlining how sustainability information is integrated into new employee orientation of the equivalent:
During new employee orientation put on by Human Resources, time is spent reviewing sustainability at ISU with highlights about specific initiatives put on by the Office of Sustainability and how employees can participate in composting, recycling (including specialty recycling), and green workplace practices. Additional information and resources about sustainability initiatives are shared with the new employees after their orientation via in-office presentations and email.
Additionally, the Office of Sustainability hosts an informational table available to new faculty during New Faculty Orientation each year.
Does the institution have dashboards and/or signage highlighting the institution’s sustainability features or performance?:
Description of the institution’s sustainability dashboards and/or signage:
Multiple digital informational screens are displayed in nearly every building on campus including the Bone Student Cetner and each dining center. While these screens can be used for advertising events and programs, the screens have also been used to share information about recycling, composting, sustainable transportation, the Green Screen film series, Earth Day events, our Fix It Friday program, the Share Shop and many other sustainabiliy-related activiies. Event Management, Dining, and Hospitality often uses the screens in the dining centers to share information about the composting efforts in the dining centers, local food vendors and highlights around food waste prevention.
Does the institution manage a sustainability-focused social media account, newsletter, blog, online community, podcast, video series, or equivalent communications medium or platform?:
Description of and/or website URL for at least one sustainability-focused communication medium or platform:
The Office of Sustainability actively manages Facebook and Instagram pages for the office:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SustainISU
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/sustainisu
The Office of Sustainability also manages Facebook and Instagram pages for both the Share Shop and Fix It Friday:
Share Shop IG: https://www.instagram.com/ilstushareshop
Share Shop FB: https://www.facebook.com/ISUShareShop
Fix It Friday: IG: https://www.instagram.com/isufixitfriday/
Fix It Friday FB: https://www.facebook.com/ISUFixItFriday/
Has the institution coordinated one or more sustainability-focused outreach campaigns during the previous three years?:
Description of sustainability-focused outreach campaigns from the previous three years:
- The Office of Sustainability gives out "Caught you Green Handed" awards throughout each school year. In order to receive the award (a voucher to a food establishment at the student center), a student is seen (or "caught") around campus doing a sustainable activity such as riding their bike to class, using a water bottle refilling station with a reusable water bottle, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or taking the bus instead of their own personal vehicle. These actions are then photographed and posted on social media to highlight everyday sustainable actions/activities.
- The Office of Sustainability partnered with the ISU Center for Math, Science, and Technology to host The Green Screen film series, showcasing films that focus on the impact of the climate crisis, once per month during the academic year. All films are free and open to the public and were shown at the historic Normal Theater in Uptown Normal (walking distance to campus) Series goals were:
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- to inform ISU students about the critical climate crisis,
- to engage ISU’s community and the Bloomington-Normal community in lively discussions about the topic, and
- to cultivate a sense of civic engagement where motivated parties would work together to call for policy and operational changes.
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Our Zero Waste Tailgates offer a unique and sustainable opportunity to engage with ISU's Zero Waste initiatives while supporting the Redbirds. Held next to the football stadium during home games, these tailgates feature complimentary drinks and vegan food served in a Zero Waste tent. In addition, we offer yard games and sustainable giveaways for participants who correctly answer sustainability trivia. Open to the public, these events provide an opportunity to broaden our outreach to both campus and community members.
The success of these tailgates has inspired numerous departments and local organizations to reconsider their sustainability practices. Following our initial Zero Waste Tailgate events, the President's Tailgate Tent adopted Zero Waste practices. Additionally, Event Management, Design, and Hospitality transitioned to using entirely compostable disposables for their catered events after collaborating with us. Other campus departments and community organizations, including the Illinois Art Station and the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, have also moved toward Zero Waste events, inspired by their participation in our tailgates.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
1.2 Percentage of campus stakeholders reached through sustainability outreach and communications
Percentage of campus stakeholders reached through sustainability outreach and communications:
Approach used to determine the percentage of campus stakeholders reached:
Description of the methodology used to determine the reach of the institution’s sustainability outreach and communications:
Specifically for social media, the Office of Sustainability utilizes social media analytics captured through our social media management platform, Loomly. It tracks the reach and engagements of each social media post. The University flagship account also tracks this and can provide similar data for flagship posts related to sustainability as requested.
Our digital communications reach a large and consistent audience across key campus locations. On any given day, approximately 7,200 students visit Watterson Dining Center, 10,000 students frequent the Bone Student Center, and 2,500 students pass through Linkins Dining Center. With digital messaging prominently displayed in all these areas, students are regularly exposed to our content, ensuring frequent engagement.
Mass emails are delivered to all ISU students throughout the semester to promote various sustainability programs and events, reaching approximately 20,000 students with an open rate of 42%
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.