Prepared For: Chris Johnson, Winthrop University Sustainability Coordinator

Prepared By: Nykia McKenzie, Katie Cantrell, Anita Harris,

Allen Ownley, Patrick Nelson
To provide information regarding sustainability programs on college campuses.
2 November 2015

Table of Contents
Executive Summary.2
Literature Review.....3
University Sustainability Program Information and Website Critique....6
Winthrop Office of Sustainability Program Information and Website Critique....13
Recommendations for Winthrops Office of Sustainability ......13
Works Cited...15

Executive Summary
This report provides general information regarding sustainability programs on college campuses
and the specific programs at the University of South Carolina, Furman University, Coastal
Carolina University and Winthrop University.
Literature Review
Creating a Green Campus, 2007, explains how to create a green campus:
Have each resident hall delegate student sustainability
coordinators.
Have recycling competitions between each residence hall or class.
How green is your campus?, 2015, explains that universities treat sustainability
as a luxury good, and faculty and the community are larger factors in promoting
sustainable practices for universities than for corporations.
Water Conservation Campaign Goes to College explains how students in San
Diego County are rewarded with free food and prizes when they promote water
conservation on social media.
Schools and Universities Introduction explains different ways schools can
conserve water throughout campus, such as having low-flow water fixtures and manual
flush toilets.
Fewer Australians are drinking bottled water says survey promotes the banning
of bottled water sales to help increase sustainability.
University Sustainability Program Information and Website Critique
The University of South Carolina: Sustainable Carolina is not promoted as a
single department, but as the cumulative efforts of all campus and community members
of USC. Its sustainability website is simplistic and easy to navigate, but has redundant
information on the homepage.
Furman University: Its primary sustainability focus is to teach the ethics of
sustainability and to graduate students that will continue to live sustainably. Its
sustainability website is visually pleasing, but navigating is difficult with the awkward
content organization.
Coastal Carolina University: Sustain Coastal has undergraduate student
representatives known as Eco-Rep leaders, who develop programs challenging students
to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. CCUs sustainability website visually speaks
sustainability, but navigating the site is not simple, and the content is very plain.
Winthrop Office of Sustainability Critique- The office has necessary elements, such as social
media use and message frequency, to get students to visit its website and learn about
sustainability, but it needs to improve on student involvement.
Recommendations for Winthrop- Winthrops sustainability website can include a photo
gallery and a link for suggestions to improve the Office of Sustainabilitys efforts.

Literature Review
Creating a Green Campus by Abraham Parker, Oxford Journals, April 2007
Parker talks about the key concepts students need to create a green campus. Such as
having student involvement. Yale University sponsored several programs in the residence halls
discussing sustainability. Yale University also have two student sustainability coordinators for
each residence building. The university also implemented recycling competitions and orientation
sessions for freshmen and new students.
How green is your campus? an analysis of the factors that drive universities to embrace
sustainability by Sarah Stafford, Contemporary Economic Policy, 5 Oct. 2015
This article covers the methods of how research is done to determine what causes major
corporations and companies to go green and then applies their findings to institutions of higher
education. It discusses the major factors that lead to universities developing sustainability
programs as well as potential reasons not to adopt these programs. 180 institutions were
studied. Corporations often use sustainability as a competitive edge to gain more customers
from their competitors. The study found that students do not seem to factor in a university's
sustainability program when considering which school to attend. Therefore, sustainability cannot
be used as a method of increasing enrollment. Additionally universities also do not seem to be
as incentivized by regulatory pressures as corporations.
The main finding of the study is that sustainability initiatives among universities tends to
be a luxury good. The larger the institution and the more money available, the more likely they
are to adopt sustainable practices. Another major factor in universities adopting sustainable
practices is stakeholders. Alumni, faculty, and community play a large role in affecting the
behavior of the institution. Finally, the study shows that programs that provide subsidized

incentives and technical support to smaller universities are the most successful in adopting
sustainable practices as opposed to initiatives that only look more sustainable on a surface level.

Water Conservation Campaign Goes to College by Mike Lee, San Diego County Water
Authority, 2 Sept. 2014
This article talks about how college students in the San Diego County are geared up
about water conservation efforts on their campuses. Incentives are used to get student
involvement. Students can win free food and other prizes by promoting water conservation via
social media. Restaurants donate free food. Students are asked to take pictures showing the
refrigerator magnet provided at different events on campus. The magnet lists indoor water
conservation tips. The county is also increasing student involvement by rewarding those who
follow twitter accounts created to promote water conservation.
Schools and Universities Introduction by unknown author, Alliance for Water Efficiency,
2010
This article explains the ways students can save water on college campuses. Alliance for
Water Efficiency gives tips on water conservation for different uses such as toilets, faucets,
showerheads and clothes washers. The author explains that water conservation has two benefits:
water is saved at the facility and students are being educated on the issue. The Alliance for Water
Efficiency states, When selecting water efficient equipment, it is important to consider
durability and tamper resistance wherever students have access to the fixtures, equipment, and
appliances. An effective strategy groups the unique functions so the facility can better
understand how the water is being used.
Some of the tips are as follows:
Toilets:
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Manual flush valves result in less toilet flushing; sensor flush mechanisms flush

more. When installing dual flush toilets it is wise to post instructions and benefits for
students and faculty. Alternative methods of hygiene that will not clog toilets (paper
towels and disposable seat covers) should be used, such as sanitizers, air dryers and
continuous roll disposable seat covers.
Shower Heads:

