| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.09 |
| Liaison | DeLayne Miller |
| Submission Date | Dec. 18, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Tennessee Technological University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability? :
Has the institution held at least one sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Name of the campaign:
A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged:
The Office of Sustainability partnered with the Communications and Marketing Department through a grant received by TDEC to create a recycling campaign that encourages and educates students on campus recycling. At the Spring 2018 Earth Day Celebration, student and faculty voting took place to choose the design of the recycling campaign. The full campaign launched in the Fall of 2018. To help increase public knowledge of how to properly recycle, the Communications and Marketing Department made short clips to educate students, faculty, and staff on how to properly dispose of their recyclables and waste in the appropriate bins. We also began a redesign for more comprehensive recycling stations which have been placed in 3 well-trafficked areas on campus, and we're still counting!
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
After the implimentation of these new stations, student workers noted a marked reduction in contamination of recycled materials. Additionally, transfer of recyclable materials from campus to Putnam County Waste Management has increased from once a month to 2 or 3 times a month indicating a better understanding within the community.
The website URL where information about the campaign is available:
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign, including how students and/or employees were engaged (2nd campaign):
There were 100 trees planted to commemorate Arbor Day, Earth Day, the end of TTU’s Centennial Celebration and the beginning of the University’s next 100 years. Also, as part of this initiative, a time capsule with a commemorative monument was set in a distinctive location with instructions to open in 2116.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
The tree planting significantly increased the tree population and tree canopy on campus. The event improved recognition of TTU’s Sustainable Campus Committee and will serve as an incentive for TTU to be recognized as a Tree Campus USA University
The website URL where information about the campaign is available (2nd campaign):
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns, including measured positive impacts:
In the March 2019, the Office of Sustainability hosted the inaugural week-long celebration of World Water Day. This week featured a film screening of Tapped, where reusable water bottles and straw kits were given to the students who attended. Later in the week, a World Water Day Celebration was held with 8 student groups and 3 off-campus community groups in attendance to share their initiatives with the University's students. At this event, the Sustainable Campus Committee/ Office of Sustainability gave the opportunity for students to commit to omitting plastic straws for 30 days (113 students made this commitment). The water bottles that were given out at the film screening were from "Cupanion," an organization that provides an avenue for activism by including a sticker with the bottle that connects to a free mobile app. When students scan this sticker through the app, Cupanion donates to water conservation and related projects around the world. Additionally, regular posts promoting water conservation were made to social media throughout the week.
Also in 2019, the Office of Sustainability partnered with Healthier Tennessee to create a program called EagleFIT. EagleFIT is a student led program that brings awareness to students and staff about how they can live a healthier life. This program focuses on three aspects of health: physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco cessation. Living a healthier life and living a sustainable life go hand in hand. EagleFIT encourages those on campus to walk or ride bikes instead of driving, which serves as a sustainable effort to decrease carbon emissions. The program also encourages Tennessee Tech to eat locally, which is another way to be sustainable. EagleFIT naturally encourages sustainable efforts by promoting students and staff to exercise more and eat healthier. https://www.tntech.edu/sustainability/eaglefit.php
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.