| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.15 |
| Liaison | Paul Scanlon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Slippery Rock University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Paul
Scanlon Special Assistant to the President President's Office/Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution produce the following outreach materials and/or publications that foster sustainability learning and knowledge? :
| Yes or No | |
| A central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts | Yes |
| A sustainability newsletter | Yes |
| Social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability | Yes |
| A vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability | Yes |
| Building signage that highlights green building features | Yes |
| Food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems | Yes |
| Signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed | Yes |
| A sustainability walking map or tour | Yes |
| A guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation | Yes |
| Navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians | No |
| A guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience | Yes |
| Regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat | No |
| Other sustainability publications or outreach materials not covered above | Yes |
None
A brief description of the central sustainability website:
The website includes information about, and links to:
- the President's Commission on Sustainability;
- the Green Fund Grant program;
- the section of the university's strategic plan that focuses on sustainability;
- the President's Climate Commitment;
- our AASHE STARS, Climate Action Plan, and Progress Reports;
- SRU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories from 2005 to the present;
- the University's Energy Conservation Policy;
- SRU's undergraduate and graduate academic programs relating to sustainability;
- Campus and community organizations that promote sustainable living
- a map of SRU's Campus Sustainable Features;
- tips for saving energy on the job or at home;
- links to environmental websites of educational value;
- SRU's Energy Action Campaign "Small Steps, Big Payoff" Energy pledge; and
- a Calendar of Events for annual Earth Week events and activities.
None
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The School of Business's Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) issues a regular newsletter describing sustainable student internship opportunities, project case histories, client interviews, conservation tips, and upcoming events scheduled for the Students for Sustainability, the SRU Slow Foods group, upcoming Penn State Agricultural Extension workshops and other on and off-campus clubs and organizations activities..
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
None
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus specifically on campus sustainability:
Slippery Rock's Office of Sustainability employs a student worker who is a Communications/Public Relations major to manage a sustainability Facebook page and Twitter account (@SRUsustain) to connect with students, post sustainability information, and inform those interested in upcoming sustainable events. Weekly contests are run to encourage student participation, with prizes such as reusable stainless steel water bottles, bookstore coupons for purchasing educational materials, and $25 food coupons for campus and local dining establishments. Those taking the energy pledge are included in a database that allows us to easily reach out to remind them of their pledge commitments and invite them to participate in additional sustainability related events and activities.
None
The website URL of the primary social media platform that focuses on sustainability:
None
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
The main vehicle used to disseminate student research on sustainability is our sustainability website (www.sru.edu/sustainability), where our AASHE Stars Report can be reviewed to learn about all the sustainable research conducted over the past three years.
The Office of Sustainability also coordinates with the University Communications Department and provides content for use in articles posted to the entire SRU community.
Finally, student interns at The Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator publish a newsletter describing their sustainable research projects.
None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
The Harmony House at the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research is LEED-Silver certified for Existing Buildings, and contains educational posters throughout the building that describe green features of the building (i.e. geothermal heating system, daylighting, passive solar heating, alternative energy systems, use of recycled and low-VOC materials, etc.).
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
None
A brief description of food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
AVI, the food services provider at Slippery Rock University, distributes a brochure, "Good Things at the Rock," that highlights the numerous efforts AVI takes towards their sustainable food and dining services operations.
The brochure lists AVI's local food partners, on-campus sustainability-related events that AVI supports, and conservation activities taking place at the dining halls. Posters, electronic displays, and informative brochures are also located within the Dining Halls to provide additional information regarding nutrition and sustainable food practices.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
None
A brief description of signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
Signage located on the grounds of the Macoskey Center describe sustainable grounds/landscaping features such as the community and market demonstration gardens, composting areas, renewable energy systems on-site, and a grey water constructed wetlands system. In addition, signage kiosks on the main campus grounds are used to describe features of the hiking/biking trails, educational outdoor classroom features, and tags indicating local/indigenous tree species of interest.
None
The website URL for signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies:
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The SRU Campus Sustainable Features map highlights the institution's major visible sustainable features including green roofs, the harnessing human energy project, LEED certified buildings, the wind-powered lake aeration system, solar-powered rain water collection and drip irrigation system, rain gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, ecological research area, limestone classroom, solar systems, weather station, butterfly trail, hike/bike trail, and equestrian trail. The map is available for use during admissions walking tours and can also be downloaded by the general public from the sustainability office's website.
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
None
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
Posters and brochures describing SRU's Happy Bus free shuttle service are posted around campus and in residence halls, the Student Union, and at shuttle stops. The Happy Bus has its own webpage, as well as NextBus GPS technology that allows students to see in real-time when the next bus will be arriving. The Happy Bus is funded by the Student Government Association.
None
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use alternative methods of transportation:
None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The Campus Sustainable Features Map locates the trail heads for the Overlook Biking/Hiking Trail, as well as additional nature hiking trails at the Macoskey Center site. Kiosk signage along hiking trails provides educational information specific to each trail as well.
None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
An informational flyer that explains SRU's commitment to sustainability and identifies sustainability-focused organizations and resources on campus is included in the "Successful Learning: A Guide to First Year Studies (FYRST) booklet that is the "go to" resource for incoming students.
Both Sustainability and Energy Conservation Seminars are offered as part of the FYRST year seminars for incoming freshman who reside in the residence halls, and a short, student-produced "Bioman" video is posted online so it can be viewed during residence hall floor meetings.
The FYRST seminar includes information about recycling on campus, conserving energy within the residence halls, and the university's "Small Steps, Big Payoff" energy pledge campaign that encourages students to pledge to take three action steps in their lives that will save energy.
Energy dashboards located in the lobbies of the Residence Halls also display current/historical energy use and energy conservation tips to support periodic energy conservation contests.
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
None
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:
na
None
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:
---
None
A brief description of another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above (1st material):
Energy conservation booklets and similar material are available to be downloaded from our sustainability website (via the "energy conservation" button at www.sru.edu/sustainability), with hard copies of the same (and additional sustainability resource material) available to groups touring the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research.
Videos on Youtube are another means of outreach used.
None
The website URL for this material (1st material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (2nd material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (2nd material):
Sustainability articles are regularly included in our main alumni "ROCK" magazine.
None
The website URL for this material (2nd material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (3rd material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (3rd material):
SRU's Office of Sustainability, in association with the Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator (SEA), published a booklet titled "Preparing our Students for a Green Economy" in Spring 2013, highlighting the University's sustainability projects titled "Green Features." The booklet was distributed at the Fossil Free Fair held in Butler, PA and is also distributed (along with other sustainability-focused booklets) at the SEA facility.
None
The website URL for this material (3rd material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (4th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (4th material):
SRU produced a video interview of Paul Scanlon, Campus Sustainability Coordinator, that was aired on the University TV station.
None
The website URL for this material (4th material):
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (5th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (5th material):
Paul Scanlon, Campus Sustainability Coordinator, was interviewed on the University radio station to discuss SRU's sustainability initiatives and answer questions about sustainability in general.
None
The website URL for this material (5th material):
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (6th material):
Yes
None
A brief description of this material (6th material):
Virtual tours of the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research are available via SRU's Sustainability Website (note that, due to the replacement of our old website, the virtual tour information is still in the process of being re-formatted to suit the new website format). The Youtube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DOwHsIkDfU currently provides a virtual tour of the site.
None
The website URL for this material (6th material):
None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (7th material):
---
None
A brief description of this material (7th material):
---
None
The website URL for this material (7th material):
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None
Does the institution produce another sustainability publication or outreach material not covered above? (8th material):
No
None
A brief description of this material (8th material):
---
None
The website URL for this material (8th 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.