Colorado State University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Green.colostate.edu is a central website that highlights sustainability initiatives at CSU. It includes information on campus sustainability organizations, leaders, academic and research resources, and opportunities for student, faculty, and staff involvement. The homepage features a continually updated stream of CSU-related sustainability news and events. It also acts as a portal and first point of contact for sustainability forums and organizations on campus. The School of Global Environmental Sustainability (sustainability.colostate.edu) provides in-depth information about interdisciplinary academic programs and research related to sustainability.

The Green Bulletin, available by email, has weekly information on sustainability events, classes, workshops, and volunteer/internship/job opportunities (on campus and within the broader Fort Collins community), as well as a number of other noteworthy events and opportunities.

There are dozens of sustainability-themed social media platforms at CSU across Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Examples of sustainability-themed social media channels include the Student Sustainability Center, School of Global Environmental Sustainability, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Your Energy Colorado, Colorado Farm to Table, etc. The Eco Leaders are a primary contributor to Housing & Dining Services social media channels. Multiple sustainability organizations and initiatives on campus do takeovers of the main CSU channels (Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook) to increase reach and amplify messaging for major initiatives like Green Warrior, Earth Week, etc.

The Collegian, the main student newspaper, has a beat for sustainability assigned to various reporters and regularly features editorials and news articles about sustainability initiatives on campus. In the past three years, the Student Sustainability Center has provided a sustainability column in the main student newspaper. Any student on campus can also submit an op-ed article and sustainability is a frequent topic. Recent articles from the Collegian include: https://collegian.com/2019/11/category-news-csu-reduces-reuses-rethinks-enviromental-effects-on-generations-to-come/ https://collegian.com/2019/11/category-arts-and-culture-india-nite-blends-culture-focuses-on-environmental-concern/ https://collegian.com/2019/10/category-news-csu-hosts-sustainability-101-presentation/

CURC is the "Celebrate Undergraduate Research on Campus" initiative which highlights undergraduate research through an annual publication as well as poster competition. More than 400 students share their research efforts through this program each year, including many sustainability-focused submissions. Through CURC, Colorado State University recognizes and honors the achievements of students in the areas of research & creativity. Students are invited to participate in a variety of events that will provide them an opportunity to showcase what they have learned. The Community-Engaged Research Poster Guidelines outline a focus on a "pressing social or environmental issues." Community-Engaged Research Poster Guidelines: Students preparing research posters and /or students preparing service-learning posters may also qualify for recognition in the Community-Engaged Research category. Community-engaged research is conducted in an explicit effort to address a pressing social or environmental issue. Commonly accepted best practices in community-engaged research include (1) community voice and participation in selection of research project, (2) community consultation and input regarding appropriate methods, data gathering process, and analysis, and (3) community input and approval in respect to methods of dissemination. Students in the community-engaged research category, in addition to the other stipulations they meet for other categories, should be certain to: 1. Clarify the process through which community members, social sector, or environmental sector partners contributed to project selection. 2. Indicate how community members had opportunities for ongoing dialogue with university representatives (faculty and students) and how that affected the entire process. 3. Demonstrate how community collaboration affected the dissemination process. Each year, events culminate with the CURC Showcase in April. The showcase features outstanding performers and award winners from all disciplines. Following the Showcase, an awards ceremony recognizes all participants and honored awards winners. The 2019 winner in the service-learning category was Mallory Wolff for her "What Does Social Exclusion Look Like in Education for Irish Children with Developmental Disabilities". Student sustainability research from CURC, and other programs on campus, are often submitted to national conferences with support from faculty advisors, School of Global Environmental Sustainability, and the President's Sustainability Commission.

Buildings which are LEED-certified or have exceptional green features have educational signage which highlights these features. Such buildings include Aggie Village Apartments, Powerhouse Energy Campus, the Pavilion at Laurel Village, Chemistry Research Building, Biology Building and many more. The Pavilion at Laurel Village, the first building on the main CSU campus to achieve LEED Platinum certification, features a 3D model of the building with an interactive touch screen that allows students and visitors to explore more than 20 innovative sustainability features including a katabatic tower, two-story living wall, bike repair shop, and much more.

