Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.25
Liaison Audrey McSain
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Lehigh University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Katharine Targett Gross
Sustainability Officer
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Central Sustainability Website 

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The Sustainability at Lehigh website features sustainability initiatives and efforts across the university. The website highlights the Campus Sustainability Plan, information about sustainability groups on campus, news articles covering sustainability topics, and progress and achievements in the sustainability field.

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
http://sustainability.cc.lehigh.edu/

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Lehigh Sustainability E-Newsletter has four quarterly editions per year, issued to faculty, staff, students, and some alumni. It provides updates including: progress on our campus sustainability plan goals, program and event highlights, spotlights, green tips, and updates on how YOU can get involved in sustainability at Lehigh.

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/newsletters

Social Media Platforms 

Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
The Office of Sustainability utilizes Facebook and Instagram. Lehigh Eco-Reps utilizes Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. In the spring of 2016, the Office of Sustainability developed social media guidelines that outline the objectives, content buckets, frequency, and best practices that we follow for Instagram and Facebook. These guidelines were also updated during the 2017-2018 academic year to include a social media strategy. For Instagram, the main objectives are to be visual and creative, informative and helpful, personal and engaging, educational, and attention grabbing. The content buckets for Instagram are events, sustainability tips, sustainability program updates and accomplishments, and student involvement and innovations. For Facebook, the objectives are to be promotional, educational, personal and engaging, and informative and helpful. The main content buckets for Facebook are events, sustainability program updates, in the news, faculty research highlights, sustainability tips, opportunities, presentations/talks/panels, and student involvement.

The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
https://www.facebook.com/LehighSustainability

Student Newspaper Coverage 

Does the institution have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat?:
Yes

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The Office of Sustainability regularly pitches articles to the editorial team of the school newspaper, the Brown & White. During 2018-2019, the Brown & White ran many of the pitched stories.

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
https://thebrownandwhite.com/

Student Research Publication 

Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Student research on sustainability is published and disseminated on the STEPS/EI Summer Research/Fellowship Symposium Website. Additionally, there are a few conferences each year where Lehigh students have the opportunity to publicize and disseminate their research on sustainability. For example, this year, Lehigh University hosted the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges Conference. At this conference, Lehigh students shared their research through posters and presentations.

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
https://ei.cas2.lehigh.edu/content/steps-researchinternship-symposium

Green Building Signage 

Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
No

None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
n/a

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Sustainable Food Systems Information 

Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
We have three main areas where we have signage or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems. These include: Point of Sale Identification, Nutritional Analysis, as well as Local, Organic, Fair Trade Identification.

None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
https://lehigh.sodexomyway.com/explore/sustainability

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
No

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
N/A

The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
---

Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Lehigh's Sustainability Tour is an interactive Web GIS tour that illustrates Lehigh University's efforts towards sustainability.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
http://gisweb.cc.lehigh.edu/sustainability/

Guide for Commuters 

Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Lehigh University has a guide to alternative transportation methods posted online. This guide includes information on biking, carpooling, public transportation, and walking/running. See URLs below in notes field below. During Car Free Day, we promote these alternative transportation methods at a Car Free Day Fair and through a car free pledge that we send to faculty, staff, students. The pledge requests that faculty, staff, and students commit to going car free on September 22. Additionally, Lehigh Transportation Services has a bus routes website as well as live bus tracking. Lehigh also participates in Enterprise Car Share, which includes a website with the locations, rates & fees, how it works, and opportunities as well as Zagster bikeshare, a bike sharing program on campus.

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/car-free-day

Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
No

None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
N/A

None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Lehigh Living publication is distributed electronically to all students residing on campus. It contains a great deal of useful information regarding living on campus. It also contains a section (p. 11) addresses our sustainability programs and provides tips on how to live a greener life while a resident at Lehigh. Lehigh provides a Sustainable Living Program certificate. The Sustainable Living Program is a voluntary, self-guided program coordinated by the Eco-Rep Leadership Program. It is designed for students in residence halls and Greek houses to take the lead in making their living spaces and daily routines more sustainable. The certification process includes specific questions that address day-to-day living habits in various categories including energy, water, purchasing, recycling, food/dining, involvement, and innovations. By taking action in a variety of topic areas, students can reduce their environmental impact, be responsible stewards of the university’s resources, and contribute to Lehigh’s sustainability goals and commitments.'

None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/sustainable-living-program-0

Other Outreach Materials 

Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:
The Office of Sustainability posts sustainable living tips on its website. These include: Energy Conservation: Tips on office & lab behavior, heating & cooling, computers, and personal habits. Sustainable Laundry: Tips on how to help you save energy while doing laundry. Transportation: Tips on how to save money on gas and how to adjust the way you commute and drive. Water Conservation: Tips on how to reduce the amount of water you use.

The website URL for these materials or publications:
https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/environmental-living-tips

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
URLs that guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation: https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/bike-car-free-day https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/carpool-car-free-day https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/walkrun-car-free-day https://sustainability.lehigh.edu/public-transportation-car-free-day

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