Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.22
Liaison Mary Ellen Mallia
Submission Date Dec. 21, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University at Albany
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Cassidy Drasser
Assistant Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
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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 Sustainability has a comprehensive website that is visually appealing and contains information about the office, events and programs, student opportunities and sustainable practices and regulations on campus. The website is regularly updated with new information.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Office of Sustainability releases a Sustainability Bulletin on a monthly basis during the academic year and once during the summer. The Bulletins contain information about how sustainability is integrated in curriculum, operations, research and engagement. It also has information about programs and events that occurred in the recent month and planned activities in the near future. In addition, it lists how students, faculty and staff can get involved, answer commonly asked questions about sustainable practices on campus and features a sustainability alumni.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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 Sustainability regularly posts news and information on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram pages. The social media platforms are kept up-to-date and actively followed by the office staff and social media intern. . The URLs are http://facebook.com/ualbanygreenscene; https://twitter.com/ualbanygreenscn; http://instagram.com/ualbanygreenscn;


The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
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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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:

Scholars Archive, the University at Albany’s institutional repository, collects, preserves, and provides online access to scholarly research and resources created by University at Albany faculty, staff and students. The goals of this open access repository are to increase discoverability and ensure long-term, reliable access to the University’s scholarly output. A section devoted to sustainability research and publications has been included as part of this repository and contains examples of student research.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

Signage in the Library - There are signs in the library that encourage students to print double-sided and to bring reusable water bottles and refill them at various water stations in the library.

Signage in the Buildings - There are signs in the buildings next to the elevators that encourage students, faculty and staff to save energy and take the stairs instead of the elevators.

Slideshow in the Campus Center - There are two TV's in the campus center that run a slide show which provides tips and facts about campus sustainability as well as highlight sustainable features of the building


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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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:

In our dining halls, we have signage with information about our local food campaigns. All locally grown foods, vegetarian, vegan, and grass-fed beef are appropriately labeled. Since the 2014-2015 year, the dining halls feature a "food of the month", which promotes crops that are native to New York. The students and dining staff are educated about the importance of locally-grown food and learn various dishes to implement it in their diet. In the campus center, local foods are labeled. Photos of local farms the partner with the food service provider were put up in the freshman dining halls. A copy of these photos is included in the additional documentation section.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
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Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

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

There is interpretive signage posted around the campus. Specifically there is a sign posted the Campus Center Expansion building, where is describes the various stormwater mitigation landscaping practices. A photo of this sign in included in the additional documentation section. There is also signage along the Indian Pond trail and at the Heritage Garden that describes the campus ecosystem, biodiversity, and landscaping practices.


The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

Rather than creating a separate tour, the university has incorporated sustainability talking points into our regular tour given to all potential students. In addition, the model dorm room that is shown on the campus tour has been outfitted with green products and tips on more sustainable choices. We also meet with the tour guides in the beginning of the semester and provide them a training on sustainability programs and new initiatives.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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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:

We have created a brochure that contains all of the alternative transportation options available on campus. There is information about carpooling, mass transit, bicycle sharing, car sharing and emissions caused by transportation. They also contain information about driving green by using our hybrid buses and our newly installed Electric Vehicle charging stations. These brochures are available at various locations on campus such as at the Parking and Mass Transportation Office, The Student Association Office, Graduate Student Association Office and the Commuter Lounge. The UAlbany App and monitors around campus display up to date information about the location/arrival/departure of UAlbany shuttle buses and CDTA buses. Students are able to view where their bus is compared to the scheduled arrival time on monitors throughout campus and on a UAlbany App on their smart phones.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
Yes

A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

We have an alternative transportation brochure that provides information on this, as well as a Bikeable UAlbany website.


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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 incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

We have two brochures, Freshmen's and Transfers' Guides to Sustainability at UAlbany, that cover this issue for incoming students. We have materials such as brochures and fliers with conservation tips for on-campus living, how to "Green Your Space" and more generic "Green Living Wheels" with tips and ideas for sustainable living both on and off campus. We also have brochures that discuss best practices for recycling and conserving energy on campus.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:

One of the more populated areas on campus is our lecture centers. Numerous classes are held in this classroom area each day and are also the site of our large lecture classes. There are several glass encased bulletin boards placed around the area that are reserved for various offices. One of the bulletin boards has been designated for sustainability info. A photo of the board and its placement outside LC 7, a classroom that holds 490 students, is included in the additional documentation section.


The website URL for these materials or publications:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.