| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.71 |
| Liaison | Christie-Joy Hartman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 13, 2024 |
James Madison University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Essa
Paterson Program Coordinator ISNW |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:
The ISNW hired a graduate student in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication Program (WRTC) to periodically issue online news bulletins specifically on campus sustainability for 2023-24. In 2024, that effort began being supported by the College of Integrated Science and Engineering. Content from the ISNW's news site (www.jmu.edu/news/sustainability) is routinely picked by the university for its front page online news. Examples of campus sustainability news bulletins can be found at
-https://www.jmu.edu/news/stewardship/2024/3-20-princeton-review-recognizes-jmu-sustainability-efforts.shtml
-https://www.jmu.edu/news/stewardship/2024/2-7-jmu-enters-zero-waste-competition.shtml
-https://www.jmu.edu/news/stewardship/2023/12-11-virginia-pollinator-smart-certification.shtml
.....
Radio is considered the original social medium. “Shenandoah Valley Ever Green is a seasonal radio program produced by students and professors at James Madison University that seeks to illuminate the natural systems at work in the world around us, and to tell about the people who support these systems. During each episode, listeners will hear ideas about getting outside and connecting to Nature. Episodes will also describe actions that individuals can take to help sustain the health of the local environment.” https://www.wmra.org/show/shenandoah-valley-evergreen.
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
Student Success Center and Wayland Hall both have signage that highlights green building features.
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
James Madison University's Environmental Stewardship Tour highlights some of the sites on campus where facilities, environmental stewardship and learning are interconnected. Visitors are challenged to consider the interdependence of humans and the environment; the health, socio-economic and ecological dimensions of environmental stewardship; the way in which environmental problems are explored and solutions are developed and implemented; and, how environmental stewardship is and can be integrated into our lives.
https://www.jmu.edu/stewardship/tour/index.shtml (Accessed 10/13/23)
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
There is a website: https://www.jmu.edu/stewardship/everyday-choices-for-environmental-stewardship.shtml. It includes immediate actions in the residence halls, greener living guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency, and suggestions for student organizations and events. (Accessed 10/13/23)
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
JMU increases students' understanding of the environment with Science On a Sphere (SOS), which uses computers and projectors to display sustainability-related content onto a 48 inch diameter sphere. SOS was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and is primarily utilized by museums and science centers for informal education. Per NOAA, "Animated images of atmospheric storms, climate change, and ocean temperature can be shown on the sphere, which is used to explain what are sometimes complex environmental processes, in a way that is simultaneously intuitive and captivating." JMU was an early university adopter of SOS and is one of a few universities to use SOS as a pedagogical tool in university courses. Education of students is the primary use of the tool. SOS is also frequently used for school visits, which are arranged through JMU’s Middle School Visit Program and the STEM Education & Outreach Center. https://www.jmu.edu/stewardship/science-on-a-sphere.shtml (Accessed 10/13/23)
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
An entry for "a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability" was added this submission.
Completed by Essa Paterson, ISNW, 10/13/23. Programs reported were confirmed as ongoing at time of submission.
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.