| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Patrick McKee |
| Submission Date | April 15, 2013 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Connecticut
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Jennifer
Clinton Sustainability Coordinator Office of Environmental Policy |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes
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A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
The Office of Environmental Policy maintains a website that consolidates information on campus sustainability initiatives. The website highlights sustainability in the University news, social media, environmental policy updates, the Climate Action Plan, current and past sustainability events and initiatives, two (student-based and a university-wide) blogs on sustainability, and recycling and resource reduction. Additionally, the Eco-Husky Student Group website contains information directed towards students, such as sustainability efforts by students, a shortlist of classes with sustainability content, and information for getting involved with sustainability initiatives.
None
The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
None
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Sustainability Newsletter highlights major sustainability updates, events, and milestones for the preceding 6 months. It is published by the Office of Environmental Policy at the end of the spring and fall semesters.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
None
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The CESE database is a new effort to consolidate research related to climate change impact, mitigation, and adaptation, by both faculty and students. Efforts are underway to expand the program to be a comprehensive directory of relevant research initiatives.
Additionally, the C2E2 group provides lists of publications related to clean energy advancements made by faculty and student teams at UConn.
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The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
None
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
UConn is currently in the process of designing “energy dashboards” to be installed in at least two of the newly constructed, LEED-certified buildings. These will indicate not only the energy and water usage of the buildings, but also highlight the buildings’ green and low-impact design features, such as bioretention basins and sustainably-sourced building materials.
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The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes
None
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
The Dining Services web site houses information on sustainable food initiatives, including 10 reasons to buy local food, monthly newsletters, Spring Valley Student Farm, Dining Service Apiaries, and UConn’s Real Slow Food initiatives.
Following the Food Waste study EcoHusky did in conjunction with the Dining Services, UConn also has table tents in the cafeterias where the studies took place to increase awareness of how much food the students were throwing away at the end of their meal.
Additionally, as part of its responsibilities as a federal land grant University, UConn maintains public access to grass fed dairy and beef operations, with signage explaining the programs and sustainable design of the building enclosures where applicable.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
None
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes
None
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Construction areas are marked by signage that explain the sustainable policies behind large renovation projects.
None
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
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Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The goal of UConn’s sustainability map is to provide people with a resource to show people locations of sustainability initiatives on campus, including rain gardens, biodiesel lab, and the Spring Valley Farm.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203672297949199831374.0004b00cc9eee40921539&msa=0&ie=UTF8&t=h&vpsrc=6&ll=41.80894,-72.277508&spn=0.061417,0.109863&z=13&source=embed
UConn also provides a guide that highlights 40 of the hundreds of varieties of trees on campus, for “a self-guided tour visiting trees of special interest.” The UConn Storrs campus itself also recognized as a living arboretum of historic interest, including outstanding specimens of rarity, importance , or advanced age. The walking tour highlights these features:
http://www.hort.uconn.edu/arboretum/walk.pdf
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The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
None
Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
UConn provides all students, including commuters, information pertaining to its routine on-campus and regional WRTD bus services (http://transpo.uconn.edu/#home); on and off-campus on-demand shuttle services (http://transpo.uconn.edu/#onDemand); and associated alternative transportation programs, including Megabus lines, ride-sharing, car sharing, and airports (http://transpo.uconn.edu/#alternatives).
Additionally, ride-sharing programs are available through several regional affiliations, including the one, featured in the University newspaper (http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2009/01/new-online-site-connects-colleagues-for-carpooling-to-storrs-campus/).
None
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
None
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
UConn provides guides on incorporating sustainability into the residential experience by providing resources to resident assistants who can disseminate the information among their students. The following PDFs can be converted into bulletin board notices to hang up in dorm hallways and common areas, and contain information suitable for dissemination to students in dorms, apartments, or in general.
http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/docs/outreach/resources/DormGreenLiving.pdf
http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/docs/outreach/resources/EnergyEfficiency.pdf
http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/docs/outreach/resources/DontThrowThatOut.pdf
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The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
None
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)?:
Yes
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A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
Yes. Undergraduate student Kelsey Sullivan writes a column titled “The New Green” in UConn’s Daily Campus.
The web link below is an example of her content.
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
The Connecticut State Cooperative Extension is housed at the Storrs Campus, which produces newsletters, youth programs, homeowner extension materials, agricultural extension materials, and resource use materials for the University, surrounding communities, and state.
For example, this is the publication on Water Quality and the Home Landscape: http://www.sustainability.uconn.edu/factsheets.html
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The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
Through its participation in the Connecticut Sea Grant program, resources for landowners, researchers, policy-makers, and residents of watershed and marine areas are produced and made available to interested parties at no or low-cost.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
CLEAR provides information, education and assistance to Connecticut's land use decision makers, community organizations and citizens on how to better protect natural resources while accommodating economic growth.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
Several of the groups, including the Office of Environmental Policy, maintain Facebook pages to provide students with current updates on advancements, milestones, tips, events, and research.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
The Office of Environmental Policy started a blog site in Fall 2011 for undergraduate and graduate students to share their thoughts, tips, experiences, and views on sustainability at UConn.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
The Connecticut NEMO program provides publications and workshop materials to assist regional city planners. NEMO is a part of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR). CLEAR provides information, education and assistance to Connecticut's land use decision makers on how to better protect natural resources while accommodating economic growth.
"The heart of the NEMO program is face-to-face workshops for local officials. NEMO offers a number of workshop topics to help you target the challenges your town faces."
http://nemo.uconn.edu/
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The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
In 2012, the Office of Environmental Policy began Sustainable UConn, a university-wide blog focused on the environment, clear energy, and social responsibility. The content is written primarily by the OEP director Rich Miller and several OEP interns under his direction.
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The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
The Eco-Husky Student Group produces Sustainable Office guidelines, which are disseminated at large events.
None
The website URL for this material:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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