| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.15 |
| Liaison | Laura Young |
| Submission Date | April 14, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Michigan State University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Jennifer
Battle Former Director - left MSU Campus Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Michigan State University has a campus-wide sustainability website with information about academics, research, operations, and stories of what Spartans are doing around the world related to sustainability. The site also features a search tool where the user can do searches to find any MSU sustainability related information contained on other MSU sites and resources.
None
The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
None
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
Each month the Office of Sustainability writes a short letter including announcements, happenings, and reminders. It is distributed to the environmental stewards (approximately 650 department representatives) to distribute to their units along with monthly building reports.
This is an e-mail distribution so no URL is available.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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None
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
There is an annual undergraduate research forum for students to showcase and disseminate research projects. Additionally, any research done on behalf of the Office of Campus Sustainability, which includes both undergraduate and graduate student research projects, requires a written research brief which is posted on the Be Spartan Green website.
None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
None
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
There are over 550 buildings at MSU. Those that have particular environmental features have signage to highlight them. For example, the MSU Surplus and Recycling Center has educational signage for the rainwater capture system, recycled conference room tables, and other features. Erickson Hall has signage for the rain garden. Several buildings also contain building environment monitors. The new addition on the second floor of Wilson Hall displays the building's energy performance.
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
None
Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes
None
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
All menus have been set up to show food products that are local, organic, vegan, or have other sustainable features.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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None
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes
None
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Near the waterways on campus signs designate them as "Grow Zones," areas where animals can hide and nest. These areas are not mowed.
None
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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None
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
---
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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None
Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
MSU Police offers discounted passes to carpoolers Additionally, MSU partners with the Capitol Area Transportation Authority (CATA) for its mass transit transportation needs. MSU works with CATA to promote the Clean Commute Program for MSU students and employees.
www.police.msu.edu/carpool.asp.
Bike transportation is also popular on campus. MSU has a complete bike rental and service shop, MSU Bikes that rents bikes to individuals and departments on semester or annual basis.
www.bikes.msu.edu
Zipcar, a car sharing service is also available on campus, www.zipcar.com/msu.
None
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
None
Does the institution have a guide for green living and 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 green living information is incorporated into student housing guides that are disseminated during new student orientation and housing sign up. There are living-learning options such as the RISE (Residential Initiative for the Study of the Environment) on campus. http://naturalscience.msu.edu/students/rise/
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
None
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
None
A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
The State News is Michigan State University's news publication. It's a daily publication that covers local, national and world news. Student reporters change each semester or year, but there is always a regular reporter that covers sustainability and the environment.
It should be noted that although the State News is a publication for Michigan State University, they are a separate entity with their own board of trustees.
None
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
Michigan State University is a large decentralized university. Most units employ their own communications managers. Although there is no way to capture all of the environmental publications, examples of some are listed here:
Environmental Studies and Policy Program Roundup
Sustainability Specialization News
Project GREEEN Annual publication
VP for Research and Graduate Studies Sustainability website
There is no central URL for these publications, but one can search for them via the search tool at www.sustainability.msu.edu.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
---
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
---
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material:
---
None
The website URL for this material:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Michigan State University is a large decentralized university. Most units employ their own communications managers. Although there is no way to capture all of the environmental publications, examples of some are listed here:
Environmental Studies and Policy Program Roundup
Sustainability Specialization News
Project GREEEN Annual publication
VP for Research and Graduate Studies Sustainability website
There is no central URL for these publications, but one can search for them via the search tool at www.sustainability.msu.edu.
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.