Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.26
Liaison Allison Jenks
Submission Date Nov. 30, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.1

New Mexico State University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 joni newcomer
Mgr. Env. Policy and Sustainability
Facilities and Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:

The NMSU Sustainability website, which has undergone several format changes, provides information on sustainability initiatives happening campus-wide relating to waste reduction, water conservation, transportation alternatives, energy reduction, green building, purchasing, food services, education, and research. A description of the Office of Sustainability is a primary component of the website and the public can contact the Manager of Sustainability from the home page. It also lists what the NMSU branch campuses are doing to be green, as well as information about the NMSU Sustainability Council. The website informs student about many opportunities for involvement, including internships and green student organizations. Lastly, the website connects to our social media sites, our events calendar, and sustainability-related videos.


The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Office of Sustainability produces a sustainability newsletter quarterly. The newsletter highlights projects, events, news, and tips related to sustainability. The OoS administers the newsletters through our student, staff, and faculty list serves, the NMSU Sustainability website, social media, and through the Sustainability Council. We are currently working on implementing a more thorough distribution system.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
No

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
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The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
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Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
No

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
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The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

Sodexo is our Dining Services vendor. They have posters in our many food service areas that advertise their commitment to the planet and sustainability. The posters advertise their “14 Commitments for Action” and “The Better Tomorrow Plan”. Links below:

http://www.sodexo.com/group_en/corporate-citizenship/priorities/objectives.asp


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:

We are in the heart of the Chihuahuan Desert. We have a Chihuahuan Desert garden that has all local native plants with a beautiful walking path through it. Each plant is identified with a brief description of its value in the desert. It is on one of the major malls that dissects campus. We also have signs across campus that gives the names of local trees in English and their Latin names.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

The NMSU Environmental Health and Safety Office has an entire portion of its website that focuses on pedestrian and bicycle safety. On this page they provide bicycle maps for the city as well as information about the trainings EHS provides for bicycle safety at NMSU.

The Associated Students of New Mexico State University (ASNMSU), in partnership with the Transportation and Parking Services Office, and the City of Las Cruces, manage the Aggie Transit, a free service that runs during spring and fall semesters from 7:00am-7:00pm M-F. The Aggie Transit program provides free shuttle routes that transports riders with a valid NMSU ID from free parking lots from all across campus, rather than driving their personal vehicles. The Aggie Transit is intended to reduce campus congestion, promote public transportation, and reduce carbon emissions. The ASNMSU website has a guide to this transit program here: http://asnmsu.nmsu.edu/transit/index.html


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
No

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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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)?:
No

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:
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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:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

Our coverage with our own assigned reporter goes across campus, not just to students. It is called "@NMSU" and a monthly (or more often if necessary) article is done on sustainability issues. Articles written in the last year have included LEED buildings that are approved for certification, bio-algae fuels and research on campus, cotton seed research including a bio fuels machine, solar research, and the opening of the new Sustainability Office in July 2010.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

As an agriculture school, and one of the oldest land grant universities west of the Mississippi, we consider ourselves steeped in ecology and taking good care of our planet. The URL below gives a long list of the publications on rangeland and grasses sustainability.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

The Border Epidemiology & Environmental Health Center (BEC), founded in 1998, is an international, collaborative research center led by Dr. Hugo Vilchis, MD, MPH, director and associate professor, College of Health and Social Services, and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, at New Mexico State University.

The BEC supports and applies scientific research to reduce health disparities among minority populations through research, intervention, evaluation, training, and dissemination.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

As an agriculture school, and one of the oldest land grant universities west of the Mississippi, we consider ourselves steeped in ecology and taking good care of our planet. The URL below gives a long list of the publications on Wildlife Ecology.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

As an agriculture school, and one of the oldest land grant universities west of the Mississippi, we consider ourselves steeped in ecology and taking good care of our planet. The URL below gives a long list of the publications on horticulture.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

The Office of Sustainability started publishing an Annual Report for sustainability at NMSU in 2012. This report covers topics such as education, resource conservation, green building, and other sustainability initiatives at NMSU. This report will be published annually.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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A brief description of this material:
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The website URL for this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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A brief description of this material:
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The website URL for this material:
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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.