University of Utah
EN-8: Employee Orientation

Sustainability is a core commitment of the university, and it is important to share that with employees at the beginning of their tenure. In 2018, the Sustainability Office launched its first-ever new employee training effort in partnership with Human Resources. The five-minute animated slideshow, narrated by University President Ruth Watkins, highlights for new employees the value placed on sustainability and ways to get involved. The video kicks off with by stating, “As an employee at the U, you are part of an institution that is dedicated to sustainability and carbon neutrality.” It also highlights the university's definition of sustainability, which is the "integrated pursuit of social equity, environmental integrity, and economic security for current and future generations." This definition is highlighted prominently to remind employees that sustainability is more than just environmental protection—in fact, the university emphasizes social equity by placing it before environmental integrity in its sustainability definition. The video is also designed with those who are hearing impaired in mind. All voiceovers match language on the slides to improve accessibility.

Additional information is provided about sustainable transportation, curriculum, research, and the U’s Green Office Certification program, which targets employee behavior. The video is available as a training module to new and existing employees on Human Resource’s site and on the Green Office Certification resource page at campusguides.lib.utah.edu/c.php?g=160491&p=7145204.

Additionally, Human Resources lists the Sustainability Office as a resource at hr.utah.edu/training/resources.php.

The Sustainability New Employee Training Module is available to all new and current employees at the university. However, the module is optional.