| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.45 |
| Liaison | Austin Sutherland |
| Submission Date | May 1, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Pennsylvania
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
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Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Penn’s Green Campus Partnership website was launched in September 2009 to serve as a central repository for all sustainability news, information, and initiatives at Penn. The site contains the full Climate Action Plan, Climate Action Plan Progress Reports, news and information about the progress being made, links to media coverage, the On College Green e-newsletter, and Green Campus Partnership programs, like Eco-Reps, Green Fund, etc. It is also a useful source of information guiding individuals on how to improve their green initiatives.
None
The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
None
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Green Campus Partnership publishes a bi-monthly e-newsletter, "The Red & Blue on College Green," to provide the Penn community with facts and figures on our progress, as well as helpful tips on how to “green” Penn. It features highlights about those individuals who are demonstrating great success in meeting the goals of the Climate Action Plan. The Red & Blue on College Green is sent to over 6500 direct subscribers as of FY13.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
None
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The Penn Sustainability Review (PSR) is a student-run online and print publication featuring sustainability-related opinion editorials, leadership interviews, and academic papers. PSR aims to provide a platform for all members of the Penn community to exchange knowledge, ideas, and perspectives on wide-ranging sustainability issues. Over the course of every academic year, the PSR team publishes a print publication and maintains regular online editorial updates that incorporate relevant thought-provoking articles. Both the print and online editions of the PSR cover a number of topics including climate change, green architecture, corporate strategic sustainability, resource and energy conservation, public policy, and sustainable technology. PSR was awarded a Green Fund Grant in Fall 2011 to support the launch of the first issue.
None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
None
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Discover Penn is a campus-wide cell phone tour that provides an innovative approach to experiencing the campus. The program helps users understand Penn in a different and unexpected way - as a place - its people, its art, its buildings, its academics, its landscape. The program, which started in Fall 2008, currently has fifteen sites identified by the red Discover Penn signs placed at the locations. The recordings are done by Penn faculty, alumni, and other experts. The messages run approximately two minutes long and vary between deep, trivial, serious, and lighthearted. The sites are equally diverse, including public art, historic buildings, and research milestones. The Music Building, a LEED Gold Building, is one of the many stops on this tour.
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
None
Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes
None
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Penn Dining and Bon Appetit, the University's food service provider, regularly place signage in dining halls on campus about their sustainability practices, including local food sourcing.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
None
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes
None
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Discover Penn is a campus-wide cell phone tour that provides an innovative approach to experiencing the campus. The program helps users understand Penn in a different and unexpected way - as a place - its people, its art, its buildings, its academics, its landscape. The program, which started in Fall 2008, currently has fifteen sites identified by the red Discover Penn signs placed at the locations. The recordings are done by Penn Trustees, faculty, alumni, and those who are experts in their field or who have a close connection to Penn. The sites are equally diverse, including public art, historic buildings, and research milestones. Penn Park and Shoemaker Green are key stops on the Discover Penn Tour. The Penn Park stop on recording on the tour is done by Michael Van Valkenburg, President and CEO of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates - the firm that designed Penn Park. The Shoemaker Green recording is given by Jose Alminana, Principal of Andropogon Associates Ltd. There is also a stop on the tour that discusses the Penn campus as an urban forest, a recording by Paul Meyer, Director of the Morris Arboretum.
None
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
None
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The Penn Sustainability Walking Tour highlights LEED Buildings on campus, best practices in stormwater management, Green Fund projects, electric vehicle charging stations, and more.
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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None
Does the institution have a guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Penn’s compact urban campus is well served by an extensive network of subway, bus, regional rail, national rail, car-sharing, and trolley lines that are located around the campus where public transit stops are never more than a five minute walk from any part of campus. The University provides a number of programs to encourage faculty, staff, students and visitors to utilize public transportation. The Penn Transit Services website has extensive information about public transportation, regional transportation information, carpool options, etc.
None
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
None
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
The Resident Assistant/Graduate Associate Sustainability Manual serves as an in depth resource to RA/GAs about Penn’s sustainability programs, and includes a guide to living green in campus residence halls. RA/GAs can share this information with their residents. Penn Residential Services also provides information to incoming students on what items to bring to campus, which includes a sustainability component.
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
None
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)?:
Yes
None
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 Daily Pennsylvanian frequently covers sustainability initiatives happening across Penn’s campus. A student reporter is assigned each semester to Facilities and Real Estate Services, where the Green Campus Partnership is housed.
None
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:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
Penn’s sustainability initiatives are often covered in the "Almanac." "Almanac" is the weekly publication of record and opinion for the University of Pennsylvania faculty and staff, with news and service functions - such as calendar posters and special reports - that extend its readership to students and special audiences such as alumni and neighbors.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material:
Penn’s sustainability initiatives are often covered in the "Pennsylvania Gazette." The "Pennsylvania Gazette" is the alumni magazine of the University of Pennsylvania.
None
The website URL for this material:
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
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None
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
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None
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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None
A brief description of this material:
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None
The website URL for this material:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.