| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.39 |
| Liaison | Shane Stennes |
| Submission Date | Dec. 15, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
EN-2: Student Orientation
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.20 / 2.00 |
August
Horner Sustainability Student Asst Office of Sustainability |
The percentage of entering students that are provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability:
A brief description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation:
Staff and students are involved in workshops, tabling events, and talks about various sustainability programs on campus during Welcome Week, the University’s week-long extended orientation program. Residence hall leaders, along with over 400 Welcome Week leaders, receive orientation on sustainability and/or training on sustainability programs held during Welcome Week. Also, in the introduction to residence halls, community advisers conduct trash sorts to demonstrate how to properly use the three stack series of recycling bins.
Current student leaders support sustainability efforts throughout Welcome Week through participating in events like Sustainability Action!, zero waste Class of 2019 Cookout and encouraging their groups to get involved in sustainability efforts on campus.
Sustainable events: Zero waste meals are served during Welcome Week and an effort has been made to reduce “throwaway giveaways”. The 60+ printed Welcome Week handbook was eliminated in 2014 and program information was offered through U Minnesota app/Class of 2019 guide. Additionally, the events are scheduled across our three UMTC campuses; students ride the bus and connector during the week, many for the first time, getting over the initial hurdle of using public transportation.
Engagement: Sustainability topics are also intertwined in the community engagement portion of the orientation - this is an important aspect of the urban campus especially as students move off campus in the following years. An open house with our Institute on the Environment is part of the ‘U of M Day’, which helps show how university research is linking to issues that are important on campus, locally and globally (energy, food, transportation, etc). Current students participate in the event to connect new students to on-campus groups as well as community organizations focused on the environment and sustainability. This event offers every student the chance to engage with demonstration projects, hands-on learning activities, and chances to win prizes all while learning about sustainability.
The website URL where information about sustainability in student orientation is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
60% taken as 90% of incoming freshman that attend the full orientation.
60% taken as 90% of incoming freshman that attend the full orientation.
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.