Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.98
Liaison Jay Price
Submission Date March 6, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Tennessee at Knoxville
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Jay Price
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Central Sustainability Website 

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The UT Office of Sustainability website serves as a central place for members of the UT community to learn about sustainability-related news, initiatives and features around campus. It also has resources for students and employees to become more involved in on-campus sustainability.

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
http://sustainability.utk.edu/

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Green Leaf, a newsletter published by the Office of Sustainability, allows UT community members to keep up with on-campus sustainability initiatives and events. A sign-up for the newsletter is located in the bottom bar of the Office of Sustainability website.

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
http://sustainability.utk.edu/

Social Media Platforms 

Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
The Office of Sustainability has four main outlets for social media, which help the office to disseminate information about events and volunteering opportunities, as well as to better engage students in on-campus sustainability on a day-to-day basis. These include a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/sustainableUTK/), a Twitter account (https://twitter.com/sustainableut), an Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/sustainableut/) an a Flikr account (https://www.flickr.com/people/makeorangegreen).

The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
https://www.facebook.com/sustainableUTK/

Student Newspaper Coverage 

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?:
No

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
---

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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Student Research Publication 

Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment (ISSE) strives to promote research with clear environmental and sustainability impacts. Each year they publish an annual report that outlines sustainability research done at UT. This report includes student projects and student research done in collaboration with professors.

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
http://isse.utk.edu/publications/annualreports.html

Green Building Signage 

Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
There are signs in buildings around campus that highlight features such as LEED certified buildings, energy efficiency lighting and geothermal heating systems.

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
http://facserv.utk.edu/sustainability/on-campus/buildings/

Sustainable Food Systems Information 

Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
There are signs in the dining halls that highlight organic, local and vegetarian food options, food waste and composting opportunities, as well as pointing out composting stations and the university's use of unbleached napkins.

None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
https://dining.utk.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
There is signage at the UT Gardens that provides information on several campus rain gardens and their benefit to reduce pollution from runoff. There is also a man-made wetland at UT Gardens, which is within close proximity of the Tennessee River, with signage about how wetlands trap pollutants and improve water quality.

The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
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Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The UT interactive campus map includes a sustainability layer that marks sustainability highlights around the campus, as well as pedestrian walkways and bike paths.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
http://www.utk.edu/maps/

Guide for Commuters 

Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The UTK interactive campus map includes a sustainability layer that marks sustainability highlights around the campus, as well as pedestrian walkways and bike paths. The Parking & Transit Services website has an Alternative Transportation section that highlights information and resources for bicycles, electric vehicles, travel to other parts of the state, car sharing, smart trips, the Knoxville public bus system, and MegaBus. Additionally, "the T", the on-campus bus system maintains a website that provides information about routes, schedules, and live tracking of bus locations. The buses are free for any person on campus, regardless of whether they're affiliated with the University or not. (http://ridethet.utk.edu/) The Office of Sustainability also has a summary of alternative transit resources on campus on their website. http://facserv.utk.edu/sustainability/on-campus/transportation/

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
http://parking.utk.edu/alternative-transportation/

Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
Yes

None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
On their page on alternative transportation, UT Parking & Transit Services has a section for bicycles that includes information about the bike shop, a local bike map and information about parking and storing bikes on campus. https://recsports.utk.edu/outdoors/bike-shop/ Additionally, the UT Outdoor Program maintains a section of their website dedicated to resources for bicyclists. This website include information about renting bikes through the University, on the road help for cyclists, local bike maps and shops, and biking groups on and off campus. (http://recsports.utk.edu/Programs/Outdoor%20Rec/Bikes/resources/index.php)

None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
http://parking.utk.edu/alternative-transportation/

Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or 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 annual POWER Challenge is a month-long competition that pits UT residence halls against each other in a battle to see which hall is the greenest. (POWER stands for Programs of Water, Energy, and Recycling). Residence halls are given sustainability documents and guides to assist in implementing green actions in their halls for competition points. An example of one Power Challenge Brochure has been uploaded as an additional document to support submission.

None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
https://sustainability.utk.edu/events-and-campaigns/power-challenge/

Other Outreach Materials 

Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:
The Office of Sustainability publishes an annual Environmental Impact Report as well as a Make Orange Green Calendar Series with monthly sustainability tips.The Division of Student Affairs highlights campus sustainability efforts in their monthly staff newsletter. http://studentlife.utk.edu/; Facilities Services regularly published press releases and articles in Tennessee Today on the progress of the Office of Sustainability and initiatives on campus. http://tntoday.utk.edu/

The website URL for these materials or publications:
http://sustainability.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/69/2019/05/483852-Environmental-Impact-Report-vFINALspreads.pdf

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
PC brochure.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
http://sustainability.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/69/2019/05/483852-Environmental-Impact-Report-vFINALspreads.pdf http://studentlife.utk.edu http://tntoday.utk.edu/ http://recsports.utk.edu/outdoors/bike-shop/ http://ridethet.utk.edu/ http://parking.utk.edu/alternative-transportation/ https://sustainability.utk.edu/impact/transportation/ https://dining.utk.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/ https://www.facebook.com/sustainableUTK/ https://twitter.com/sustainableut https://www.instagram.com/sustainableut/

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.