Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.69
Liaison Susan Dorward
Submission Date July 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Raritan Valley Community College
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Susan Dorward
Sustainability and Energy Coordinator
Facilities and Grounds
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Central Sustainability Website 

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):
The faculty Sustainability Committee developed a web site that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts, and this became a multi-part web page on the external web site.

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
https://www.raritanval.edu/general-information/national-recognition/sustainability

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
Sue Dorward, Sustainability Coordinator, regularly sends out monthly emails to the entire campus with information about sustainability topics.

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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Social Media Platforms 

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 Environmental Club has an Instagram account.

The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
https://www.instagram.com/rvccenvironmentalclub/

Student Newspaper Coverage 

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:
Reporter Tessa Senel writes sustainability-related articles. A recent one highlighted a student initiative to provide free chemical analysis, to see if people have arsenic in wood products in their back yards (for example). See http://www.rvcctherecord.com/2019/03/27/arsenic-in-your-wood/ Another article covered a foods project showcase event where Enactus and the Environmental Club talked about their sustainable food projects and Food Pantry organizers spoke about the new pantry on campus. http://www.rvcctherecord.com/category/news/people-of-rvcc/ Articles on related to social sustainability (diversity, social justice) are common.

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
http://www.rvcctherecord.com/

Student Research Publication 

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:
Each year Raritan Valley Community College's "Nota Bene" celebrates the power of imagination by showcasing outstanding student work from across our curriculum. The sustainability-related entries from 2014 include "Collective Struggle through the Eyes of a Lakota Woman" and "Modern Day Slavery: Far from Over". Students can also publish their work on RVCC's sustainability web site. Slides from Angela Bodino's "Focus on Nature" English composition class's 2011 presentations are linked to from the News page. http://www.raritanval.edu/academics/events/nb.html

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
http://www.raritanval.edu/uploadedFiles/community/forum/sustain/AASHE_STARS_sustainability_links.pdf

Green Building Signage 

Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
There is a sign for the green wall in the Bateman Student Center.

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Sustainable Food Systems Information 

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:
Our food service is outsourced to CulinArt, which has posters and signs prominently displayed in the cafeteria and cafe detailing their sustainability efforts. They also have brochures about composting. CulinArt will provide students with coffee grounds for composting, and gives a discount to students who bring reusable containers for their coffee. They feature organic blend and fair trade coffees and local produce, use biodegradable and eco-friendly disposable containers (no Styrofoam), collect organics for off-site composting, reclaim used cooking oil for biofuel conversion, and reduce water usage and waste. http://www.raritanval.edu/community/forum/sustain/food_services.html

None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
http://www.raritanval.edu/uploadedFiles/community/forum/sustain/AASHE_STARS_sustainability_links.pdf

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

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:
Signs are posted about our no-mow grassy areas, native plant garden, rain garden, and butterfly garden.

The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
We are working on one.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
https://www.raritanval.edu/general-information/national-recognition/sustainability

Guide for Commuters 

Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Information about bus service and carpooling are available on the RVCC transportation page and in the student handbook.

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
https://www.raritanval.edu/general-information/getting-to-rvcc

Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
No

None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
No

None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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Other Outreach Materials 

Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:
Bus schedules are provided at the Welcome Center kiosk.

The website URL for these materials or publications:
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Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.