Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.80
Liaison Paul Scanlon
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Slippery Rock University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Paul Scanlon
Special Assistant to the President
President's Office/Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
Yes or No
A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts Yes
A sustainability newsletter Yes
Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability Yes
A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability Yes
Building signage that highlights green building features Yes
Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems Yes
Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed Yes
A sustainability walking map or tour Yes
A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation Yes
Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians No
A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience No
Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat No
Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website:

The website includes information about, and links to, the President's Commission on Sustainability, the Green Fund Grant program, the section of the university's strategic plan that focuses on sustainability, the President's Climate Commitment, our AASHE Progress Report, the University's Energy Conservation Policy, a PDF of a brochure that highlights SRU's efforts towards sustainability, and SRU's undergraduate and graduate academic programs relating to sustainability. In addition, it also contains links to community organizations relating to sustainability, a map of SRU's sustainable features on campus, student initiatives both on and off campus, the STARS report, SRU's green house gas inventories, tips for saving energy on the job or at home, links to environmental websites of educational value, and SRU's campus-wide Small Steps, Big Payoff Energy pledge campaign.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The School of Business's Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) issues a regular newsletter describing sustainable student internship opportunities, project case histories, client interviews, and upcoming events scheduled for the Students for Sustainability, the SRU Slow Foods group and other on and off-campus clubs and organizations.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:

Slippery Rock's Office of Sustainability manages a sustainability Facebook page to connect to students, post educational information, and inform those interested in upcoming sustainable events. Weekly contests are run to encourage student participation, with prizes such as reusable stainless steel water bottles, sustainability T-shirts, and $25 food coupons for campus and local dining establishments.


The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

The Symposium for Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity provides a forum where student achievements in all disciplines, including sustainability, are shared. The Symposium provides material for The Journal of Scholarly Endeavor.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

The Harmony House at the RAMC is certified LEED-Silver for Existing Buildings, and educational posters throughout the building and grounds provide information on green features of the building (i.e. geothermal heating system, daylighting, use of recycled and low-VOC materials, alternative energy (solar and wind turbine) demonstration sites, composting, recycling, etc.).


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

AVI, the food services provider at Slippery Rock University, distributes a brochure, "Good Things at the Rock," that highlights the numerous efforts AVI takes towards sustainability. The brochure lists AVI's local food partners, on-campus sustainability-related events that AVI supports, and conservation activities taking place at the dining halls. Posters and informative brochures are also located within the Dining Halls.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:

Signage located on the grounds of the Macoskey Center describe sustainable grounds/landscaping features such as the community and market gardens, composting areas, and a greywater constructed wetlands site. In addition, signage kiosks on the main campus grounds are used to describe features of the hiking/biking trails, educational outdoor classroom features, and tags indicating tree species, etc.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The Slippery Rock Sustainable Features map highlights the institution's major visible sustainable features including green roofs, the harnessing human energy project, LEED certified buildings, the wind-powered lake aeration system, solar-powered rain water collection and drip irrigation system, rain gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, ecological research area, limestone classroom, solar panels, weather station, wind turbine, butterfly trail, hike/bike trail, and equestrian trail. The map is used during admissions walking tours and is also available for downloading from the sustainability's office website.

The Green Frog trail at the Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems is a half mile trail that highlights sustainable strategies including a photovoltaic array, community gardens, sustainable landscaping, composting site, and a wind turbine.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

Posters and brochures about the SRU's Happy Bus, or shuttle are posted and provided in residence halls, the Student Union, and at shuttle stops. The Happy Bus has its own webpage as well as NextBus GPS technology that allows students to see in real-time when the next bus will be arriving. The Happy Bus is funded by the SGA.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

na


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

An Energy Conservation Seminar is offered as part of the FYRST year seminars, and is being made into a series of short videotapes that can be viewed during regular residence hall floor meetings. The seminar includes information about recycling on campus, conserving energy within the residence halls, and the university's "Small Steps, Big Payoff" energy campaign; which encourages student's to pledge to change three things in their lives that will save energy. Energy dashboards located in the lobbies of the five new Residence Halls also display current/historical energy use and energy conservation tips. A RecycleMania competition among the Residence Halls is also conducted each year during Earth week activities.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:

The Rocket, our main student newspaper, has agreed to have the Office of Sustainability produce a regular sustainability news column of 400 to 600 words; with articles either written by Office of Sustainability staff or by students with an interest in sustainability.


The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
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A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):

SRU's Office of Sustainability, in association with the Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator (SEA), published a booklet titled "Preparing our Students for a Green Economy" in Spring 2013, highlighting the University's sustainability projects titled "Green Features." The booklet was distributed at the Fossil Free fair held in Butler, PA and is also distributed at the SEA facility in Slippery Rock.


The website URL for this material (1st material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (2nd material):

Sustainability articles are regularly included in our main alumni "ROCK" magazine.


The website URL for this material (2nd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (3rd material):

Our electronic University newsletter, RockPrideOnline, regularly features sustainability articles and upcoming events.


The website URL for this material (3rd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (4th material):

SRU produced is video interview of Herbert Carlson, Chair of the President's Commission on Sustainability, and Paul Scanlon, Campus Sustainability Coordinator, that is aired on the University TV station.


The website URL for this material (4th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (5th material):

Paul Scanlon, Campus Sustainability Coordinator, was interviewed on the University radio station to discuss SRU's sustainability initiatives and answer questions about sustainability in general.


The website URL for this material (5th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (6th material):

Virtual tours of the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research are available via SRU's Sustainability Website.


The website URL for this material (6th material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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A brief description of this material (7th material):
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The website URL for this material (7th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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A brief description of this material (8th material):
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The website URL for this material (8th material):
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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.