| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Jonna Korpi |
| Submission Date | Aug. 2, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Minnesota, Duluth
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Mindy
Granley Sustainability Director UMD Office of Sustainability |
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 and the UMD Campus are committed to communicating, educating, and inspiring action to integrate sustainability into all aspects of campus life. Our website incorporates past, current, and future aspirations for UMD Sustainability efforts in Energy, Education & Research, Transportation, Commitment, Waste & Recycling, Land & Water, and more. The website links to our AddingUptoZero blog - including a box with live-feeds to ensure current information/events are communicated.
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:
Our sustainability newsletter is in the form of an online blog with current sustainability news, events, and green tips. The entries are fed onto our main UMD Sustainability website, and an email is sent (via UMD email list: BizAnnounce) regularly to encourage faculty, staff and students to visit the blog.
Stories from the AddingUptoZero blog are shared on facebook also (where over 150 students subscribe/"like" the Sustainability Office site) This is a powerful tool to disseminate information, because students will then re-post a story to their facebook, and gain more interest from their friends who attend UMD
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:
A new program offers UMD students research money and links to faculty, staff, and community members for sustainability projects. The Sustainable Development Research Opportunity Project program funds research projects. Results will be disseminated to the campus through the College of Liberal Arts Sustainable Development office, websites, and highlighted on the UMD Sustainability Office website.
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 Labovitz School of Business and Economics (UMD's first LEED Gold building) has signs that feature the green and sustainable elements in building. These elements include energy efficiency, water savings, healthy building elements, lighting upgrades, and recycled/local building materials. The new Bagley Classroom will have signs and displays with energy usage information as well. In addition, when construction/renovation projects are in process, signs are being included to explain energy savings, greenhouse gas reductions and other sustainability upgrades. (One example is the ice rink replacement project, which reduced refrigerant chemicals and greenhouse gasses: http://www.d.umn.edu/sustain/green_buildings/img/SpHC/rink_poster_MG.pdf)
Details for all of our green buildings are being archived on our UMD Sustainability website (click on Energy->Green Buildings).
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:
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:
Our biggest sustainable grounds feature is the UMD Rain Garden (http://www.d.umn.edu/sustain/raingarden/index.html), and the Garden is continually featured/toured by campus and our surrounding community members. The rain garden has a large display, along with paper copies of plant lists and a suggested tour of the stormwater treatment features. The tour guide and plant list are also uploaded on our website.
In addition, our Grounds crews use many alternative plantings to sod, including wildflowers and native plants, which also have signs across campus.
In Summer 2010 and 2011, edible gardens were planted on campus. Interpretative signs were posted in these gardens, and a fall Harvest Event for student volunteers and the campus will be hosted, serving the veggies and berries from campus.
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:
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:
Yes, our free U-Pass program for students and staff is available online, and featured in many outreach events throughout the year on campus. We also have a bike-to-UMD brochure online (also featured at our Bike-to-School and Bike-to-Work events, and the UMD Farmers Market.)
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:
Resident Assistants are given information on living sustainably in the dorms and are encouraged to incorporate green themes into displays and information boards on their dorm and apartment floors.
Signage is also displayed in the Laundry Rooms for "going green while getting clean".
A new Sustainable Living Guide was developed by student Nate Levendoski. The Guide summarizes presentations giving to RAs and incoming freshman at Bulldog Welcome Week. The Guide is available to RAs to create meeting themes and bulletin boards.
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:
In 2010, UMD Office of Sustainability worked with the UMD Statesman editor to publish regular (once per month) editorials and quips/tweets about sustainable choices for the campus community. The Statesman ran a "Shades of Green" corner in every other month during the year, which allowed UMD Sustainability office student staff to submit columns on topics about energy, campus efforts, and individual sustainable choices.
Also, the Sustainability Office has a contract with KUMD, the campus radio station to publish Public Service Announcements.
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 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 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 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:
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.