Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.77
Liaison Ezra Small
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Massachusetts Amherst
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Ezra Small
Sustainability Manager
Physical Plant
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Central Sustainability Website 

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 (optional):
Re branded and launched in 2016, Sustainable UMass website is a gateway for most of the sustainability opportunities and happenings across the campus and breaks the sustainability areas into 6 different buckets: Climate Change and Energy, Food Systems and Permaculture, Buildings and Infrastructure, Student Activity and Campus Living, Waste and Recycling, Academics and Research

The website URL for the central sustainability website:
https://www.umass.edu/sustainability/

Sustainability Newsletter 

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Sustainability Newsletter is published several times a year and is sent to a growing list of faculty, staff, students, and alumni.

None
The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
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Social Media Platforms 

Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram Twitter: https://twitter.com/umasssustainYoutube: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1UA8yf7Po0 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/5182061 IG: https://www.instagram.com/UMass_Sustain/

The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
https://www.facebook.com/UMassSustainability

Student Newspaper Coverage 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
The Daily Collegian and UMass News Office regularly covers sustainability events and stories on campus and in the region. Collegian: https://dailycollegian.com/?s=sustainability UMass News: https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/archive?field_topic_tid=43050

The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
http://dailycollegian.com/?s=sustainability

Student Research Publication 

Does the institution produce 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 campus-wide Research Next website is the go-to online gateway for highlighting student and faculty research through the energy and environment gateways. The UMass ScholarWorks Sustainable UMass site has a "Student Showcase" page which is an open source collection of student research and work on campus: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/sustainableumass_studentshowcase/

None
The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
http://www.umass.edu/researchnext/gateway/energy-and-materials

Green Building Signage 

Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

None
A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :
Although the campus does not purchase LEED plaques for building entrances, any new construction is required to build to LEED Silver minimum standards and have dashboards in lobbies which highlight sustainable features of the building. In 2016, the Integrated Learning Center had a number of LEED Feature signs installed in hallways around the building interior explaining to building occupants the LEED certification system and the associated features inside the building that helped the building achieve LEED certification. In 2017, these signs were extended to the Campus Center BlueWall LEED certified (Interiors) renovation project.

None
The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
http://www.umass.edu/sustainability/green-campus/buildings

Sustainable Food Systems Information 

Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Auxiliary Services, which oversees all campus dining halls and restaurants produces signage and brochures about sustainable food systems, composting, purchasing, and other initiatives. Signage and brochures can be found in the dining halls, restaurants, and at the Franklin Permaculture Gardens, as well as on line.

None
The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
http://www.localumass.com/

Sustainable Grounds Signage 

Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
In 2016 the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and the Grounds Department developed signs that indicate the newly constructed "Pollinator Gardens" on campus. This department also has signs hanging on multiple trees within the arboretum on campus that educate the campus community and visitors about invasive species and other tree health efforts.

The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/umass-amherst-campus-pollinator-garden

Sustainable Walking Map or Tour 

Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:
The student tour guides who provide tours for all campus visitors highlight sustainability efforts and buildings as part of the tour. The Campus Sustainability Manager Ezra Small has a 1.5 hour Sustainability Walking Tour that he gives to visitors of the campus including perspective students, and conference attendees. The Sustainable UMass Sustainability Explorer Interactive Map tool is available to the public and is constantly updated by Campus Planning and the Green Building Researcher student team.

None
The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
https://umass-amherst.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0d69a9b84d6b4d53ae29e80c3a947855

Guide for Commuters 

Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
UMass Amherst Parking Services Commuter Options Program website informs students, faculty, and employees about various transportation methods. It is a website that has links and information about various transportation options, including: NuRide (Rewards Program) Car Sharing (WeCar and ZipCar) Carpooling Occasional Parking Permit Ridematching Clean Vehicle Permit UMass Transit Bicycle Commuter Program Vanpool Park and Ride MassRides Emergency Ride Home

The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
http://www.umass.edu/transportation/alternative-transportation

Materials for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
No

None
A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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None
The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
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Green Living Guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
Residential Life and Admissions Office in collaboration with Sustainable UMass created a Model Green Residence Hall room and website in summer 2013. Every prospective student and parent visits this room on campus tours.

None
The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
https://www.umass.edu/living/your-sustainable-room

Other Outreach Materials 

Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
No

A brief description of these materials or publications:
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The website URL for these materials or publications:
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Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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