Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.29
Liaison Lindsey MacDonald
Submission Date Feb. 6, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Western Washington University
ER-4: Sustainability Outreach and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Seth Vidaña
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:

The WWU Office of Sustainability website is dedicated to furthering Western’s strategic goal of campus sustainability. As defined by the WWU Sustainability Committee, a sustainable WWU:

* Protects local and global ecology
* Upholds social equity
* Creates economic vitality
* Maintains human health


The website URL for the central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The campus ESP (Environmental Sustainability Programs) have a monthly bulletin posted on their website.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

The Office of Sustainability website features an updated list of sustainability research projects conducted by students in the Campus Sustainability Planning Studio section.

The Sustainability Institute Initiative (SII) serves as a vehicle that publishes student research on sustainability. There are a variety of projects and programs that can be found on the SII homepage including Marc's "Paddle for Sustainability" web page given below.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

The AIC building has employed signage to cover green features in that building. This year's green fee projects will incorporate signage for all installed projects


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
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Does the institution have food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

The Dining halls display signs at the front desk that include information on the local and organic foods that are served in the cafeterias. Also next to each food option in the dining hall descriptions are given that include information relating to the ingredients, whether or not the food is vegan/vegetarian, and if the food is local or non-local.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:

Across the WWU campus you will find signs with a lady bug picture labeling pesticide-free zones.


The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable grounds-keeping strategies employed:
Does the institution have a sustainability walking map or tour?:
No

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

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:

Inside and outside of The Office of Transportation there are brochures and poster guides on sustainable methods of transportation.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Does the institution have a guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

All residence halls encourage sustainable acts such as conserving water, recycling, and powering off electronics and lights.

More info can be found here:

http://www.wwu.edu/sustain/goforthegreen/facts.shtml


The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Does the institution have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper (either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat)?:
No

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:
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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:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (1st material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

The WWU L.E.A.D. program (Learning Environment Action Discovery) organizes work parties and other social activities to promote sustainability in public education and hands-on experiences for community service. LEAD projects include preserving and restoring Whatcom County’s native biodiversity through invasive species removal, native species plantings, trail maintenance, and wetland restoration.


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

A brief description of this material:

The Planet Magazine is a quarterly student publication from Western’s Huxley College of the Environment. The Planet provides opportunities for Huxley College's undergraduate environmental journalism majors to gain experience in editing , publishing, and writing for publication in a professional setting committed to sustainability ethics and business practices, and environmental reporting.

The magazine's mission statement, as articulated by its student editors, is as follows: "We are dedicated to environmental advocacy and awareness through responsible journalism."


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

A brief description of this material:

The WWU office of transportation offers a quarterly newsletter that features stories related to sustainability within the Western community.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes

A brief description of this material:

• Sweater Days
“Sweater Days” is an environmentally friendly, economically viable, socially equitable, and healthy energy conservation awareness and action campaign. All are invited to reduce Western’s energy consumption in the winter months.


The website URL for this material:
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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The website URL for this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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The website URL for this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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The website URL for this material:
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Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
No

A brief description of this material:
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The website URL for this material:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.