| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.04 |
| Liaison | Tina Woolston |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Tufts University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Shoshana
Blank Education and Outreach Program Administrator Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Central Sustainability Website
Yes
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
The Tufts University Office of Sustainability maintains a website that consolidates information about sustainability and highlights programs and events at Tufts. The website is the most comprehensive resource available for anyone who is interested in getting involved in campus sustainability, both inside and outside of the Tufts community. It features detailed information on key programs like the Eco-Reps, Eco-Ambassadors, and Green Office Certification, which other institutions have used as models to start their own. It also contains rich information to help raise awareness about issues such as climate change, green transportation options, and careers in sustainability.
The office also has a blog that is updated regularly by student interns with the latest on sustainability events at Tufts, as well as sustainability campaigns and news. http://sites.tufts.edu/tuftsgetsgreen/
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Sustainability Newsletter
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Office of Sustainability monthly newsletter includes news, on- and off-campus events, job opportunities, educational opportunities, and more. For example, a recent newsletter highlighted our upcoming Carbon Neutrality Community Engagement event, Zero-waste week participation, updated textile recycling, Bill McKibben's visit to campus, the latest in sustainability news articles, and a blog about our experience at the AASHE 2018 conference. Each issue contains highlights from events and job postings from the office's blog. Interested students, staff, and faculty can easily sign up online, or sign-up sheets are available at many Office of Sustainability affiliated events. We currently have 1,577 subscribers.
None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Social Media Platforms
Yes
A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
The Office of Sustainability's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/greentufts/) focuses on campus events, opportunities, and initiatives, although we also cover broader sustainability issues. Most of the office's followers are Tufts students, departments, or individuals from the Medford and Somerville communities, so the content tends to emphasize local events and student outreach.
The Office of Sustainability's Twitter account has a broader audience that includes sustainability professionals, peer institutions, and a diverse group of organizations in addition to those affiliated with Tufts. The office's tweets, therefore, consist of larger sustainability issues and news, regional updates, and where Tufts stands in the context of broader sustainability initiatives. (@GreenTufts)
The Office of Sustainability also has an Instagram account where we post photos of sustainability events, environmentally friendly tips, promotion for upcoming sustainability events, and other relevant and current content. This is mainly followed by Tufts students. (@GreenTufts)
The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
Student Newspaper Coverage
Yes
A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Tufts Daily has assigned a reporter to cover the sustainability beat since AY 2012-2013. Even before there was a sustainability beat, Tufts is small enough that almost all sustainability-related events are covered by the news section, and the editorial section often features sustainability-related pieces.
The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
Student Research Publication
Yes
A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
A database has been built specifically to store information on sustainability-focused student research projects. It allows students to upload their projects and for users from the Tufts community to search for past projects. Faculty and staff are also able to post about potential research projects available for students to take on. As of January 2019, the database is being integrated into the online library catalog, Tufts Digital Library. http://projects.sustainability.tufts.edu/
https://dl.tufts.edu/
More info: http://sustainability.tufts.edu/resources/student-projects/student-project-database/
None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Green Building Signage
Yes
None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
The most prominent signage appears in Sophia Gordon Hall, an on-campus apartment building that is LEED Gold certified. There is wall display in the foyer hall of the building, bringing attention to all of its sustainable features. Signage is also included in hallways and individual apartments, highlighting sustainable features such as the dual-flush toilets. Additionally, the residence has a community meeting space that is used for many gatherings and provides further opportunities for educating the community about green buildings.
The Collaborative Learning and Innovation Complex (CLIC) is LEED Silver and has a comprehensive educational signage program that includes braille signs and an audio tour. Dial 617-627-1444 to listen to the tour. The audio tour can be accessed from anywhere, and you can also read the text online. https://sustainability.tufts.edu/clic-building-574-boston-ave/
Residence halls also contain signage drawing attention to the sustainable washing machines used on campus.
Signs that explain the energy-efficient LED lighting are present in the Dowling Hall parking garage, and there are also signs on the Tisch Library roof, a prominent student and community gathering space, explaining the Library's "green roof" project (for more about this project, see http://sustainability.tufts.edu/green-roof-collaborative/).
None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Sustainable Food Systems Information
Yes
A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
The dining centers have signage that informs students about which produce items are locally grown and describes the dining centers' composting initiative. The Office of Sustainability distributes pamphlets on local food options such as CSA farm-shares and farmers markets.
None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Sustainable Grounds Signage
Yes
A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Signage explaining sustainable landscaping features is present at a demonstration rain garden by Lewis Hall and at the site of a pilot installation of permeable pavement in front of Miller Hall on the Medford campus. These features are also available to look at on our Eco-Map.
The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Sustainable Walking Map or Tour
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The Office of Sustainability produces and distributes an "Eco-Map". This is a map of the Medford campus that identifies sustainability hotspots, such as outdoor recycling bins, compost drop-off locations, dining locations offering Fair Trade coffee, specialty recycling bins (such as batteries, ink cartridges, or textiles), electric vehicle charging stations, shuttle stops, public transportation pick-up points, and solar panels.
The Office of Sustainability developed an EcoTour of campus that features ten locations or "stops" on the Medford campus that have significance in Tufts' environmental history. The tour was given to a group of students in summer 2018 and has previously been available to all students but has not been updated to include recent tour stops yet.
None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
Guide for Commuters
Yes
A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
The Office of Sustainability produces pamphlets for each of Tufts' four campuses in Massachusetts that contain information about "Sustainable Commuting." These pamphlets include information about commuter benefits, shuttle routes and public transportation, car, ride and bike share services. They highlight the environmental and economic incentives for making your commute more sustainable. Pamphlets are available for pick-up at the Tufts Department of Public Safety's parking desk, at the Office of Sustainability, in the student commuter house, and at various events. Thee information is also distributed at all new employee orientations and can also be downloaded from the Office of Sustainability's website. They are pointed to from the internal website designed for Tufts employees (Access Tufts) and the Tufts mobile App. The transportation page on the website contains more detailed information about alternative transportation at https://sustainability.tufts.edu/transportation/
The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians
Yes
None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
The Office of Sustainability publishes a bike map for the Medford campus that includes information on the location of bike racks, bike lanes, steep hills, etc. It also provides tips on safe biking (turn signals, helmet use, etc.), relevant laws, and biking resources on campus. Tufts Bikes (http://tuftsbikes.com/), a student bike share group, holds group rides that include an educational/instructional portion, offers free bike maintenance with open shop hours so anyone can bring their bikes in for a tune-up/service, and connects students with other bike resources.
None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Green Living Guide
Yes
None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
There is a residential community, the Green House, for students to live with sustainability oriented students (https://sustainability.tufts.edu/sustainability-house-at-tufts/). The Office of Sustainability also provides resources and tips for students to live greener in their lives and in their dorms. The Eco-Rep program also incorporates sustainability into residential life as one Eco-Rep is assigned to each residence hall and promotes sustainability and sustainability-related events – they even host green events in the residence halls.
http://students.tufts.edu/student-affairs/residential-life/on-campus-housing/housing-policies#Other%20Residence%20Hall%20Policies
None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Other Outreach Materials
Yes
A brief description of these materials or publications:
There are signs above or on the recycling bins located in all residential and academic buildings. These signs tell people what can and cannot be recycled and remind everyone to recycle and properly dispose of waste. Additionally, the Office of Sustainability manages a Recycling & Waste Management website with detail recycling and composting information: https://operations.tufts.edu/recycle/
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Optional Fields
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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.