Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.93
Liaison Merry Rankin
Submission Date Aug. 30, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Iowa State University
ER-3: Sustainability in New Student Orientation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Merry Rankin
ISU Director of Sustainability
Facilities Planning & Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution include sustainability prominently in new student orientation?:
Yes

A brief description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation:
In the Department of Residence (DOR) there is a house meeting during summer orientation where the recycling program is explained to all new residents. Community Advisors (CA) lead each house, and after attending summer training on sustainability, they discuss sustainability with residents as well as describe the Recycling Chair and Sustainability Coordinator positions that residents can apply for. A staff member in the Department of Residence and a leader in the GreenHouse Group, which is the DOR’s liaison student group promoting sustainability in university residences, provide the training. Additionally, there are several events during new student orientation where sustainability is incorporated. ISU Dining facilities include signage during orientation meals about local foods served. There is also a resource fair, which includes a booth for Iowa State’s Live Green! Sustainability Initiative. Finally, all students who attend orientation are taken on a campus tour, during which the Live Green! Initiative is discussed as well as some of the sustainable features on campus. Finally, part of ISU’s new student orientation includes a several-day event right before the start of classes called Destination Iowa State. Sustainability is incorporated into the event by recycling waste at several of the food events. In addition, during summer orientation a conscious effort is made to keep activities close to each other to eliminate driving to activities. Guests are encouraged to park in a free lot and either walk or take the city bus to save fuel.

The website URL where information about sustainability in new student orientation is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information on Department of Residence sustainability activities in new student orientation was provided by Carolyn Duven, a Hall Director in ISU's Department of Residence. Contact: cduven@iastate.edu The information on sustainability activities at Destination Iowa State was provided by Kyle Holtman, Destination Iowa State Coordinator in ISU New Student Programs. Contact: holtman@iastate.edu The information on summer orientation activities was provided by Elizabeth Kurt, Director of ISU New Student Programs. Contact: lvkurt@iastate.edu

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