Michigan State University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

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. 

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."

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 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."

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

"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."

"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."

"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.

"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"

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.

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. 

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. 

"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"