University of California, Santa Cruz
EN-2: Student Orientation

Sustainability is part of new student orientation at UCSC, and there are two modules in the online orientation that introduce students to sustainability and get them ready to engage with sustainability while they're on campus. The first of these modules' text is copied below to welcome all of "the Banana Slug family":

"Sustainability is a key part of our culture at UC Santa Cruz - it is a campus priority and part of what we do. Faculty, staff, and students alike work hard to reduce our waste, recycle, conserve energy & water, purchase sustainable products & food, and we honor the crucial role that social & environmental justice plays in our robust sustainability movement.

The Sustainability Office was established in 2006 and since then UCSC has accomplished a lot:
In 2021, the Princeton Review named UCSC the 3rd greenest school in the country
The Sierra Club has ranked us in the top 25 greenest schools for six years in a row
Our innovative transportation programs have won numerous awards for its mix of van pools, bike shuttle, bus passes, 69 EV charging stations, and a ZipCar car sharing program
46% of food purchased by Dining in 2020-21 was sustainably sourced
Campus is home to 7 LEED Gold, 7 LEED Silver, and 2 LEED Certified buildings
We’ve already met the 2025 UC wide-system goal of a 36% water usage reduction compared to 2005-08 levels
UCSC coined the term inclusive sustainability, which:
Disrupts the idea that the university and the formally educated are the gatekeepers of knowledge
Acknowledges efforts made by people of color to advance sustainability
Recognizes that many sustainability efforts have historically ignored and discriminated against communities of color
Embraces different cultural approaches of caring for the environment
Emphasizes intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches
And so much more!

We can’t wait for you to join us as we tackle sustainability goals like zero waste and carbon neutrality!"