Saint Louis University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

The Office of Sustainability and Benchmarking website (greenbilliken.slu.edu) serves as a centralized sustainability hub for the campus community. The website features initiatives and programs implemented on campus along with events and news stories occurring in and around the campus. The website is regularly updated with new information and links to other departments and organizations on campus that focus on sustainability.

Starting in 2014, the Office of Sustainability & Benchmarking began releasing a monthly SLUstainability newsletter to subscribers, in order to centralize sustainability communication on-campus. The newsletter features events and activities that occurred over the last month and is a resource for individuals about upcoming events. In addition, the newsletter features tips about how to implement sustainability into individuals' daily lives.

The Green Billikens (student group) utilizes Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to engage students, faculty, and staff about activities and events occurring on campus. It is also utilized to publicize the sustainability efforts of other departments and organizations.

The topic may be covered incidentally, but there is no regular and defined sustainability beat. There are one or two articles or editorials in the student newspaper (The Unews) covering the topic of campus sustainability each year. Generally the coverage relates to new sustainability initiatives or closer examination of the effectiveness and viability of existing sustainability efforts. The below link will display articles containing sustainability via a simple search.

Student and faculty projects are highlighted on the Center for Sustainablity website, in the campus-wide Newslink, and in traditional research journals and conference proceedings. Additionally, students are encouraged to participate in the annual Graduate Student Association Research Symposium is held each year during the spring semester.

Facilities Services' Energy and Utilities Strategic Action Team is in the process of designing signage to highlight energy and utility strategies implemented in buildings around campus. Currently, Facilities Services includes sustainable features of projects online.

Fresh Gatherings Cafe on the Medical School campus provides information on the benefits of sustainable food systems. The cafe procures produce from local farmers year round. Names of the farms and the produce that they sell to the cafe are listed on the daily menu. (https://www.slu.edu/doisy/clinics-and-community/fresh-gatherings.php) Signage in dining halls provides information about food waste and sustainable, reusable products offered for a meal-the-go; during Weigh the Waste events students are able to sign sustainability pledges that provide tips on preventing food waste. The Universities dining vendor, DineSLU, offers students the ability to view online menus for vegan, vegetarian and other healthier options. In addition, the DineSLU nutritionist and sustainability intern are available on campus to help verify information. DineSLU also provides information on their website about what they are doing on campus to make dining more sustainable. (http://slu.campusdish.com/Sustainability.aspx). DineSLU hosts events such as Farm to Fork biennially to test products that would expand students sustainable dining options. DineSLU also updates menu screens dining locations featuring food information. These changes were made to increase the awareness about the menu options and clearly identify vegan, vegetarian and made without gluten items. These menu screens are a great visual representation of the menu options. For more specific nutrition information, go up to the station and look at the nutritional cards placed at each specific menu item. These cards provide more in-depth information on calories, fat, protein, sugar, sodium and more. For students following a gluten-free diet, look for the newly added Made-Without-Gluten station and little signs peppered throughout the other stations (https://slu.campusdish.com/EatWellContent/MenuCommitments.aspx)".

SLU maintains a pervious parking area, green roof, a native garden, rain barrel sites, a teaching orchard, and community urban garden. Some of these sites include signage and labeling. In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Benchmarking is working with the Grounds department to create signage at all these locations in addition to using signage when they use organic fertilizer in the flower beds further demonstrating their sustainable methods of practice.

In 2014, the Office of Sustainability and Benchmarking created a Campus Sustainability Map highlighting sustainability initiatives on campus. Some items included on the map are: solar arrays, exterior recycling bins, water bottle filling stations, native gardens, shuttle stops, public transit stops, bike paths, and much more. The map, which includes all three Saint Louis campus locations was updated in 2015 to include additional sustainable campus features. Some of these additions include a food service location certified by the Green Dining Alliance, a program based out of the local, non-profit St. Louis Earth Day and solar arrays.

Saint Louis University offers numerous options in traveling to and around campus. A brief overview of transportation options available through SLU can be found on the transportation website, including information about programs such as carpooling, mass transit, and biking.

Although no navigation information is directly available, Transportation Services provides alternative transportation information on their website for students. Information on the page provides tips about bicycle/pedestrian safety provided by Bike St. Louis. In addition, the website provides a link to Trailnet and Great Rivers Greenways which provide resources for individuals to find the best routes in town as well as bicycle safety classes and resources.

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Saint Louis University produces an annual Campus Sustainability report that highlights all the past year's sustainability efforts. Topics covered in the report include planning, academics, operations, engagement, and recognition. Written by the Office of Sustainability of Benchmarking, sustainability stories contributed to the report can be submitted by every department, student group, and/or individual.