Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.85
Liaison Laura Young
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Michigan State University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Mara Spears
Sustainability Program Coordinator
Office of the EVP for Administration
"---" 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 MSU Sustainability main site is a hub of information for the MSU community and interested external individuals. The Site offers resources for students, staff, and faculty, and provides descriptions for what each resource offers. The site covers a variety of areas where sustainability is present on campus, including sustainability in academics, facilities, departments, and resources for news and events. 

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
https://sustainability.msu.edu/index.html

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

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."

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
http://bespartangreen.msu.edu/resources.php

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 MSU Sustainability Instagram is a social platform for the office to engage with students, staff, faculty, other divisions and departments, and community members and businesses in the same space. The Instagram account's primary focus to  highlight sustainability efforts throughout campus to demonstrate the wide breadth of sustainability at MSU. The account features individual stories and posts promoting sustainability related events or student groups. Hashtags for the account include #bespartangreen, #msusustainability, #gogreen, and #msusustains.

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

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 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."

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
http://www.thestatenews.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:
MSU has many magazines, newsletters, and news sites that serve as vehicles that publish and disseminate sustainability research done by students at the university. MSU has an over-arching research publication site called MSU research, but departments also publish much of their students work on their sites or through newsletters. Two examples of this are the Honors College research hub and the College of Nursing research publication page.  https://honorscollege.msu.edu/news/archives/2014-2015/2015-09-01-recurvolume5.html

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
https://research.msu.edu/student-research/

Green Building Signage 

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. Additionally, residential halls have large infograph displays showcasing the building's ""green"" features. MSU has many standard LEED Certified buildings across campus and the university. MSU certifies its own offices with a ""Spartan Green"" Certification, which offices and departments can apply for. MSU is a Tobacco-Free campus and a bike-friendly campus."

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
https://sustainability.msu.edu/campus-information/sustainable-facilities/index.html

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:
"MSU's vast campus has a wide variety of food options available for students, and food served at the university is drawn from as many local sources as possible. Signage for food systems depends upon the area of campus that is providing the food, but all dining areas display information and infographics about the food they provide. MSU participates in the Cultivate Michigan Challenge to source 20% of its food locally from the state, and information about the challenge can be found on the sustainability website. Composting signs are available in all RHS dining locations (See attached), and MSU advertises all local foods and FairTrade products; all Spartys on campus sport a Fair Trade logo. The Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment (RISE) Annual Report discusses the Bailey Greenhouse and Urban Farm relationship with dining locations, and RISE food systems posters (see attached) are available at all dining locations. All menus have been set up to show food products that are local, organic, vegan, or have other sustainable features. Additionally, information 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:
https://rhs.msu.edu/sustainability

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
"There are multiple types of signage across the MSU East Lansing Campus. Signs include: riparian zone signage, tree protection signs (including ordinances that prohibit anything attached to or affixed to trees); Protected River signage along the Red Cedar River. Additional brochures and information about the Red Cedar River can be found through Friends of the Red Cedar (redcedarfriends.org). 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.

The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
http://ipf.msu.edu/about/departments/plant-protection-statement.html

Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce 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:
---

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:
"MSU Has a general webpage addressing clean commuting options. In addition to this, brochures and pamphlets are available at Service Desks and the MSU Police Departments. Posters also encourage clean commuting across campus. 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. https://www.cata.org/Rider-Information/Clean-Commute-Options 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"

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
https://sustainability.msu.edu/get-involved/campus-tips-programs/discover-T-bike-repair.html

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)? :
Yes

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:
https://msubikes.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/msu-bike-facilities-map-2015-final.pdf

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:
All student residents receive a Residential and Hospitality Services packet detailing sustainable living practices for on-campus living. All MSU buildings have "waste not" stickers on light switches, and signs in all dorm bathrooms to remind students to conserve water and energy. 

None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
https://liveon.msu.edu/Sustainability

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:
MSU is a Tobacco-Free Campus, certified with a tobacco-free ordinance since August 15th, 2016, and information about this shift can be found at sustainability.msu.edu, on posters and window clings around campus, and by contacting Infrastructure and Planning Facilities directly. 

The website URL for these materials or publications:
http://tobaccofree.msu.edu/

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
EN_4 FINAL.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
"A popular sustainability-based event on campus in March of 2017 was the Patagonia Worn and Waer Tour, which visited MSU through collaboration with the Post-Landfill Action Network nonprofit. Worn and Wear attracted over 400 students and community members, featured community and campus businesses, RSOs, and organizations, and hosted a free recycling drop off. The event was widely popular, despite the weather, and Patagonia taught dozens of people how to repair and refurbish their damaged clothing and apparel. Further sustainability websites include: 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.