Middlebury College
EN-2: Student Orientation

In the fall of 2015, the orientation and MiddView planning committee and Office of Sustainability Integration collaborated to integrate sustainability practices into orientation activities. Students received a graphic novel about sustainability at Middlebury, made by a local artist. All freshmen were required to participate in a MiddView trip which were designed to to serve as a time for personal inquiry, exploration, and connection with the local community. The three themes included Community Engagement, Vermont Exploration, and Wilderness Exploration. Examples of trips focusing on sustainable practices included Food Systems in Vermont, The History and Ecology of Lake Champlain, Vermont Farm Tours, Sustainable Architecture, and Alternative Energy. In addition, dining services contributed to the cause by featuring local food and having recycling and composting stations present at events. OSI held its annual Sustainability Fair on the sidewalk outside the Franklin Environmental Center at Hillcrest. A student-run Sustainability Workshop educated students, particularly international students, about environmental efforts at Middlebury such as recycling.

A Middlebury Magazine video highlights the Class of 2016's Carbon Neutrality orientation event: http://sites.middlebury.edu/middmag/2012/09/17/welcoming-the-carbon-neutral-class/.