2013 naaco annual conference - greening the commencement experience (aka green is the new black)
TRANSCRIPT
Greening the
Commencement
Experience at
Clarkson University
Presenter:
Christina Lesyk,
LMSW, CSEP
Director of University
Events
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• Nationally ranked research university offering more than 50 comprehensive
programs in business, engineering, science, liberal arts, health sciences and
environmental studies at the undergraduate and graduate level
• The Clarkson School, an early college entrance program
• University Honors Program for highly gifted students from all majors
• International reputation in the fields of advanced materials science, biotechnology,
environmental and energy, entrepreneurship and global supply chain management
• 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students and 270 faculty
• 19 varsity sports: two Division I (Men’s and Women’s Hockey) and 17 Division III
• Located in Potsdam, N.Y., the quintessential college town with four higher education
institutions within a 10-mile radius, at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains
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Clarkson University
is among the nation’s most
environmentally
responsible colleges.
Princeton Review’s Guide to
322 Green Colleges, 2012
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The experience at Clarkson proves
that these are not only myths, but
that being sustainable can
improve and add value to one of
the most important events at a
college or university.
If we can do it, so can you!
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Residence Hall Rentals
- Park the car for free
- You can walk from venue to venue – easy access to
entertainment, the fitness center, dining, etc.; Great for the
elderly and disabled
- No worries about drinking and driving
- A lot less expensive than hotels
From the guests’ standpoint:
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Residence Hall Rentals
- Guests use eco-friendly accommodations and often don’t even realize it because it’s easy, free, and unobtrusive.
- Low-flow shower heads
- Small gallon toilets that use recycled rainwater
- Use of natural lighting, supplemented by energy-efficient lighting
From Clarkson’s standpoint:
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Residence Hall Rentals
- Lighting sensors in common areas
- Low-emission glass
- Solar-panel heated sink water
- White rooftops
- Water bottle fill stations
From Clarkson’s standpoint (continued):
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Residence Hall Rentals
- Only 1 set of linens – guests have to request extras
- Blankets for as long as you can – turn thermostat down
- Eco-friendly paints
- Eco-friendly cleansers
AND: It’s a solid source of revenue!
And:
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Eco-Cuisine
Star Trek scene about macrobiotic meals
Initial forays into vegetarianism
- unimaginative; afterthoughts; unbalanced nutritionally;
guest deprivation (including their aesthetic senses)
From Then to Now:
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Eco-Cuisine
GORGEOUS meals using:
Local foods – Black Angus beef, baked goods, chocolates,
our own herbs and vegetables
Organic options – including beers and wines
Seasonal foods, Fair Trade coffee
No controversial meats or seafood from unsustainable
sources; Cruelty-Free meats
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Eco-Dining
Beautiful, functional and intriguing as well as
eco-friendly:
- No cafeteria trays
- Cornstarch-based utensils and “glassware”
- China service; using “real” utensils instead of
disposables
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Eco-Dining
- PVC take-out clamshell containers that can be
sanitized
- Edible garnishes; fewer or no garnishes
- Vegetarian meal options that are just as nice as
meat-based meals
- Not pouring beverages until asked for
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Eco-Dining
- Classy water carafes and hydrating stations;
decreased use of bottled water
- Natural fabric linens; less usage of linens
- Serving condiments in bulk or from pretty dishes or
bowls
- Discounts if you use your own mug
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Eco-Dining
Donating leftover and/or unused food to food banks?
- Depends on your local health regulations
- Need to train dining services staff
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Eco-Dining
Super Bowl organizers plan for this as well as for
the retrieval and recycling of all kinds of materials
used.
- Plywood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, paper,
office supplies
- NFL has a sports equipment and book
redemption project that helps local schools –
Clarkson just had a massive sale of sports
equipment and donated items
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Eco-Regalia
Transporting gowns?
Cleaning gowns?
Designing and owning gowns?
Buy or Rent?
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Eco-Gifting
Experiences (or food!) instead of “stuff” –
ski passes; hockey tickets, scholarships
Useful items (ex. thumb drives, refillable
water bottles) instead of useless ones
Do you have to give a gift or swag at all?
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Eco-Publications
- Permanent namebadges instead of paper ones
- Retrieving and recycling namebadges
- Cornstarch laminate namebadge holders
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Eco-Publications
- Recycled paperstock, even for diplomas
- Printing viewbooks on organic cotton t-shirts and
sending them instead of paper catalogs
- Putting programs, lay-outs, maps and other info in
electronic form (ex. a Commencement website)
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Eco-Publications
- Double-sided printing
- Use an Energy Star printer
- Estimating your needs better (ex. based on past history,
how many programs should you order?)
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Eco-Publications
- Can you register guests online?
- In Commencement meetings, can you project your agenda instead of printing them? Can you use dry-erase boards and photograph them instead of paper flip charts?
- Don’t provide notepads unless they’re requested.
- Question if you need to print something to begin with!
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Eco-Publications
- Check-in apps - Social media
- Smartphone ticketing - Soy/vegetable inks
- Water-based adhesives - Non-metallic paperstock
- Undated signage, banners; digital signage
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Eco-Decor
- Reusable centerpieces and other floral décor – ex. sunflower centerpiece, donations to organizations to sell for fundraisers or donating to a good cause
- Recycled glass containers – even if they don’t match!
- Recycled wreath rings
- Consider if you need that much décor if your venue is unique
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Eco-Decor
- Using compostable receptacles/plant pots
- Edible centerpieces – ex. beautiful breads, fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs
- Plantable centerpieces – ex. tree seedlings, trees, shrubs, herbs, wildflowers
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Eco-Decor
- Using sturdy floral species that can last through several events
- Using seasonal items
- Using items that are suitable for your area (no hibiscus for us!)
- Renting from local landscapers
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Eco-Transportation
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- Web-streaming the ceremony
- Stay on campus, park and walk
- Don’t let vehicles idle
- Carbon-offsets
Eco-Transportation
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- Encourage people to car-pool
- Shuttles
- Bicycles to borrow; Bicycle racks
Eco-Transportation
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- Designate hybrid/alternative fuel parking spaces
- Make it fun – see who’s traveled the longest
distance the most sustainable way!
Eco-Waste Management
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Recycling
Dump & Run Program;
Auctions
Digester
Waste Heat for Warmth
Eco-Waste Management
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Recycling
- Having staff instruct
guests
- Having staff sort food
and other waste
Eco-Waste Management
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Reusing
- packaging (ex. to move out with),
- donating regalia to fellow college
students or high schools)
Reducing