Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 60.20
Liaison Jonathan Rausseo
Submission Date March 29, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Ottawa
EN-2: Student Orientation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Padraic O'Brien
Campus Relations Coordinator
Ottawa Public Interest Research Group uOttawa
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Are the following students provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability?:
Yes or No
First-year students Yes
Transfer students Yes
Entering graduate students Yes

Percentage of all entering (i.e. new) students (including transfers and graduate students) that are provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability (0-100):
100

A brief description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation (including how multiple dimensions of sustainability are addressed):

Alternative 101 Week is an orientation week ran by the Ontario Public Research Interest Group which offers students a radically different and politically progressive orientation experience. The events focus on sustainability and other forms of activism/progressive initiatives on campus. These events are open to all incoming students.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

1) Orientation Week programming:
During orientation week, the new students are told about many sustainability related initiatives on campus. The Student Federation (SFUO) focuses on telling students about the sustainability services available through the student unions and some of the sustainability related campaigns that they work on (ex. Right to Water Campaign). This is reinforced with messaging during some orientation week events.

2) Environmentally friendly swag :
The Student Federation takes many steps to reduce the overall environmental footprint of the materials that they distribute to the new students. In past years the SFUO has provided memory sticks instead of paper, has put their programs on-line rather than in pamphlets, and provided students with organic cotton, fair-trade t-shirts. These initiatives are sometimes coordinated for greater impact (ex. All SFUO Orientation Week events are Bottled Water Free. This message is repeated at various events and students are provided with a free reusable water canteen).

3) Alternative 101 (2010) :
During Orientation week, the Ottawa Public Interest and Research Group (OPIRG) hosts an event called Alternative 101. The idea behind this event is to offer students an accessible alternative to the typical frosh events. Alternative 101 introduces students to the surrounding community, safe sexual practices, socially progressive documentaries, nature walks, a green campus tour, and sustainable food options. This event is run in partnership with the SFUO and the Office of Campus Sustainability.

4) International student orientation (2010) :
Every semester the International Students are treated to a presentation by the Office of Campus Sustainability about the sustainability initiatives on campus. The new students are then treated to a Free Store (where used items can find a new home) so that they do not have to purchase new items.

5) Green campus ambassadors :
The University of Ottawa tours over 50,000 prospective students and their parents around the campus. Through a partnership with the Office of Campus Sustainability and the Liaison Office, campus ambassadors are taught about some of the sustainable aspects of the campus and in turn relay some of this information during their campus tours, thereby raising awareness about campus sustainability issues. This also extends to our off campus liaison team.

Other responsible parties :

Josee Richard
Alt 101 Coordinator , OPIRG
gripocampus@gmail.com's email

Jonathan Rausseo
Gestionnaire de développement durable | Campus Sustainability Manager - Service des immeubles | Physical Resources Services - 613.562.5800 x 2530 - www.durable.uOttawa.ca | www.sustainable.uOttawa.ca

Gabrielle Arkett
Summer Assistant
SFUO Sustainable Development Centre
greenevents@sfuo.ca


1) Orientation Week programming:
During orientation week, the new students are told about many sustainability related initiatives on campus. The Student Federation (SFUO) focuses on telling students about the sustainability services available through the student unions and some of the sustainability related campaigns that they work on (ex. Right to Water Campaign). This is reinforced with messaging during some orientation week events.

2) Environmentally friendly swag :
The Student Federation takes many steps to reduce the overall environmental footprint of the materials that they distribute to the new students. In past years the SFUO has provided memory sticks instead of paper, has put their programs on-line rather than in pamphlets, and provided students with organic cotton, fair-trade t-shirts. These initiatives are sometimes coordinated for greater impact (ex. All SFUO Orientation Week events are Bottled Water Free. This message is repeated at various events and students are provided with a free reusable water canteen).

3) Alternative 101 (2010) :
During Orientation week, the Ottawa Public Interest and Research Group (OPIRG) hosts an event called Alternative 101. The idea behind this event is to offer students an accessible alternative to the typical frosh events. Alternative 101 introduces students to the surrounding community, safe sexual practices, socially progressive documentaries, nature walks, a green campus tour, and sustainable food options. This event is run in partnership with the SFUO and the Office of Campus Sustainability.

4) International student orientation (2010) :
Every semester the International Students are treated to a presentation by the Office of Campus Sustainability about the sustainability initiatives on campus. The new students are then treated to a Free Store (where used items can find a new home) so that they do not have to purchase new items.

5) Green campus ambassadors :
The University of Ottawa tours over 50,000 prospective students and their parents around the campus. Through a partnership with the Office of Campus Sustainability and the Liaison Office, campus ambassadors are taught about some of the sustainable aspects of the campus and in turn relay some of this information during their campus tours, thereby raising awareness about campus sustainability issues. This also extends to our off campus liaison team.

Other responsible parties :

Josee Richard
Alt 101 Coordinator , OPIRG
gripocampus@gmail.com's email

Jonathan Rausseo
Gestionnaire de développement durable | Campus Sustainability Manager - Service des immeubles | Physical Resources Services - 613.562.5800 x 2530 - www.durable.uOttawa.ca | www.sustainable.uOttawa.ca

Gabrielle Arkett
Summer Assistant
SFUO Sustainable Development Centre
greenevents@sfuo.ca

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.