| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 79.54 |
| Liaison | Kelli O'Day |
| Submission Date | June 20, 2023 |
University of California, Davis
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Carla
Fresquez Engagement Program Manager Sustainability |
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:
UC Davis Sustainability sends a regular email newsletter featuring news, events, employment opportunities and other information related to campuswide sustainability.
Sustainability also has a Facebook page, an Instagram account, a Twitter account, and a LinkedIn sustainability network group.
In 2023 the Green Workplace program has also launched a new quarterly newsletter to send to all currently certified Green Workplaces, in-process certifications, and campus sustainability partners who help advocate for Green Workplace participation.
For more information, visit:
Newsletter Archive: https://us11.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=6f069e1185b00ce75fc69c5f7&id=2b7a09bb1b
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCDavis.Sustainability/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucdavis.sustainability/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UCDavisSustain
LinkedIn, UC Davis Sustainability Network: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uc-davis-office-of-sustainability-network/
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
UC Davis Sustainability hosted a student poster design competition to invite students to create informative and engaging poster designs to be placed on recently purchased solar powered compost compactor units across campus. Poster designs for Best Overall, Most Impactful, Most Creative, and Honorable Mention categories were selected and deployed across campus.
UC Healthy Beverage Initiative: Started in 2019 as a part of a systemwide effort, the goal of the UC HBI is to encourage the consumption of tap water as a healthy, free, and sustainable alternative to sugary drinks and as an opportunity to reduce plastic waste. Attractive and friendly signage has been posted in many places around to encourage the use of several dozen newly installed water stations.
Student Housing and Dining Services dining facilities that have edible, surplus food recovered by the student-run Food Recovery Network have posted signs on the windows. Dining Commons are also certified by the Sacramento Area Sustainable Business Program, which is displayed on signage at Dining Commons entrances.
The Sustainability office continues to post “Report Leaks” stickers near faucets in every bathroom on campus. The stickers give the phone number to report a leak so that reporting is encouraged and immediately actionable. The Office also created waste, recycle, and compost signage to highlight waste diversion stations around campus.
The Roots on Campus tree planting program began in 2019 and aims to engage the UC Davis community in shaping a more sustainable campus environment. Once trees are established and thriving signage documenting the project and the environmental and social benefits of green spaces on campus is deployed.
Student Housing includes building signage that highlights green building features in all LEED certified buildings. The signage is prominent and includes information on green building features in each LEED category.
The Brewery, Winery & Food Science Facility includes building signage that highlights green building features.
The Conference Center also includes signage that highlights green building features.
Facilities Energy and Engineering has a few A-Frames on campus that display information that allows students and staff to be directed to the TherMOOstat website. It lets student and staff know whether they are cold or warm on campus they can let us know. They also display information for the Trim the Waste website. It has the Trim The Waste mascot Joules the cow in the middle with a lighting around it and the website URL.
Most Arboretum exhibits feature interpretive signage identifying and explaining the importance of plants and animals in the collections. These signs often highlight the sustainability of the following collections: Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Native Plants, Arboretum Teaching Nursery, and Arboretum GATEway Garden.
Grounds also places signage in front of tree removal and other tree projects on campus to highlight that particular type of work.
For more information, visit the following websites:
Healthy Beverage Initiative:
https://healthy.ucdavis.edu/healthy-beverage-initiative
Roots on Campus:
https://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/get-involved/roots
THermoostat:
https://thermoostat.ucdavis.edu/
Green Buildings in Student Housing:
https://housing.ucdavis.edu/sustainability/green-buildings/
Mary Wattis Brown Garden of California Native Plants: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk1546/files/inline-files/mwb_exhibits.pdf
Arboretum Teaching Nursery: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk1546/files/inline-files/teaching%20nursery.pdf
Arboretum Gateway Garden:
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
During the 22-23 academic year, two Bonnie Reiss Climate Action Fellows oversaw the revision of the UC Davis Sustainability walking and biking tour map in collaboration with UC Davis Communications professionals and students from the Associated Students of UC Davis Environmntal Policy and Planning Commission (ASCUD EPPC).