All dining facilities include digital signage (transitioned from printed signage in order to reduce paper waste) that is regularly updated with information about local food, vegan/vegetarian options, allergens, composting, plate waste, etc. In addition, an Eat Well brochure explaining the labeling system on the digital signs is available at all dining centers, as well as the Dining Services office to help students and guests navigate sustainable food choices as well as dietary restrictions. The labeling system includes Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Contains Nut, Whole Grains, Eat Well, and Earth Friendly (which includes food grown on campus and third-party certified menu items).

The CSU Heritage Garden, the 5.5-acre arboretum near the CSU stadium, showcases tree identification guides and demonstrates the university's agricultural heritage. The goal of this project was to highlight and inform the visiting public, students and alumni about the history, nature and impact of agricultural research, teaching and engagement at CSU. CSU envisioned this space to speak to our university’s efforts to be Colorado focused for global impact across all dimensions of the food, water, and energy nexus. Grounds Facilities signage indicates areas with recycled mulch and pest management practices that employ biological controls or natural substances. There is expanded signage at the University's Bioremediation Wetlands Project at the University Greenhouse providing detailed information about the systems with photos and diagrams. The new student garden plots at Laurel Village feature signage that allows the students to switch out information about the gardens each semester to highlight different crops and soil research underway.

The Green Walking Tour traces an on-campus path that passes more than twenty of the University's sustainable sites including LEED certified buildings, solar arrays, and green laboratories and research sites. It includes information on sustainability in the halls and dining centers as well. The Green Walking Tour is a self-guided tour available to the campus community and all campus visitors (http://green.colostate.edu/green-walking-tour.aspx). The tour also includes information on buildings and initiatives on the CSU Foothills Campus. As an additional resource, the online campus map (http://maps.colostate.edu) has the ability to toggle on/off layers that display LEED buildings, solar PV arrays, EV Charging stations, alternative transportation, and inclusive resources like all gender restrooms, lactation rooms, commuter showers, and meditation spaces.

Parking & Transportation Services maintains several web pages and guides that describe local transportation options such as walking paths, bus lines, campus shuttle, biking routes, ZipCar, and telecommuting. It also gives information on carpooling and public programs such as Smart Trips, which promote alternative transportation options in the City of Fort Collins. Biking: https://pts.colostate.edu/transportation-options/bicycle-general/ Walking: https://pts.colostate.edu/transportation-options/walk-general/ Campus Shuttle: https://pts.colostate.edu/transportation-options/transit-general/horn/ Carpool/Ride Share: https://pts.colostate.edu/transportation-options/carpool-general/ Longboarding: https://pts.colostate.edu/transportation-options/longboard-general/ Zipcars: https://pts.colostate.edu/transportation-options/zipcar/ Telecommuting: https://pts.colostate.edu/employee/telecommuting/ CSU is dedicated to expanding commuter options through the Alternative Transportation team who works with the City and multiple campus entities on public transportation and biking routes in and around campus as well as many other projects, including charging stations, to encourage sustainable transportation to and on campus.

The Campus Bike Advisory Committee has a dedicated website for all news and information pertaining to bicyclists and pedestrians. This includes a campus map specific to bike/pedestrian routes (including dismount zones and other traffic measures) and education materials from their Bicycle Education and Enforcement Program. A new program called "CSU Moves" was created to introduce students to local transportation options and key strategies for navigating campus safely and efficiently. CSU Moves uses a combination of animated videos, infographics, and engaging resources, all in under an hour and through the Canvas online learning management system. https://pts.colostate.edu/csumoves/ Resources and maps for walking/pedestrians: https://pts.colostate.edu/transportation-options/walk-general/

Housing & Dining Services publishes an online guide to living green that includes energy and resource conservation tips, alternative transportation, an interactive green model room, and ways to get involved with sustainability within the residence halls and university apartments. The guide also includes links to more comprehensive guides on recycling and other sustainability programs on campus. Social media and email communications to incoming students also encourage students to use alternative transportation, purchase Energy Star appliances, and reduce energy consumption. Recycling, composting, transportation, and energy campaigns are all part of the residential experience at CSU and often coordinated by the Eco Leaders, peer-to-peer educators in the halls and apartments.

The main source of on-campus news, 'SOURCE', tags stories and press pieces related to sustainability and/or the environment. Additionally, the University-wide calendar flags green events with a special symbol to help users identify green events on campus. http://calendar.colostate.edu/