University of Washington, Seattle
EN-2: Student Orientation

During new student orientation, all undergraduate and transfer students are introduced to issues of sustainability through a skit during the portion of the program that addresses the culture at the UW. The skit addresses reducing waste, how recycling works at the UW, the culture of thinking sustainability, the institutional efforts of the campus to reduce energy consumption and waste, and information about student organizations dedicated to educating the community around these issues. Each new student is also provided a printed student planner, which includes information on the UW Sustainability office and the Campus Sustainability Fund. During orientation, all meals provided to students use compostable or reusable dishware. Orientation activity and materials are reviewed annually with First Year Programs. Every year, UW Recycling and the UW Sustainability office organize outreach events during Dawg Daze, a large-scale annual welcome event for first year students. The intent of the outreach is to share information about overall sustainability at UW. Environmentally-passionate staff and students share their knowledge and enthusiasm for all the green efforts going on around campus and demonstrate how students can positively impact the UW with energy conservation, reducing water usage, what to do with that coffee cup, and more. Interactive and informative events such as a recycling sort, sustainability campus tour, and sustainability open house are just a sampling of ways we engage and inform students. Several student groups dedicated to sustainability also have booths and other informational events during Dawg Daze. The University also uses the freshman and transfer orientation programs to promote the U-PASS and alternative modes of commuting to the campus.