| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.88 |
| Liaison | Laura Young |
| Submission Date | Feb. 11, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Michigan State University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Grace
Noyola Former Acting Communications Manager - left MSU IPF Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
| Yes or No | |
| A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts | Yes |
| A sustainability newsletter | Yes |
| Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability | Yes |
| A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability | Yes |
| Building signage that highlights green building features | Yes |
| Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed | Yes |
| A sustainability walking map or tour | No |
| A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation | Yes |
| Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians | Yes |
| A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience | Yes |
| Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat | Yes |
| Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above | Yes |
None
A brief description of the central sustainability website:
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:
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
Each month MSU Sustainability publishes a short newsletter including announcements, happenings, outreach and engagement articles, volunteer opportunities and event reminders. It is distributed to the EcoReps (approximately 650 department representatives) to distribute to their units. It is also distributed to all students who sign the Be Spartan Green Student Pledge and to anyone else who signs up for it. This is an e-mail distribution but archived copies can be viewed at the URL listed below.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
None
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:
MSU Sustainability, via their Be Spartan Green campaign, leverages several social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube. The primary social medial platform is Facebook.
None
The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
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 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
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. Additionally, residential halls have large infograph displays showcasing the building's "green" features.
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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. Additionally, informaiton about MSU's food waste program "Clean Plates at State," is prominently displayed in dining halls across campus.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
None
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
Near the waterways on campus, signs designate them as "Grow Zones," areas where animals can hide and nest. These areas are not mowed. Additionally, there are signs installed highlighting MSU's Stormwater Management Practices. These signs are part of a self-guided Stormwater Walking Tour.
None
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
A walking tour map is available that features stops at the following locations on campus:
MSU Bikes
Erickson Hall Rain Gardens
Kellogg Center Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Bailey GREENhouse
Brody Energy Display
Brody Square Dining
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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. http://police.msu.edu/management-services-bureau/parking-office/carpools/
and
http://www.cata.org/CATAServices/CleanCommuteOptions/tabid/131/Default.aspx
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 by semester or annual basis. The department provides incoming freshman with a pamphlet explaining MSU's Bike Friendly campus features: 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
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
MSU Bikes provides navigation and educational tools for on campus bicyclists and pedestrians in the form of printed fold-out maps which are distributed at student events and information is also provided via the MSU Bikes website (bikes.msu.edu) which includes education and advocacy elements. Additionally, bike paths, bike lanes and sharrows are clearly marked across campus.
None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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) program on campus. https://rise.natsci.msu.edu/
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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 bi-daily publication (paper version) that covers local, national and world news. New articles are posted daily online via their website also. 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
A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st 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, many are featured prominently on MSU's main news hub MSUToday
None
The website URL for this material (1st material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (2nd material):
The university's Facilities and Infrastructure Report is compiled every year to inform the MSU Board of Trustees and other interested parties about the state of campus regarding sustainabiliy, construction, new facilities and campus planning.
None
The website URL for this material (2nd material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (3rd material):
MSU's RISE (Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment) program assembles an annual report to communicate the success of the program and the work of its students.
None
The website URL for this material (3rd material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (4th material):
The Sustainability Guidebook provides an overview of what MSU is doing to foster environmental consciousness and to illustrate how communities can emulate those efforts.
None
The website URL for this material (4th material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (5th material):
The university has created numerous specialized brochures to explain the many sustianable programs and services offered on campus.
None
The website URL for this material (5th material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (6th material):
Resources are provided to Residential Assistants to be shared during residence hall floor programs.
None
The website URL for this material (6th material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material (7th material):
---
None
The website URL for this material (7th 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 (8th material):
---
None
The website URL for this material (8th material):
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The main websites for sustainability-related information at MSU are:
http://www.bespartangreen.msu.edu/index.php
http://sustainability.msu.edu/
http://energytransition.msu.edu/
http://rhs.msu.edu/sustainability
http://ipf.msu.edu/green/index.html
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.