Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 65.28
Liaison Ciara Tennis
Submission Date Nov. 3, 2022

STARS v2.2

Eastern Connecticut State University
EN-2: Student Orientation

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

Are the following students provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability?:
Yes or No
First-year students Yes
Transfer students Yes
Entering graduate students Yes

Percentage of all entering students that are provided an opportunity to participate in orientation activities and programming that prominently include sustainability:
100

A brief description of how sustainability is included prominently in new student orientation :
Sustainability is included in multiple ways during new student orientation. Student Orientation Counselors (SOC) introduce new students to many aspects of campus sustainability during their summer session visit called SOAR ( Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration). New students must also complete an Online Orientation program which highlights Eastern's many resources including Sustainability efforts.

During SOAR, all students are taken on tours of the campus with SOC's who introduce the many sustainable aspects of buildings and infrastructure at Eastern.

SOAR implemented an online reservations system with electronic ticketing and a check-in process that minimize the need to print and mail reminder postcards or tickets for distribution. All students are also encouraged to bring their SOAR ticket on a mobile device for scanning at check-in.

SOCs perform in a play during SOAR called Everyday Eastern. During this play, SOCs act out scenes that include how students can be sustainable on campus and in their own lives.

When SOAR materials are printed, no dates are printed on any of the materials so that the materials can be reused for upcoming SOAR sessions.

The Online Orientation program educates students on Eastern’s resources and policies electronically. This alleviated the need for printed materials during their SOAR visit over the summer. A section was added to Online Orientation Spring 2022 highlighting Eastern's sustainability efforts. The Orientation Online program also includes a module on Eastern sustainability that covers recycling, sustainable dining, sustainability commitments, and how students can get involved on campus.

The orientation program was scaled back significantly (went from a 2 day overnight program in 2019 to a one day program 2021 summer) due to the pandemic. The 2 day overnight program resumed in summer 2022.
https://www.easternct.edu/news/_stories-and-releases/2022/06-june/soar-summer-orientation-welcomes-new-students.html

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about sustainability in student orientation is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Information for this credit was provided by Casey Kensey, Director of New Student & Family Programs.

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.