New Mexico State University
PAE-14: Sustainability in New Employee Orientation

NMSU uses a multi-stage approach to new employee orientation. New employees are initially oriented to their department by department management. A standardized department onboarding and orientation checklist was created to ensure that new personnel receive a consistent orientation at the department level, training and professional development is supported, and that key information specific to their job, is also incorporated by the department supervisor. A comprehensive face-to-face New Employee Orientation is being finalized by the Center for Learning & Professional development and will be implemented in January 2013. This orientation incorporates various elements of sustainability including: safety; staff training and development; campus sustainability program; ethics; employment related civil rights; Federal compliance items; and health and wellness. A 3-minute “Sustainability Staff Orientation” video is shown as part of the orientation. Environmental Health and Safety also provides training to new employees. General training for new employees includes HazCom and Defensive Driving for those that are required to drive NMSU vehicles. Specific training for new students and faculty is conducted at the beginning of each semester. These include lab safety, hazardous waste disposal, and bicycle safety. A 3-minute “Sustainability Staff Orientation” video is shown during each class for new faculty and staff and a handout of sustainability tips for new employees is distributed. The Sustainability Manager, joni newcomer, presented this at the 2012 AASHE conference in Los Angeles.