Northeastern University
EN-2: Student Orientation

The Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub collaborates with multiple campus units/departments to integrate sustainability into new student orientation, Welcome Week, Fall Fest, and the beginning of fall term. The Hub promotes sustainability through social media, the website and through tabling at orientation events. One notable resource being provided is a Campus Sustainability Map showing key resources on campus including BlueBikes, student gardens, LEED buildings, EV Chargers and public transportation networks.

The Hub also helps promote Trash2Treasure's annual fall sale which takes place during Welcome Week and supports waste reduction and reuse early in students’ college career. The event typically attracts over 1,000 attendees including freshmen, transfer students, undergraduate and graduate students.

The annual Sustainability & Bike Fair is also held each September and expands upon the sustainability outreach at the new student orientation. The event draws over 1,000 people; includes over 20 student groups, university offices, local environmental organizations and other sustainability information/interactive tables including resources on alternative transportation and recycling/compost education.

Additionally, the Orientation Office implemented multiple changes over the past decade to better highlight sustainable options into its operations including all paperless materials, recycling bins at all freshmen orientation lunches, a free reusable bag and several water bottles as prizes at events. Campus tours pre- and post-orientation also include buildings and operational campus sustainability highlights.

There are multiple flyers available to demonstrate examples of the online sustainability move-in countdown tips; the annual Trash2Treasure event; the annual fall Sustainability & Bike Fair; and the orientation office's efforts to increasingly include more sustainable options in its programming.