Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 62.47
Liaison Chris Frantsvog
Submission Date March 3, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Luther College
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Maren Beard
Assistant Director, Campus Sustainability
Center for Sustainable Communities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability? :
Yes

Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes

Name of the campaign:
Move Out Waste Diversion

A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged:

Over the past few years we have undertaken significant efforts to educate students about responsibly moving out and also to provide better signage and infrastructure to handle the various streams. 2016 was the most successful move-out yet, with over 50 students working or volunteering on behalf of an organization to help divert waste.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:

1300 pounds of food were donated to the local food pantry and over 8 full 18' trucks were filled with goods that were donated to local thrift stores.

Overall waste hauling in May was down 54% from our 2005 baseline. During move-out week specifically there was a 23% reduction in waste since move-out week 2013 (no weekly data available prior to 2013). In May 2016 was saw an 11% reduction over May 2015 and an 8% reduction when comparing move-out week 2016 to that same week in 2015.


The website URL where information about the campaign is available:
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
CSA Reimbursement Program

A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged (2nd campaign):

Recognizing the importance of vegetable consumption as part of a healthy diet, Wellness, Sustainability and the Health Care Council offer Luther College faculty and staff households a 50% reimbursement (up to $100) on vegetable CSA shares. This program was piloted in 2012, at which point 37 households participated. In 2013 participated sky-rocketed to 97 total households. Participation has remained steady at around 100 households in subsequent years. Faculty and staff can choose from a variety of CSA options offered in the local area, including winter CSA shares and "garden memberships" in which subscribers receive garden services and plants to support vegetable gardening.

All participants are required to participate in two food education events in order to qualify for reimbursement. Food education events include cooking classes, farm tours, work days, book discussions and more.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):

By virtue of this program, 89% of participants claim to have eaten more fruits and vegetables. The program continues to see good retention and also to draw in near subscribers every year.

This program not only has an impact on faculty and staff, but also on local farmers who have been able to develop or expand CSA offerings to meet increased demand coming from Luther employees.


The website URL where information about the campaign is available (2nd campaign):
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns, including measured positive impacts:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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