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:
Student Housing and Dining Services curates several resources with actionable guidelines for how both residents and campus community members can incorporate sustainable action into all aspects of campus and home life. These guides include Sustainable Move-In, Waste Guide, Thermostat Guides, Water Refill Stations, Sustainable Action Guide, Newsletter, and Sustainable Move-Out.
More than simple written guides, Student Housing and Dining Services facilitates Living-Learning and Shared-Interest Communities that focus on various principles of sustainability. In addition to living within the community, residents have the opportunity to participate in a one or two unit seminar typically offered during the fall quarter. Once per week, faculty or staff lead discussions on a variety of topics related to the community. Some communities offer experiential education options which include service or volunteering, field trips, or hands on opportunities to learn more about the community.
The UC Davis Sustainability website has curated an extensive collection of sustainability resources. This collection of guides and informational how-to guides is particularly valuable as it reflects best practices for the UC Davis campus community and includes information that reflect hyper-local waste, energy, land stewardship, and transportation resources.
The UC Davis Sustainable Living and Learning Communities (SLLC) is a grassroots educational initiative that explores a broad range of principles and practices related to agricultural, environmental, and social sustainability. The SLLC is composed of several organizations that are related both through their shared values and their physical proximity within a relatively undeveloped area in the heart of West-Campus. Each of these organization has sustainability, experiential learning, and community integrated into values, education efforts, and mission statements.
Energy and Engineering has an online website called Trim the Waste where residents can learn about how energy gets on to campus, the kinds of energy that is used, how they can contribute to saving energy, and pinpoint where they believe energy is being wasted. This website includes a training video series featuring UC Davis staff speaking about campus energy and sustainability.
Student Housing and Dining Services maintains two garden spaces, the Resident Garden @ Segundo and Resident Garden @ Tercero for residents to experience hands-on gardening. Each garden has raised garden beds where on-campus residents can learn about edible and non-edible plants, how they are grown and cared for, and how they can be prepared. The garden also offers opportunities for student leadership and community involvement. Residents can attend a workshop at the Resident Garden, participate in garden workdays, or adopt their own plot in the garden.
In addition, the UC Davis Arboretum website has a section on its website under “Learn” called “Sustainable Gardening Resources” that features A Sustainable Gardening Toolkit as well as sustainable planting plans including the Arboretum All-Stars, 100 trial-tested sustainable plants, suitable for the region.
For more information, visit the following websites:
Student Housing and Dining Services:
https://housing.ucdavis.edu/sustainability/
(Includes: Sustainable Move-In, Waste Guide, Thermostat Guides, Water Refill Station, Sustainable Action Guide, Newsletter, Sustainable Move-Out)
SHDS Living-Learning and Shared-Interest Communities:
https://housing.ucdavis.edu/academics/living-learning-communities
UC Davis Sustainable Living and Learning Communities (SLLC): https://sllc.ucdavis.edu/
UC Davis Sustainability, “How do I … ?”: https://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/how
Trim the Waste: https://trimthewaste.ucdavis.edu
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXAGysSJC1SMLjhx-xg6RtUfWjZQgRHRf
Resident Gardens:
https://housing.ucdavis.edu/sustainability/resident-gardens/
UC Davis Arboretum: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/
Sustainable Gardening Toolkit: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/sustainable-gardening-toolkit
Sustainable Planting Plans: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/tags/planting-plans
Arboretum All-Stars: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/arboretum-all-stars
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
The newly built Teaching & Learning Complex, while still under LEED certification review, published a comprehensive digital signage package highlighting the educational and sustainable innovations included in the building’s design.
“Dateline” is the UC Davis’ weekly employee email newsletter and regularly includes articles on sustainability and the environment.
