Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.44
Liaison Mike Wilson
Submission Date Jan. 29, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Victoria
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
Yes or No
A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts Yes
A sustainability newsletter Yes
Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability Yes
A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability Yes
Building signage that highlights green building features Yes
Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems Yes
Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed Yes
A sustainability walking map or tour Yes
A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation Yes
Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians Yes
A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience Yes
Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat Yes
Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability has a website that serves as a central hub for the institution’s current green initiatives on the ground, in the classroom and in research activities. The current Sustainability Action Plan and Progress Report are available on the website. Information on sustainability is provided as well as links about current sustainability campaigns, groups, and events and how to get involved. It also displays current sustainability-related news articles, and sustainability-related events in the community.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability sends out a weekly newsletter via email that provides details on current sustainability-related news and events occurring both on campus and in the local community. The newsletter also provides links for recipients to get involved or to learn more about current sustainability initiatives.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:

The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability maintains an active Facebook page, and uses the page for promotion of events and of different sustainability initiatives at UVic.


The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability website includes a Sustainability in Research page that provides a list of the campus research institutes that have an emphasis on sustainability and it also provides information on how to get in contact with them.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

UVic contains a number of Green buildings including 6 LEED gold building. One example of signage is a plaque outside our Continuing Studies Building, which cites things like stormwater management, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and energy efficient lighting. Similar signs reference green buiding features, including the availability of showers and lockers for cylists, natural landscaping with native plants and energy efficient lighting.


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

University Food Services and the Student Union Building display signage in cafeteria areas that inform their customers about their local food-purchasing policy.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:

Signage is currently displayed in certain areas on the campus grounds that describe sustainability efforts in grounds management.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
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A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The University of Victoria Community Green Map project provides an online participatory mapping and planning system, including learning and technical tools, to facilitate innovative and sustainable development at UVic and in the wider community.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability website has a page devoted to providing information on alternative forms of transportation available for students and staff. It includes information such as bus schedules and routes, pass information, cycling information, a cycling map, and a volunteer-run bike rental program called SPOKES. Information on sustainable transportation options is also included in the Employee Orientation Handbook.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability website houses information about cycling and pedestrian navigation, including the information about public transit route that service campus, a cycling amenities map (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/3D%20Cycling%20Amenities%20Map%202010.pdf), cycling route map (http://www.uvic.ca/home/about/campus-info/maps/maps/bikemap-l.php), and information about UVic's new bike centre (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/New%20Campus%20Bike%20Centre%20poster%20and%20ad.pdf).


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

The Office of Planning and Sustainability provides a Residence Sustainability Guide that outlines sustainability tips to residences at UVic including tips regarding cycling, recycling, composting, energy conservation, buying used and drinking tap water.


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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A brief description of regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:

The Martlet is UVic’s student-run newspaper that hosts a regular column called Eco Tip in their Business|Tech section, which runs every second issue. Eco Tip discusses ways that readers can solve common sustainability problems without unnecessary consumption. They also run irregular sustainability coverage such as in the News, Opinions and Features sections.


The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat:
A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):

UVic Green Guide:
This UVic Green Guide has been created to be a one-stop reference guide for offices and labs at the University of Victoria on how to make campus more environmentally sustainable. It includes helpful information on conserving energy, reducing waste and making sustainable transportation choices, plus contacts and references.


The website URL for this material (1st material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (2nd material):

Campus Traffic Survey
The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability website publishes a comprehensive survey of current traffic access patterns and the total modal share of alternative transportation as compared to single occupancy vehicles. The survey data is derived from observations that occur every other year in same week of October. More than a decade of data is currently available.


The website URL for this material (2nd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes

A brief description of this material (3rd material):

Sustainability Action Plan
Through its website, UVic publishes its Sustainability Action Plan that outlines the university’s actions and targets regarding sustainable planning in relation to energy and climate, transportation, purchasing, governance, decision-making and sustainability resources, buildings and renovations, grounds, food and urban agriculture, waste management, and water management.


The website URL for this material (3rd material):
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
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A brief description of this material (8th material):
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability website is the hub of sustainability publications on campus (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/), and many of the sustainability reports indicated above are available on that website's resources page (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/home/publications/). Many other units of the institution publish sustainability materials, including the Department of Geography, the School of Environmental Studies, the Faculty of Engineering and the Martlet, the student run newspaper at UVic, which is cited here.


The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability website is the hub of sustainability publications on campus (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/), and many of the sustainability reports indicated above are available on that website's resources page (http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/home/publications/). Many other units of the institution publish sustainability materials, including the Department of Geography, the School of Environmental Studies, the Faculty of Engineering and the Martlet, the student run newspaper at UVic, which is cited here.

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.