| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.64 |
| Liaison | Rob Andrejewski |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Richmond
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Cassandra
Collins Sustainability Communications & Engagement Specialist Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Central Sustainability Website
Yes
A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):
University of Richmond has a website devoted to the Office for Sustainability that provides information on sustainability efforts on campus, upcoming sustainability events, programming for students and employees, sustainability educational resources, and more. The website also includes information on commitments and reports, campus operational sustainability, academics and research, and the University's new Sustainability Plan. The homepage has an embedded event calendar, social media feeds, and featured sustainability articles.
The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Sustainability Newsletter
Yes
None
A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:
The Office for Sustainability publishes a monthly (bi-monthly in the summer) newsletter that highlights current events on campus, features sustainability stories on campus, offers sustainability facts, and contains links to events, opportunities, and other relevant sustainability-related content. Each newsletter also includes a link to a Sustainability Champion interview that showcases an interview with a student, faculty, or staff member who supports sustainability on campus. The newsletter list has over 1,300 subscribers and the entire campus community is made aware of the newsletter through the office's social media accounts and a "Spiderbyte", the University's internal email alert system.
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 Communications & Engagement Specialist in the Office for Sustainability manages the sustainability social media outreach. The office has a Facebook page, Twitter account, and Instagram account. Events, stories, sustainability facts, and general updates populate each of these feeds. Posts are made on each platform 5-6 days a week. Office for Sustainability Communications Interns contribute content to the sustainability Instagram account during the spring and fall semesters.
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:
There are frequent stories related to sustainability on campus in the Collegian. An Office for Sustainability intern also writes a column that goes in-depth into different sustainability topics, like recycling.
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:
The School of Arts & Sciences hosts an annual Student Symposium every April, which showcases hundreds of student research projects from across the disciplines. The event, held at the Modlin Center for the Arts and the Gottwald Center for the Science, consists of oral presentations, poster sessions, performances and art exhibits and brings out the entire campus community. Three sustainability prizes are awarded each year. Press releases and social media posts inform the public about the event. Articles on awards appear in the student newspaper. The Spatial Analysis Lab in Geographic Information Systems also hosts GIS Day each semester, highlighting the work of student researchers. Much of the GIS work is related to land use, conservation, access to food, etc.
The UR Scholarship Repository also makes research publicly available through an online portal, including sustainability research that students have co-authored with University faculty.
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 University of Richmond has 14 LEED-certified buildings on campus. Many of the buildings have LEED plaques, and some buildings have signage indicating green features, such as low-flow bathroom fixtures, high-efficiency lighting, and innovative HVAC technologies.
The Office for Sustainability designed and posted interpretive signage at the Weinstein Center for Recreation solar array.
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:
Dining Services is a key partner in sustainability at University of Richmond. To bring attention to their sustainability efforts, large banners hang in the dining room and in the dish room of the Heilman Dining Center. The banners highlight composting, community service and recycling, as well as outlined local food providers. An oversize poster explains in detail the University's sustainable food systems efforts to consumers. Other dining locations and the campus convenience store have signs or markers on their menu boards highlighting locally sourced food and retail items.
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:
University of Richmond has large informational signs on campus where a new Eco-Corridor is being constructed and stream restoration is taking place that talk about that process and sustainable landscaping involved, like invasive species removal. Moreover, there are multiple signs around Westhampton Lake with information about how lake and wildlife health benefit from people not feeding the geese and ducks in the lake. There are also signs posted around the lake with information on how the University's grounds tie into the greater James River watershed.
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 sustainability website features an interactive map highlighting campus points related to sustainability activities. The map features LEED buildings, energy projects, bike self-repair racks, donation bins, transportation, the community garden, and more.
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 for Sustainability has a Be A Green Spider page related to sustainable transportation options including information on public transportation, university shuttles, carpooling, and biking.
During Transportation Day each semester, Zipcar, Rideshare, bike share, and the bus system are promoted with interactive games and giveaways.
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 University Recreation website houses information on the campus Bike Share program as well as an information sheet on Safe Cycling that includes information on how to signal while biking, how to dress safely while biking, and how to ride safely.
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:
The Office for Sustainability developed a Green Room Program that provides UR students with a framework for adopting sustainable living habits in the residence halls and apartments. There are two checklists, one for students who live in residence hall rooms and another for those who live in a suite or apartment.
The Be A Green Spider section of the Office for Sustainability website also provides information on green living related to food, transportation, waste, water, and dining.
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:
The Office for Sustainability releases a monthly "Sustainability Champion" feature that is published on the website, shared on social media, sent to a mailing list, and linked in the newsletter. This feature showcases a student, staff, or faculty member that supports sustainability on campus. The office also puts out digital flyers that are displayed on screens around campus related to upcoming events, sustainability facts, recycling questions, and more.
The website URL for these materials or publications:
Optional Fields
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Other url's to support this submission:
https://twitter.com/BeAGreenSpider
https://www.instagram.com/beagreenspider/
https://geography.richmond.edu/major-minor/gis-day/index.html
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/as/
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.