University of Utah
EN-2: Student Orientation

New and transfer undergraduates come to the university for two-day campus visits from late May to early August (in 2020 and 2021 these were held remotely). The University of Utah Sustainability Office engages in multiple ways with incoming students’ orientation:
- Sustainability staff participate in all information sessions during orientations to help provide interested students with more detail about sustainability programming and values, with a particular emphasis on the campus farmers market and its Double Your Dollars program, a food security effort that provides $1-for-$1 matches for students to purchase more grocery items and on other areas like sustainable transportation options;
- Safe and sustainable transportation modes are included in the information sessions around how to move around campus and around the city;
- The Sustainability Office also tables at Transfer Student Orientation sessions;
- In 2022 the Sustainability Office provided reusable utensils for the International Student BBQ before classes started to promote the ease and benefits of zero-waste dining on campus;
- Finally, sustainability is highlighted throughout New Student Orientation’s Parent & Family Handbook. Access the Handbook at https://orientation.utah.edu/parents/Parent%20Family%20Handbook%202019.pdf.

NOTES

76% of entering students - undergraduate first year and transfer students - are provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability: Incoming graduate students are not required to attend orientation. However, all students attending orientation are provided an opportunity for this participation.