| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.01 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Walker |
| Submission Date | April 13, 2022 |
Southern Oregon University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Rebecca
Walker Sustainability Manager Facilities, Management, Sustainability and Planning |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:
A quarterly sustainability newsletter is emailed out each term and promoted on through the campus-wide daily news digest when it is released. The newsletter includes information on campus sustainability programs and initiatives, a spotlight section on employees or students who work on sustainability as well as a section on events. For examples of the newsletter please visit https://sustainability.sou.edu/news/ and for the latest edition https://sustainability.sou.edu/sustainability-newsletter-fall-term-2021/
Other articles are sent out across campus on Sustainability. For example:
https://sustainability.sou.edu/sustainability-at-sou-during-the-pandemic/
https://sustainability.sou.edu/sou-and-climate-action-in-the-community/
The SOU Sustainability Instagram also runs campaigns or individual posts to raise awareness on sustainability @sustainability_sou
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
In the lobby of the LEED Platinum Higher Education Center in Medford, OR visitors can learn about the building's green features and its solar performance. A monitor in the lobby displays a dashboard by Deck Monitoring with information on the amount of solar energy being produced. There is also signage highlighting the green building features.
On the Main SOU campus, there are signs on the LEED-certified buildings within the LEED Gold Certified Raider Village. These include the Hawk Dining Facility, the Student Recreation Center, and Shasta and McLoughlin residence halls. The signs discuss the sustainable features of each building and provides sustainability tips for residents and visitors to follow.
The Farm at SOU has interpretive signage in multiple places including in the food forest and at the Thalden Pavilion.
The SOU Sustainability Office has also worked with SOU Landscaping and Grounds to add signage throughout campus identifying pollinator gardens, water conservation areas, and stormwater bioswales.
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Sustainability tours are available upon request and a tour is also offered at the beginning of the academic year to anyone interested in hearing about sustainability across campus. Sustainability tours include a walking tour of campus highlighting existing sustainability practices including the recycling center, the Farm at SOU, organic community garden, LEED buildings, Social Justice and Equity Center, solar arrays, campus green fund projects, and other campus sustainability projects and resources.
SOU also has a Tree Tour available https://landscape.sou.edu/sou-botanical-tour/
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
SOU's Housing Department supplies students and visitors with a brochure detailing the green features of the LEED Gold residence halls, as well as sustainable living tips for students. Some of the tips found in the brochure include:
Use EnergyStar electronics and compact fluorescent light bulbs; Set a schedule for your thermostat to turn off during class or other times when your apartment is vacant; Reduce electrical ‘phantom’ loads by plugging electrical items into a surge protector and turning it off when not in use; and more!
The Student Apartments and Family Housing monthly newsletter have a section dedicated to basic needs resource outreach - the Student Sustainability Team prepares materials for their newsletter to include tips and information on transportation options, food security, utility assistance, and more.
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.