| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.91 |
| Liaison | Julie Hopper |
| Submission Date | Dec. 20, 2023 |
University of Southern California
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Julie
Hopper Data Analyst 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?:
Name of the campaign:
A brief description of the campaign:
During Fall 2023 , seven USC Residential Colleges competed to have the most number of residents complete four challenges, including a sustainability-focused challenge and sustainability fashion show, throughout a 2-week period.
The sustainability challenges consisted of completing the 40-minute online Student Sustainability Training, which aims to educate students about sustainability challenges and solutions, while also empowering them to get involved on campus and in their community. All residents who completed the training during the 2-week period, won points for each of their residential colleges. Flyers and email communication about the sustainability challenge were distributed to residents.
A Project Runway style competition was also held using leftover apparel items from past events to educate students about the negative impacts of fast fashion.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
The 2023 USC Housing Residential College Cup resulted in over 1000 residents accessing the Student Sustainability Training.
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
The USC FPM Zero Waste team leads regular training to Auxiliary staff, Aramark Staff, USC Housing and Hospitality Staff, and USC FPM Waste Management and Grounds Crews. Trainings are 30 minutes and are offered six times a year to USC Housing and Hospitality Staff and on an as-needed basis for all other staff.
In addition, Tailgate specific waste reduction trainings are conducted a few days prior to each tailgate for each home football game. Staff are trained on the reuse of the temporary cardboard waste boxes to avoid sending them into the recycling.
Zero Waste Zones were established at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center (TCC) and Little Galen Center in April of 2023.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
From the proper composting trainings provided to Auxiliary staff, it is estimated that there is 3 tons per month of compost diversion per cafe.
Trainings to staff prior to each home game on tailgate specific waste reduction averages about 1.5 tons of cardboard boxes reused per football game (diverted from the recycling bin).
The Zero Waste Zones established in April 2023 has resulted in 10 tons of compost (diverted from landfill) to date (10/30/23).
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
USC Transportation Commuter Cost Calculator:
USC Transportation offers a tool to calculate the difference in cost between driving to work/school and enrolling in USC's Faculty/Employee Transit Subsidy Program and utilizing public transportation to get to work. The calculator is intended to incentivize alternative transportation and emphasizes the environmental benefits of this by showing associated reductions in carbon emissions.
Website link: https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/commuter-cost-calculator/
USC Housing Winter Recess Shutdown:
USC Housing requests that all residential students planning to be away for Winter Recess shut down appliances, unplug all phantom energy sources, and close windows.
Welcome Trojan Experience
Sustainability signage and communications were featured throughout Welcome Trojan Experience, which consists of events and programming during the first six weeks of the semester.
Super Six for Sustainability
Known as the “Super Six for Sustainability,” this campaign details six easy actions students can do to be sustainableTrojans at USC (see attached flyer below).
USC’s Sustainability Literacy, Behavior and Culture Survey, originally launched in 2022 has engaged over 8000 USC students, staff, postdocs and faculty. In 2023, we gained > 2000 new signups for USC’s sustainability newsletter as a result from people that opted in while signing up for the prize drawing.
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data up to date as of 10/30/23
Data up to date as of 10/30/23
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.