| Overall Rating | Reporter |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Megan Curtis-Murphy |
| Submission Date | May 28, 2021 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Northeastern University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Carol
Rosskam Sustainability Program Manager Office of Sustainability, Facilities Mgmt. |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The President's Office maintains a research-focused sustainability website at Northeastern.edu/Sustainability, where information on sustainability-based institutes, research, curriculum, and academics are described. The primary source of all other sustainability information related to operations, events, data and information is maintained by the Facilities Management Division, at facilities.Northeastern.edu/Sustainability and is accessible to the entire University, as well as the public. This website provides documents and forms relevant to sustainability in operations; narratives on sustainability-based projects that are completed or being implemented through Facilities Management, and the Campus Planning and Real Estate divisions; and provides data and information about sustainability metrics and benchmarking. The Business School also has an internal website and newsletter that offers sustainability information, including a "Sustainability Corner" in its weekly newsletter.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Green Office Challenge Program monthly newsletter provides sustainability-based information, stories and tips. The Business School's weekly newsletter has a "Sustainability Corner". The Office of Sustainability is developing a newsletter that will go out on a regular basis within the campus community; in lieu of this newsletter, the Office has used social media platforms in recent years to publicize its work and initiatives, accomplishments, and awards.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, SAIL, Twitter and Youtube.
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
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?:
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The Huntington News regularly reports on campus sustainability news. While there's no column, it's presented in the op-ed section or as a featured article.
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The annual, spring RISE Research event publishes a booklet on all research projects and posters that are portrayed throughout the event. There's a growing sustainability component to all the projects featured in RISE, and the awards ceremony reflects that.
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
As part of increased commitment to sustainability efforts have been made to highlight building construction that saves on natural resources and helps students to better understand LEED components. Our newest building, the Integrated Science and Engineering Complex, or ISEC, has graphics throughout the oversized atrium providing some of the data sets. Other buildings also contain similar signage data and information such as those available in International Village.
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
All campus dining areas have sustainability signage and infographics.
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 groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
At the Integrated Science and Engineering Complex, or ISEC, there is landscape sustainability signage about the bioswale design integrated into the building's landscape. Currently, The two signs are the only ones on campus explaining landscaping sustainability efforts. It is hoped that similar signage will be part of the new EXP building design adjacent to ISEC.
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
February 2021, a newly launched interactive campus map is now available: https://campusplanning.northeastern.edu/interactive-campus-map/
This map includes multiple sustainability features and will continue to regularly integrate more features and details. The map is conducive to a walking tour that highlights the arboretum status recently attained by the University's Boston campus.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
There are multiple commuter tips available on the Facilities Management Division's Sustainability website. The newly launched interactive campus map includes all bicycle infrastructure and other sustainability features at Northeastern. That link is:https://campusplanning.northeastern.edu/interactive-campus-map/
In addition to the information available through the campus planning map, the facilities' sustainability website provides links to commuter information for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, along with Boston Blue Bikes' bikeshare program.
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The newly launched interactive campus map includes all bicycle infrastructure at Northeastern. Links to the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority are provided, along with Boston Blue Bikes' bikeshare program. https://campusplanning.northeastern.edu/interactive-campus-map/
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
In recent years, Residential Life continues developing more sustainability-focused programming for the 10,000 students who reside in the residential halls during an average years. The Residential Directors and Assistants are being asked for more sustainability themed events, engaging activities, and discussions. These include information on the res hall bulletin boards, Hall Council discussions, intranet groups; special guest discussions; food-focused events that integrate culture and sustainability, for example, the spring term 2021 "Breaking Bread" series engaging food preparation with discussions about sustainability from cultural lenses.
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
A brief description of these materials or publications:
The Office of Sustainability regularly distributes outreach materials on a year-round basis. Signs, flyers and digital communications are disseminated with information on sustainable options for holiday activities, gift giving, working from home and on campus. As an example, sustainable ideas have been prepared for Valentine's Day 2021 that will be publicized on social media, and includes a link to a short documentary on fair trade cocoa farmers' challenges in Peru as a relevant conversation to the chocolates sold for Valentine's Day.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.