| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.79 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2020 |
Western Kentucky University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Leslie
North Director of Sustainability Geography and Geology |
Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:
The Office of Sustainability maintains multiple social media platform accounts (FB = WKU Office of Sustainability; Insta = @wku_sustainability; Twitter = @sustainablewku). Two student interns who major in social media marketing are employed annually through the Office of Sustainability to manage these accounts. In Spring 2020, the Office of Sustainability partnered with students in the English department to begin distribution of a bi-annually digital newsletter to registered participants. The Office also partnered with the WKU Herald (student-run newspaper on campus) to create a weekly Sustainability beat for the paper and the digital Talisman report.
Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:
The WKU Green Tour is a series of signs around the main campus that interpret various sustainability features, including green buildings, thermal solar, LED lighting upgrades, sustainable grounds-keeping practices, and the Tree of Change. An interactive story map of the green tour was created by a student in 2019 to improve access to the information provided on the signs.
https://arcgis01.wku.edu/arcgis/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8d603f854e9b41099a22cc416d29b53a
Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The WKU Green Tour is a series of signs around the main campus that interpret various sustainability features, including green buildings, thermal solar, LED lighting upgrades, sustainable grounds-keeping practices, and others. The tour is most often given by request. A tour request form can be found on the Office of Sustainability homepage. Green Tours are lead by student sustainability staff and ambassadors and the director of sustainability. The tour can also be self-guided. The Green Tour signs are often read by a non-formal audience - campus students and visitors walking by. In 2015, a geoscience graduate student developed a brochure to accompany the tour. In 2019, an interactive story map of the green tour was also created by a student to improve access to the information provided on the signs.
https://arcgis01.wku.edu/arcgis/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=8d603f854e9b41099a22cc416d29b53a
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Resource Conservation and the Office of Sustainability both produce multiple fliers and outreach materials for educating about recycling, energy conservation, food waste, and composting for both students and community members. Students are provided recycling guide magnets and RA's are given waste related information posters for communal areas. Visit https://www.wku.edu/sustainability/
CHNGES creates fliers for reducing water pollution and has partnered with the City of Bowling Green and has created a website for distributing water pollution materials. Students were engaged for the creation of these materials. The website is designed to educate individuals about actions they can take at their homes to reduce their environmental impacts. Visit UnderBGKY.org.
A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:
The WKU Sustainability iBook - Big Red, Small Planet, is available for download through iTunes or as pdf. This interactive iBook describes sustainability programs and efforts campus-wide, including operations, curriculum, research, and student affairs. The next edition of the iBook will be developed by students in the WKU English Department in Fall 2020.
The WKU Museum partnered with faculty in the Department of Geography and Geology and Department of Art to develop an exhibit on Mammoth Cave titled Gazing Deeply: The Art and Science of Mammoth Cave. Coinciding with the upcoming 50th anniversary of Earth Day, this exhibit is a timely look into conservation issues, the interdisciplinary and collaborative work of scientists and artists, and features artworks and narratives by WKU faculty and students.
https://www.wku.edu/kentuckymuseum/exhibits/gazingdeeply.php
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.