| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.92 |
| Liaison | Sally DeLeon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 12, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Maryland, College Park
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Sally
DeLeon Acting Manager Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
The Office of Sustainability maintains and updates a public website that highlights all of the sustainable efforts on campus.
The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
About once every three weeks, the Office of Sustainability sends an e-newsletter containing news, events, internships, tips, and other announcements related to sustainability.
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Each of the University of Maryland's thirteen colleges and schools has a different vehicle to publish and disseminate student research. College use a combination of online and print media to share news about student research projects. Student research on sustainability is often featured on the Department of Environmental Science & Technology website and the A. James Clark Engineering School website, but a sustainability-related project may be featured through a wide variety of departmental websites and newsletters.
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
The Office of Sustainability has worked with project partners around campus to develop a number of signs highlighting projects that will eventually become part of a campus sustainability tour. Signage that highlights the benefits of a green roof is posted outside of a residence hall with a full green roof (Cumberland Hall). Both of the first campus-owned LEED Gold certified buildings--the School of Journalism (Knight Hall) and a new residence hall (Oakland Hall)--have interactive displays about green features of the buildings inside their entry ways. There is also signage about rainwater capture in landscaped areas including a park-like quad surrounded by residence halls (Washington Quad), which is irrigated using water from an underground rainwater cistern.
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Food service area signage was completed in fall 2011 to engage and direct diners to properly sort their waste into compost, recycling and trash bins.
The university also uses uniform recycling and waste signage throughout campus.
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Signage about bio-retention ponds, bioswales, community gardens, and other sustainable grounds-keeping strategies are posted around campus. At the Peace and Friendship garden there is a sign about a solar-pumping station that was installed for irrigation and funded by the University Sustainability Fund.
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
A self-guided walking tour of the Sustainability Fund Projects is currently being developed. Interactive signs with QR codes were installed at project sites in 2011 and 2012 and additional signs for new projects will be added every year.
Maryland’s Facilities Management created the Campus Tree Walk on McKeldin Mall. The walk shows off numerous trees that are a part of the campus’s arboretum.
Maryland’s Facilities Management department created a native garden tour with outdoor signage to teach the public about the gardens' current and regionally important forces of nature and man. The gardens also serve to increase public environmental literacy for a sustainable future.
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
On the Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) website, an entire section is devoted to alternative transportation for commuters. Information is given about Shuttle-UM, bicycling, ZipCar, carpooling, and green parking permits.
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Department of Resident Life posts a Guide to Sustainable Living in Residence Halls online that provides tips on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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)?:
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:
The Diamondback, the University of Maryland's primary student newspaper, covers sustainability issues regularly with a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat.
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:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
A brief description of this material:
The University of Maryland’s Office of Sustainability has its own Twitter page.
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
A brief description of this material:
The University pf Maryland’s Office of Sustainability has its own Facebook page.
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
A brief description of this material:
The Office of Sustainability publishes a Campus Sustainability magazine every two years.
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
A brief description of this material:
The website URL for this material:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Building signage that highlights green building features: should be updated
Food service area signage: need URL
Signage for sustainable groundskeeping: need URL
Sustainability walking map:
-Walking tour of Sustainability Fund projects may need to be updated
-Links on word document don't work for the Campus Tree Walk or native garden tour so I found working ones
http://www.arboretum.umd.edu/sitepages/discover/treeWalk.aspx
http://www.arboretum.umd.edu/documents/native%20gardens.pdf
Building signage that highlights green building features: should be updated
Food service area signage: need URL
Signage for sustainable groundskeeping: need URL
Sustainability walking map:
-Walking tour of Sustainability Fund projects may need to be updated
-Links on word document don't work for the Campus Tree Walk or native garden tour so I found working ones
http://www.arboretum.umd.edu/sitepages/discover/treeWalk.aspx
http://www.arboretum.umd.edu/documents/native%20gardens.pdf
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.