| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 80.45 |
| Liaison | Tori Grant |
| Submission Date | Dec. 13, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Calgary
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Michelle
Crossland Senior Communication Specialist, Sustainability Strategic Communications |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
UCalgary’s sustainability website, ucalgary.ca/sustainability, serves as an online source for sustainability at the university. It includes information about the university’s sustainability commitments, initiatives, resources and engagement opportunities on campus, as well as the academic and research aspects of sustainability. Content also focuses on storytelling to demonstrate how sustainability is woven throughout the university. The website is maintained by the Sustainability Communications team. This website reflects our institutional commitment to sustainability and to allow the integration of sustainability content into other UCalgary websites. The site serves an average of 1,300 visitors per month.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
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?:
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
UCalgary’s sustainability focused social media platforms provide news, events and updates on all things sustainability-related at the University of Calgary with highlights from the local community.
Twitter: twitter.com/UCalgarySustain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCalgarySustain/
Instagram: Instagram.com/UCalgarySustain
YouTube: UCalgary Sustainability
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?:
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The Gauntlet is the largest student newspaper on campus and is issued in print monthly and online daily. It often covers sustainability-related stories. Sustainability updates and event notices also appear in UThisWeek, which is an online publication sent to all undergraduate students on a weekly basis.
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The Students’ Union hosts an annual Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), where students are given the opportunity to showcase their research alongside other undergraduate researchers from across campus. The centerpiece of URS is a research poster competition every November. Students selected to present their projects during the event are eligible to receive a number of awards ranging from $500 to $1,000. The event recognizes achievements across all faculties and in a variety of areas including sustainability. In 2017, two awards were presented for sustainability research:
SU Sustainability Fund (1 x $1,000, 1 x $500): Given to students who have focused their research on a sustainability related topic including energy, water, waste and economic and community development.
Winners are recognized in campus publications and at the annual Sustainability Awards celebration.
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?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
A number of green buildings on campus are equipped with physical or electronic signage that describes the buildings’ green features and provides tips to encourage individuals to take personal action on sustainability. The signage in these buildings is complimented by campus and individual building sustainability tours which further explore how green buildings support healthy and efficiency operation of the university campus. Information on all green building project is also accessible online at ucalgary.ca/sustainability/built-environment. Topics addressed by the various components of the campus green building education programs include:
- Ecology (Native Landscaping, Storm water Management)
- Energy (Cogeneration, Mitigating Heat Island Effect, Natural Lighting, Efficient Lighting, Heat Recovery, Underfloor Air Distribution)
- Health (Air Quality, Low Emitting Materials and Products)
- Transportation (Supporting Green Transportation, Cycling, Transit and Car Share)
- Waste (Waste Diversion and Recycling, Construction Waste Diversion)
- Water (Non-potable Water Irrigation, Water Efficient Fixtures,
- Land-Use (Neighborhood Densification)
- Materials (Green Building Materials)
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Signage in the main dining hall (The Landing), and on line menus for our catering services highlight vegan/vegetarian and locally sourced foods. In September we will open a renovated dining hall and a new meal plan program which will eliminate all packaged goods and all bottled beverage. Condiments will be served in bulk, hydration stations and whole fruit will be available to all students on the new, ‘All you care to eat’ meal plan program. We will introduce ‘Fill it Forward’ a program that reduces single use beverage cups and bottled water, by incentivising users to use refillable vessels and a customized app to build points which then provide safe drinking water in compromised regions through a partnership with ‘Water Wise’. In all retail locations all take out containers and flatware are fully compostable. We are certified a Fair Trade campus and have achieved the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Chain of Custody certification, sourcing and serving sustainable and traceable wild-caught seafood on our campus.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
The institution uses digital signage and physical signs in nearby buildings to convey sustainable grounds and landscaping features. This signage communicates information about the stormwater management pond on campus and certain areas using native landscaping principles.
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The Office of Sustainability and its student volunteers run hour-long walking tours from the centrally located Sustainability Resource Centre on campus. The tour features an introduction to sustainability and the four directions on the Sustainability Compass (AtKisson, Inc.); Nature, Economy, Society and Wellbeing, all of which are revisited throughout the tour. Tour stop examples include:
- A visit to the Energy Environment Experiential Learning (EEEL) building which is LEED Platinum certified and one of North America’s most energy efficient laboratory buildings
- Learn what a woonerf is and how a student-led pilot to collect compost turned into a campus wide program
- Learning about how the rain gardens and storm water management pond in the Taylor Family Digital Library Quad are naturally managing and filtering storm water
- Learning about the design and composition of the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning and how the building fosters flexibility, transparency and collaboration
- Learn more about how TITL’s high recycled-content materials, occupant-friendly design and drought-tolerant landscaping reduce the TITL’s impact on the environment while enhancing sustainability on campus.
Tours can be booked in advance but are also available on a drop-in basis during Sustainability Resource Centre operating hours. A cluster of the sustainability tours are offered during orientation week for new students and sustainability content is built into campus tours for prospective students.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Information regarding alternate modes of transportation is offered online at ucalgary.ca/sustainability/transportation. This information is also covered is provided through student and staff volunteer sustainability programs which serve the campus community through a variety of awareness and engagement campaigns. UCalgary Parking and Transportation services distributes a pocket map which includes detailed information on transportation demand management initiatives including carpooling, car share and UPass (transit pass). A commuting-focused sustainability tour and presentation were developed for the 2015/2016 Commuter Challenge which explores all the programs offered on the UCalgary campus. This tour is now offered as part of the ongoing tour program.
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)? :
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
A suite of cycling resources are posted online at ucalgary.ca/ sustainability/discover-sustainability/our-sustainable-campus/transportation with more resources available through the Sustainability Resource Centre. The University of Calgary also has a community bicycle shop called “Bike Root” which is an incorporated not-for-profit society and student club that is 100 per cent volunteer run. The Bike Root runs a Bicycle Repair and Education Centre which provides workspace, tools and literature to support cyclists with knowledgeable volunteers on hand to guide members through bicycle maintenance and repairs. The university is one of the few Canadian institutions to offer a student-run Bike Share program which provides rental bike access to students, staff, faculty and the greater community. The Sustainability Resource Centre offers bike route maps and other cycling safety materials.
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?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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?:
A brief description of these materials or publications:
UCalgary officially launched the Certificate in Sustainability Studies in fall 2017 (following a soft launch in 2016).The first cohort of students graduated with the certificate in June, 2018. The certificate was the first embedded certificate to be offered at the university. It provides a unique opportunity for students to participate in experiential and problem-based learning about real world challenges. The Certificate in Sustainability Studies’ experiential learning opportunities give students valuable experience in research, applied problem solving, and writing – all instrumental in career development and sustainability leadership.
The Certificate is covered in several publications as well as a promotional video:
https://youtu.be/3Tv9NQZ8AA8
https://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2017-09-05/ucalgary-offers-one-countrys-first-embedded-sustainability-programs
https://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2016-08-31/university-begins-unveiling-certificate-sustainability-studies
https://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2017-11-02/celebrating-our-progress-sustainability
https://ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2018-09-21/jump-opportunity-take-certificate-sustainability-studies-recent-grad-advises
https://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2018-10-01/profs-reflect-inaugural-year-innovative-certificate-sustainability-studies?utm_source=UToday&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=October-1-2018&utm_term=Profs%2520reflect%2520on%2520inaugural%2520year%2520of%2520innovative%2520Certificate%2520in%2520Sustainability%2520Studies
The website URL for these materials or publications:
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.