Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 69.05
Liaison Katherine Spector
Submission Date March 3, 2023

STARS v2.2

State University of New York at Oswego
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Jonathan Mills
Administrator
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Yes

Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:

The Office of Sustainability has social media profiles on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and Snapchat. Our Instagram account is the primary mode of communication for students to engage with the Office of Sustainability and learn about current and upcoming programming.

https://www.instagram.com/ozsustainability/?hl=en


Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:

In our Richard S. Shineman Center, signage is located throughout the building highlighting geothermal, solar, and wind technologies used to power the building, sustainable building features, and information regarding the greenhouse located on the roof of the building.

As buildings across campus are systematically renovated, signage displaying sustainable features of those specific buildings will be displayed.


Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

We currently have several staff and faculty members that incorporate sustainable features of buildings and the surrounding landscaping on campus to new students, classes, and guests visiting any of the campuses buildings and off-campus locations.

-For students involved in technology courses, they will get opportunities to tour new building and small construction projects occurring on campus to garner first-hand experience into project management, design, and constructionAllen's tour to technology classes. These projects incorporate sustainable features which are highlighted throughout these tours.

- SUNY Oswego's new Rice Creek Field Station facility was completed in 2013 and ranked #41 among the world's "50 Most Impressive Environmentally Friendly University Buildings". On tours of the building to guests and the campus members learn about the host of ecosystems maintained at the site and natural infrastructure such as two rain gardens contain many annuals, perennials, and shrubs in addition to their main sustainable function to collect and strain/purify upland water before reaching the creek. The field station grounds include 350 acres of aquatic, wetlands, meadows, and woodlands in various successional stages ideal for research. This supports a large number of courses and undergraduate and faculty research projects. Also the trails attract many hikers including our students and used in mental health programs designed by Rice Creek and campus wellness for our students. Many of these programs proved to be very helpful during the pandemic and extended thereafter to serve our students wellness.

The ecosystems maintained at Rice Creek provide essential habitats for the we Black Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail, and the Giant Swallowtail butterflies. It has been labeled as such for the public to know. This is in addition to other plants in the garden grown for specific reason to educate with an herb field guide explaining the value of each plant in the garden.
In addition, in the last four years the Field Station is designated as a certified Monarch Waystation Station where our students raise monarch from eggs until adulthood and tag and release them as part of the national monarch butterfly monitoring program.

- Admissions tours to new student to our campus are told about sustainable features throughout our academic and residence halls. Tour guides also i include information about the Office of Sustainability and several initiatives run by the office as these tours commence on their tour route.


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

A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

Our office produces a "Guide to Living Laker Green" that is distributed to any first-year student, faculty, or staff member that includes information about ways to reduce your footprint in your dorm room or office, all the programs that are put on by the Office of Sustainability, ways that you can get involved in sustainability on campus, and a list of local shops and restaurants to support.


A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:

The Office of Sustainability is regularly showcased in the all-campus newsletter, Oswego Today, highlighting any initiatives that we are working on. One of our most recent features included the accreditation of our Centennial Arboretum.

https://www.oswego.edu/news/story/rededication-campus-centennial-arboretum-set-arbor-day


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.