University of Texas at Austin
EN-2: Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is held six times during the summer and serves over 80(???)% of incoming students. New Student Services in the Dean of Students office coordinates Orientation. In 2017, all students at this orientation were offered the opportunity to participate in an hour and a half-long optional session about UT sustainability on the second day of Orientation. This session was co-led by a variety of sustainability-related units on campus including Athletics, Resource Recovery, Office of Sustainability, and Division of Housing and Food Service in conjuction with the Longhorn Center for Civic Engagement. Typical attendance at the optional session was ~25 students. At this session students did a carbon footprint assessment which included a brief discussion of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Students were then introduced to the many ways they can personally get invovled in sustainability on campus (e.g. student orgs, alternative transporation, sustainable food options, Zero Waste goal/proper waste diversion, volunteer/internship opportunities). In fall 2017, the Division of Housing and Food Service (DHFS) also provided (for the first time) free Eco2Go boxes for every student living in the residence halls. Inside each box was a pamphlet describing how the program worked as well as a brief on DHFS sustainability. The DHFS sustainability coordinator provided a training to all residence hall RA's about the sustainability programs and how to get involved. They are encouraged to then pass that information along to their residents.

All entering undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate. Transfer students and international students do not have the opportunity to participate in the summer orientation programming.