Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 61.51
Liaison Karen Eckert, Ph.D.
Submission Date March 5, 2021
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Principia College
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Karen Eckert, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
Center for Sustainability
"---" 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 (optional):

Principia College's Center for Sustainability website, launched last year, offers a comprehensive overview of curricular and co-curricular programming, as well as operational updates related to waste, energy, purchasing, sustainable food, and ecological stewardship.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Facilities Department publishes a (typically) semi-annual newsletter that features energy efficiency upgrades, as well as notes related to sustainable landscaping, furnishings, transportation, etc.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:

The Center for Sustainability hosts an active Facebook page dedicated to sustainability-focused events, projects and achievements on campus. The student-run Sustainability Club maintains a sustainable food blog http://content.principia.edu/sites/sustainablefood/, as well as a Facebook group to facilitate real-time communication, and posts videos (e.g., aquaponics 'how to') on the college's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz9EEcL1as0. A recent graduate continues to maintain a Pinterest site (https://www.pinterest.com/amandamilhous/) that she developed as a Capstone project, which is dedicated to sustainable products and life choices. Finally, our college Athletics Department's social media platforms are increasingly posting sustainability-related content (e.g., https://www.facebook.com/PrincipiaCollegeAthletics/).


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:

The Pilot, the school's newsmagazine, is student-run and features sustainability related topics in nearly every issue.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

Student research on sustainability primarily takes place in the context of a Capstone (required independent project for both Sustainability major and minor). These documents are shared by the Center for Sustainability to interested faculty, staff, and academic and operational departments. They are also available from the Center for Sustainability upon request. There is a full listing at the url below.


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?:
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 signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

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

Certification marks and logos indicating sustainable menu options (organic, local, free range, vegan, humane ...), as well as and recycling/composting directions, are placed in the "scramble room" (hot meal line), Dining Hall, and Piasa Pub. We also have signage outside the Dining Hall informing customers about the many ways in which Dining Services is going "green."


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:

Signage designates the Community Garden, Three Rivers Community Farm, and native garden spaces around campus. Signage also accompanies a recent planting of native Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) surrounding our largest athletic building's parking lot. Native trees are professionally identified in the campus arboretum at Eliestoun Estate.


The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The Sustainability Walking Tour, developed by a student, highlights many of our sustainable operations, purchasing policies, and water and energy conservation. Participants follow a colorful published Guide that tours them through the campus and provides details on sustainability aspects at each stop. The Tour is based on the 10 One Planet Principles, and updated regularly.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
No

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

We are a rural campus without on-campus access to bus or rail lines, but many staff and faculty live nearby and walk or bike as their primary commuting mode.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
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Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
No

A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

The student body is 100% resident and many use skate/longboards, bikes or Razor scooters to get from their residence hall to class.


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

Every student residence has a formal "how to" guide posted in the laundry room, computer/study room(s), and bathrooms that provides "green living" ideas to consider when performing everyday tasks. These focus on energy and water conservation, recycling, composting, paper use, etc. Every residence also has an elected Eco Head to monitor sustainability outreach and results, mentor their peers, and innovate new programming.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:

Other assets include bulletin boards in academic buildings, and outreach materials associated with events, such as Sustainability Scavenger Hunts. Posters highlight sustainability events, including guest speakers, feature films, service options (e.g., river clean-ups), and Capstone presentations.


The website URL for these materials or publications:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.