University of California, Irvine
EN-2: Student Orientation

Sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation in the following ways:

FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS & TRANSFER STUDENTS

During Summer 2018, 2019, and 2020 New Student Orientation (Student Parent Orientation Program, SPOP), the SRC outreached to incoming freshmen and transfer students at a student led informational booth. All students were provided an opportunity to participate in the sustainability orientation services. In the Summer of 2019 (the last in-person SPOP), over 1,000 incoming freshmen and transfer students were directly served by the informational booth.

SPOP additionally, hosts a resource fair where UCI Dining and UCI Transportation and Distribution Services provide information on campus sustainability information and resources. See additional Dining and Transportation programs for all students below.

NEW - Incoming undergraduate residents receive a handout on tips for a greener move-in via email with their housing assignment. In 2018 and 2019, trained student “Trash Talkers” roamed first year residential communities the weekend of move in to assist with peer-to-peer education for proper waste disposal and recycling of any boxes.

During New Staff Student Orientation (Housing Staff Training) at the start of Fall 2020, over 130 Housing student and professional staff (serving 8,964 undergraduate and graduate residents) received sustainability training to incorporate into their resident orientation, programming, and hall practices for the academic year and included the following key learning objectives:

1. Know the Housing Mission/ Vision/ Values related to Sustainability: http://housing.uci.edu/sustainability/index.html
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the definition of Sustainability including its interrelated environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the current state of the planet related to concerns about water, waste, and energy.
4. Know what the UC system, UCI, and UCI Housing are doing to address these challenges. Get the contact information for key campus partners.
5. Receive targeted presentations on Zero Waste resources.
6. Articulate how their employment position relates to the Housing value of Sustainability and complete some basic action planning for their hall/community.
7. Gain access to sustainability resources that includes educational materials, campus resources, and activities/program ideas to do with residents.
8. Participate in at least one program idea/activity student staff can recreate within their communities for residents.

In Fall 2018 and 2019, and Winter 2021 the Sustainability Resource Center (SRC) and Housing Sustainability, in collaboration with other campus sustainability departments and organizations, organized a Sustainability Fair as an orientation to the sustainability landscape and opportunities across campus. While targeted towards incoming students, the Sustainability Fair is open to all students and has reached over 1,000 students in the past three years. Booths covered topics such as environmental justice, recreation, sustainable transportation, zero waste, water conservation, energy efficiency, global volunteer opportunities, food security, and more.

ENTERING GRADUATE STUDENTS

Sustainability is incorporated into graduate student orientation via campus-wide events, including the Anteater Involvement Fair (https://campusorgs.uci.edu/program_events/anteater_involvement.php) and the Sustainability Fair. The Anteater Involvement Fair allows both incoming undergraduate and graduate students to learn how to get involved with campus and community organizations, including several sustainability-oriented organizations and clubs. Additionally, incoming graduate student residents have access to multiple student gardens and are provided with information on green resources such as maps to donation and e-waste bins and how to compost in their apartment.

ALL STUDENTS

Incoming students who are shopping for meal plans find information about sustainable dining options on the website for UCI Dining. This information includes UCI's commitments to responsible sourcing, waste minimization, and efficient operations. Menu information includes information on kosher, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free food choices. See: http://uci.campusdish.com/

UCI Transportation and Distribution Services hosts uciRIDEtoberfest each fall. The festival of bikes, sustainability, good food, and fun serves as a orientation to sustainable transportation options. The festival includes hands-on guidance from our own League of American Bicyclists certified instructors, used bike sales, opportunities to learn about electric vehicle purchasing options, and improve your overall biking knowledge. See https://www.bike.uci.edu/events-private/uciridetoberfest/

The information in this credit was provided by:

Rachel Harvey
Sustainability Coordinator
Housing Administrative Services
(949) 824-5263
raharvey@uci.edu