Strategic Communications has a comprehensive website on climate change, including information on the science, impacts, and solutions as well as news articles. The website also has a solutions-oriented blog, “What Can I Do About Climate Change.”
The National Center for Sustainable Transportation publishes quarterly newsletters to advertise sustainability webinars, conferences, research, and presentations.
Student Housing and Dining Services (SHDS) distributes a weekly email newsletter to all Student Housing residents called the Aggie Reader. Every Aggie Reader has a section devoted to sustainability news, events, facts, tips, etc. Any campus department may submit material for the Aggie Reader. SHDS Sustainability also creates a weekly sustainability and nutrition newsletter written by student staff. The newsletter includes upcoming sustainability and nutrition events and initiatives, sustainable living tips, and other campus sustainability opportunities. Subscribers include select campus partners, Resident Advisors, and residents that sign-up for the newsletter. The list-serve resets each year.
Student Housing and Dining Services maintains social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) where regular sustainability messaging is included. They also maintain dedicated sustainability bulletin boards throughout the Residence Halls and Dining Commons, as well as Resident Advisor maintained sustainability bulletin boards on every residence hall floor. There are also LCD displays with sustainability initiatives and messaging in the Residence Halls and Dining Commons. The Dining Commons also have messaging about sustainability initiatives on napkin holder inserts.
Facilities Energy and Engineering has a newsletter that goes out once a month called What’s Watt with Joules the Cow. There are two versions of the newsletter, one for students and the other for staff members. They differ slightly to serve varying levels off familiarity and interest in energy information. Usually the newsletter contains a recap of the previous quarter or a project, current activity, trends, tips, highlights of staff/interns, green building information, reminders to use TherMOOstat and success stories, and blog posts.
The Energy and Efficiency Institute curates a newsletter that highlights energy projects, staff members, student interns, and events or campaigns happening.
The Arboretum puts out a quarterly print newsletter, the Review, that often highlights sustainable measures being taken in the arboretum and encourages sustainable planting. The archives are located on the arboretum website.
The Arboretum regularly sends out The Leaflet, a digital newsletter, that often highlights the Arboretum’s sustainable practices, promotes sustainably-minded events, and encourages sustainable gardening.
The UC Davis Institute of the Environment has a quarterly newsletter called Planet Matters, which includes a message from the director, highlights, events, news, job posts, and spotlights on environmental research and conservation. Several of the centers organized under the umbrella of the Institute manage their own newsletters and blogs.
For more information, visit the following websites:
Explore the Teaching & Learning Complex: https://www.figma.com/proto/aPsBGbVLKvNBP5vjzRvmIT/TLC-Dashboard---Winter-2022?node-id=2135-3358&scaling=contain&page-id=1922%3A1712&starting-point-node-id=2135%3A3358
Dateline: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/environment
Climate Change website: climatechange.ucdavis.edu
What Can I do About Climate Change blog: https://climatechange.ucdavis.edu/what-can-i-do-about-climate-change/
National Center for Sustainable Transportation newsletters: https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/articles/newsletters
Aggie Reader newsletter: https://housing.ucdavis.edu/aggie-reader/subscribe/
Energy Efficiency Institute newsletter: https://energy.ucdavis.edu/newsletter/
Arboretum social media links
https://www.facebook.com/UCDavisArboretum
https://www.instagram.com/ucdavis_arboretum/
https://twitter.com/ucd_arboretum
UCD Institute of the Environment
https://environment.ucdavis.edu/newsletter
https://m.facebook.com/UCDEnvironment/
https://www.instagram.com/ucd_environment/
UC Davis Natural Reserves: https://naturalreserves.ucdavis.edu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucdavisnaturalreserves
Bodega Blog https://bodegahead.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UCDavisNaturalReserves/
Facebook Stebbins Cold Canyon: https://www.facebook.com/fosccr/
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.