Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.64
Liaison Rachael Wein
Submission Date March 3, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Smith College
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Emma Kerr
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Campus Sustainability
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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 Office of Campus Sustainability website, on Smith's main page, features information about sustainability staff and our location. It includes the mission of the offices, as well as the other departments we work with. It also includes information about the Study Group on Climate Change, and includes links to the Committee on Sustainability, policies, the Sustainability and Climate Action Management Plan, and what you can do. Through the sidebar, visitors can navigate to pages to learn more about operational initiatives, student groups and activities, alumnae initiatives, sustainability news, and a calendar of events.

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
http://www.smith.edu/green/sustainability.php

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
No

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
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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 Office of Campus Sustainability maintains a Smith College Campus Sustainability Facebook page. We use the Facebook page to post updates on sustainability projects happening on campus and in the community, promote related events, and highlight newsworthy items from around the globe. We also maintain an Instagram page, where we share photos of events, sustainable practices, and more. The username is smith_sustainability.

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

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?:
No

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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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:
Smith Scholarworks is a website where student research is published. Research is searchable by discipline and subject area, and includes student work from engineering, environmental science and policy, life sciences, etc.

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
http://scholarworks.smith.edu/

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 :
Smith's Living Building, the Bechtel Environmental Classroom, has in-depth signage describing a number of green building features that contributed to its certification.

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
http://www.smith.edu/ceeds/macleish_bechtel.php

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:
Dining Services labels foods that are produced locally on menu boards or with a laminated badge in kitchens and in the Campus Center Cafe. Some items that are packaged also have local stickers (for example salads made with local greens). This helps students make informed choices about their food. Students involved in the Real Food Challenge have also created a brochure detailing the percentage of "real food" in various categories that is purchased by Smith College. They have presented their preliminary findings and distributed brochures.

None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
http://www.smith.edu/diningservices/local.php

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
No

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

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The "Sustainable Smith Campus Tour" contains information about sustainability and its role at Smith College. It highlights eight of the most notable locations across campus in terms of their headway in sustainable efforts including the Campus Center; a sustainable dining hall; an efficient residence hall; the Botanic Garden of Smith College; a newly renovated residence hall; Neilson Library; the 2010 construction of Ford Hall, the engineering and science building (a LEED certified building); the retrofitted Indoor Track and Tennis Facility; Paradise Pond as well as Smith’s cogeneration power plant.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
http://www.smith.edu/green/docs/Susttour.6-21-10.pdf

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:
In Smith College's Parking Master Plan, recommendations are provided for commuters to utilize alternative forms of transportation that are made available instead of driving a personal car to campus. The Green Smith website has a section on transportation and ways in which faculty and student commuters can reduce the impacts of college-related transportation. This website includes links to other websites for Rideshare, Zipcar, PVTA, MassRides, opt-out parking program, carpooling and Bike Kitchen, which are all transportation programs servicing the campus and the other colleges.

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
http://www.smith.edu/green/operations_transportation.php

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)? :
Yes

None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Each summer the Bike Kitchen (student organization) updates and produces a Bike Kitchen Cookbook with navigation and educational tools, bike repair tips, and more. They also hold bike mechanic workshops to train individuals in bike repair.

None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
http://www.smith.edu/ceeds/documents/Bikekitchen_cookbook_2013_test.pdf

Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Smith College's Office of Campus Sustainability provides a comprehensive page of "Useful Tips" on its website describing several simple changes residents can make to reduce consumption of energy and resources. The sections include Actions that Cost Nothing Add Up, Things Worth a Small Investment, Back-to-School Shopping List, Local Food, Biking, and Getting Places.

None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
http://www.smith.edu/green/what_tips.php

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:
The Botanic Garden of Smith College newsletter, Botanic Garden News, is published twice a year by the Friends of the Botanic Garden The newsletter highlights changes and provides information to the Smith community about the college's gardened spaces, efforts on campus to create more green space, and also draws from outside news related to green gardening.

The website URL for these materials or publications:
http://www.smith.edu/garden/Newsletter/newssp10.pdf

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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