University of California, San Diego
EN-2: Student Orientation

Sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation at UC San Diego through various initiatives.  

FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS & TRANSFER STUDENTS 

All first-year and transfer students are provided the Orientation Sustainability Module, a two-minute video created by Housing, Dining, and Hospitality (HDH) Sustainability and the EcoNauts. The video introduces incoming students to sustainability concepts, promotes sustainable behaviors, and provides tips on waste sorting, resource conservation, sustainable food options, and sustainable transportation options. This module is part of all UC San Diego College Orientation programs, including undergraduate and transfer orientations.  

During orientation, all first-year and transfer students are provided digital copies of the UC San Diego Waste Sorting Guide and Green Living Guide. The Waste Sorting Guide provides education and guidance on why, where, and how to sort waste on campus. The Green Living Guide provides information about UC sustainability goals and policies, simple sustainable behaviors and actions to take while at UC San Diego, and how to get involved.  

Seventh College has incorporated sustainability into its formal orientation program, including a "Sustainability at Seventh College" section that discusses the college's carbon footprint and the impact of event choices. The college has also taken steps to make its programming more sustainable, such as using class t-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles, providing vegan catering, and eliminating single-use beverage containers. 

ENTERING GRADUATE STUDENTS 

All entering graduate students are introduced to sustainability at UC San Diego via the official Incoming Graduate Student Resource Guide, which is provided as a resouce in all new graduate student orientations (https://grad.ucsd.edu/student-life/events/orientation/index.html). Information on sustainability programs, sustainable behavior tips, and recycling and composting are included in the guide.    

ALL STUDENTS 

All incoming students are provided with information about sustainable transportation and the Basic Needs Hub through the New Triton website. Students learn about alternative transportation options including public transit, cycling, and campus shuttles (https://newtriton.ucsd.edu/get-around/index.html). Students are also provided information about the resources provided through the Basic Needs Hub, including access to nutritious food, stable housing, and financial wellness (https://newtriton.ucsd.edu/wellness/index.html).   

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