University of Montana
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Tayli
Hillyard Sustainability Engagement Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
1st campaign
A brief description of the campaign:
Over the past year and a half, the Office of Sustainability has hosted multiple workshops and presentations focusing on sustainable swag at UM. Many departments and programs across campus purchase large batches of outreach materials and much of these materials end up in the landfill soon after they are given out, or at our Campus Thrift event at the end of the year. The Sustainability Office has been working with departments to help them think about their outreach goals, what messages they are trying to relay, and if they really need swag, flyers, or small plastic things made in China to reach their goals.
We hosted one lunch-and-learn and two presentations to large campus groups, shared one-page infographics as part of larger presentations with multiple offices, and even worked with facilitators of large events to see how we could reduce the amount of swag on tables.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
Since large tabling events at the start of each semester are often FULL of swag, our team decided that a good measure of our impact would be to observe the popularity of swag at this last year's main tabling events. We do not have a 'baseline year' against which to compare, though perhaps 2023/24 should be that year now that we have lots of photos and qualitative information from conversations with departments. Office of Sustainability staff took photos of all of the tables/organizations present at Welcome Feast, UM's largest and most popular tabling/outreach event early in the fall semester. When we reviewed the photos from Welcome Feast, we found that the majority of items on the tables were candy and small paper flyers and stickers. The number of tables with "junk" swag (koozies, pens, ice scrapers, etc.) was less than we had anticipated, and most of the swag that WAS still present came from non-UM businesses and programs.
Additional evidence of our impact: Our Big Sky Experience (freshman orientation) has shifted to issuing the same shirt for four years at a time so that they aren't left with boxes of old, outdated t-shirts and can use leftover shirts that rollover year to year. The committee that coordinates Big Sky Experience now purchases nicer, larger items like wet bags for floating the river, hammocks, water bottles, and bucket hats, with students getting a choice of one item. We have also begun to see tabling events where event organizers utilize "passports" or bingo cards, encouraging participants to go around and learn about the various departments/organizations at the event for bingo spaces or passport 'stamps.' The students then turn in their bingo cards or passports to win larger prizes, rather than resorting to each organization relying on swag.
if reporting an additional campaign, provide:
2nd campaign
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
In spring of 2024, we launched a compost collection pilot in two buildings on campus. Over the past three years, we have only had composting in three locations on campus near campus dining locations (UC Commons, Rise + Rooted, and the Food Zoo). After constant feedback from students that they wish to see more widespread compost collection, we installed compost containers on all three floors of the University Center (our student union building) and the Gallagher Business Building (GBB). GBB was our first attempt at collecting compost in an academic building.
To draw attention to the new compost containers, we shared slides on the many TV screens around campus, created lots of social media content, and added new signage to landfill containers directing students to the new compost containers. A graduate student worked with us to administer a survey of GBB occupants who interacted with the new containers and advertised the survey across campus and with a QR code right on the bins. We also mentioned this effort in multiple sustainability presentations to classes throughout the semester.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
During the pilot semester, Office of Sustainability staff collected over 200 lbs of compost, including over 836 compostable coffee cups. We received over 80 survey responses to our composting survey and are excited to roll out composting in at least two more buildings for fall 2024! Waste characterization studies from this pilot and the formal study done in fall 2023 by students during freshman orientation helped us justify the expanstion of our pilot programs in the University Center and our academic buildings.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://umt.box.com/s/lix8xcv4dnwe6mcug0ddb5tj9peqk3cd (link to Swag campaign folder of materials, presentations, and more).
https://www.umt.edu/sustainability/campus-initiatives/waste/compost.php (compost pilot project)
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