Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.56
Liaison Alan Turnquist
Submission Date July 8, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Michigan Technological University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Jay Meldrum
Executive Director of Sustainability
Facilities Management
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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 sustainability website is maintained by a member of the Facilities Management team with input and direction from our Sustainability and Resiliency Tech Forward Initiative. The first section include Campus sustainability information regarding recycling, composting, our Green Power Partnership, links to the Green Campus Enterprise, the Sustainability Demonstration House, our Carbon Footprint, energy consumption, and AASHE/STARS. The second section, Education, links to various area related to our classes related to classes, certificates, and minors in Sustainability. The third section points to our Sustainability related research. Perhaps the largest single site here is the Sustainable Futures Institute which concentrates on Life Cycle Analysis/Circular Economy. There are also links to our Great Lakes Research Center and several other sites. Michigan Tech is rich in sustainability research and this site attempts to bring it all together. The STARS effort has uncovered more areas which will be soon linked to this site.

The website URL for the central sustainability website:

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
There are several newsletters that pertain to sustainability at Michigan Tedch.. One is the Partnership for International Research and Education which deals with Ecosystem Science, Life Sciences and Wood Protection. Another is The Michigan Tech Water Newsletter. The third is the Chemical Engineering newsletter that covers alternative energy and bioenergy topic, Physics has a newsletter that covers their contribution to sustainability, and the Sustainability and Resilience Tech Forward Initiative has started a newsletter to communicate funding opportunities campus-wide for student,faculty, and staff to promote sustainability topics.

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:

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:
We have a blog from the Sustainability Demonstration House that reports information on campus sustainability efforts. https://blogs.mtu.edu/sustainability/

The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:

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 main student newsletter is called the Lode. It regularly covers research topics including sustainability.

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:

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:
The University Research magazine includes sustainability in every issue since there are so many project related to sustainability at Michigan Tech. The most recent issue covers the Community Solar project worked on by undergraduates and graduates and was the final topic of a recent Ph.D. candidate in Social Science.

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

Green Building Signage 

Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
No

None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
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None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Sustainable Food Systems Information 

Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
No

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
No

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
On Arbor Day MTU organizes a sustainability walking tour for the campus and local community.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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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:
Both the Transportation Services site listed below and the Michigan Tech Guide (which references the site below) provides information on shuttles and buses in our community. https://www.mtu.edu/admissions/accepted/michigan-tech-guide.pdf

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:

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:
The campus bike initiative provides trail maps, safety information and resources for the campus and community. As of 2017 Michigan Tech has been named a Bicycle Friendly University.

None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
No

None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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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:
The Sustainable Demonstration House maintains a blog that give tip to the campus community on sustainable practices.

The website URL for these materials or publications:

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.