Wake Forest University
ER-3: Sustainability in New Student Orientation

For fall 2009, all first-year students received a recycling bin, a sustainability-related poster, and re-usable tote on move-in day. The campus bookstore introduced the "Recycle and Rewards" program; students who used their reusable book bags received a ten percent discount on future purchases of all sustainably-related items in the store.

The new student orientation speaker -- the lead scientist for the Nature Conservancy -- spoke to the students about resource scarcity and a call to action for a more sustainable future. Following the speaker's keynote, all first-year students met with their advisers to discuss the implications of the presentation.

For fall 2010, sustainability was integrated throughout new student orientation. A small number of incoming freshmen participated in the first-ever "Sustainability In Action" pre-orientation program, during which they learned about sustainability through the lens of local food production and distribution. The program included a tour of a grass-fed beef ranch that supplies beef to campus, a trip to a local farmers market followed by a student-prepared lunch, and meetings with restaurant owners about their efforts to source sustainably produced goods.

On move-in day, all new students received reusable to-go meal containers and handled totes for recycling in their residence hall rooms. Every new student received information on the university's Zipcar program; as a result, student membership in the program tripled from 2009 enrollment rates. Finally, all freshman received Wake Forest University's Green Guide, a booklet guide to sustainable living for students on campus, with information including lists of sustainable restaurants in the area, suggested activities, ways to get involved in sustainability efforts on campus, sustainability-related courses offered at the university, sustainability-related book recommendations, iPhone application recommendations, movie recommendations, and more.

Finally, all incoming freshman participated in a walking tour from campus to and through the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and a class-wide outdoor picnic. This was a low waste event, during which students were encouraged to keep cups or reusable water containers throughout the entire walking tour. They filled these containers at water stations along the tour instead of using plastic water bottles. At the picnic, students sorted their own waste into two groups: food waste/bio-compostables for composting and recyclable materials.

For fall 2011, the "Sustainability in Action" pre-orientation program was offered again. On move-in day, all families received information about campus sustainability, including alternative transportation strategies. Each first-year student received his/her personal recycling bin and a copy of the university's Green Guide.