Replacement showerheads should have a high level of user satisfaction and be

tamper proof. Water savings will only be achieved if the new showerhead is retained and
not altered to excessive flow.
Fewer Australians Are Drinking Bottled Water Says Survey by Sustainability Matters
Staff, Westwick-Farrow, 20 April 2012
This article discusses campuses in Australia banning the sale of bottled water. The bans
decrease bottled water use, preventing the waste of unconsumed water as well as incorrect
recycling. When individuals fail to drink all of the water in a bottle, often the remaining water is
poured down the drain. As a result of the ban, fewer Australians are drinking bottled water,
resulting in fewer plastic bottles discarded in landfills and less water poured down the drain.
Bottled water use will likely decline further in the future, according to the article.

University Sustainability Program Information

and Website Critique
University of South Carolina http://www.sc.edu/green/index.php
Program Information

The University of South Carolinas Office of Sustainability works to educate students,

faculty and staff as well as surrounding community members about sustainability. By working as
a team with students and the community, the office hopes to create both a sustainable campus
and society as a result (Office of Sustainability). The office has a student branch, referred to as
Sustainable Carolina, which enables students to address sustainability issues that arise on
campus, as well as those that occur globally. Sustainable Carolina has both a mission and vision
statement. The mission statement articulates educating and transforming the campus and
community and forming collaborative relationships needed to create a sustainable society and
campus. The vision statement focuses on providing leadership and support for everyone on
campus and in the community who have adopted sustainability as a core principle (Office of
Sustainability). The tagline the office has adopted is, As a Gamecock, my sustainability has no
limits.
Sustainable Carolina is not promoted as a single department, but as the cumulative efforts
of all students, faculty, staff, and community members of USC. The programs efforts are
described as the collaboration of campus organizations, departments and individuals that are
leading the transformation to create a sustainable campus (Office of Sustainability). In addition
to being publicized as the cumulative efforts of these groups, Sustainable Carolina is promoted as
a way for students to gain experience in leadership roles, which they can carry to their future
careers. Because the program is an opportunity for leadership, students who join must be highly
motivated, but they do not have to be an expert on sustainability (Office of Sustainability).
Anyone who has the desire to get involved, can join.
USCs sustainability program is publicized through various projects, including
professional development events. One such occasion is the Green Career Fair, which features job

and internship opportunities with a sustainability component. Another event is a Sustainability

Showcase where students and faculty can present and explore sustainability research. Other
sustainability awareness experiences are Earth Jam, an annual concert and fair for students, and
Reclaimed Runway, which raises awareness by featuring models in clothes made from recycled
and upcycled materials (Office of Sustainability). In addition, the program cares for the Carolina
Community Farm and Garden, and produce from this garden is sold at the local farmer's market
to promote eating locally-grown food.

Website Critique
USCs sustainability website is simplistic and easy to navigate. The home page features
necessary information, including a summary about the office, a calendar of upcoming events, and
social media links. On the sidebar, links display sections for more about the office, students,
academics and research, the community farm and garden, and a photo gallery. This allows easy
navigation throughout the site. However, one aspect on the home page is redundant. In the
section Heres What Were Up To, it lists events that are already displayed in the upcoming
events calendar. Instead of repeating content, the website can just list the activities not seen on
the calendar.
Furman University http://www.furman.edu/sites/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx
Program Information

Furman University does not have an official office of sustainability, but the university
does advocate for sustainability campus-wide through the Shi Center for Sustainability, founded
in 2008. Furman claims sustainability as part of its identity. Sustainability is not just a
buzzword on its campus, according to the universitys website; every year it looks for new
ways to weave sustainability into the academic curriculum and campus operations
(Sustainability). It prides itself as the only liberal arts institution in the United States to offer a
bachelors degree in Sustainability Science. The universitys bottom line regarding
sustainability is, Sustainability is in our DNA (Sustainability). Furman believes sustainability
is an integral part of life on campus.
On Furmans website, the Shi Center is promoted as a hub where educators, students
and community leaders can work together to explore sustainability issues and create solutions for
those issues. These efforts are intended to help leave a better planet for future generations more
than simply to build a better sustainability program on campus (Sustainability). As a result,
commitment to leading the community in a more sustainable direction is constantly being
promoted throughout the website. The Shi Centers primary focus is to teach the ethics of
sustainability and to graduate students that will continue to live sustainably (Sustainability).
Furman has been frequently recognized as a leader regarding sustainability on college
campuses. According to the universitys website, Furman is consistently profiled in the
Princeton Reviews Guide to Green Colleges and has been recognized as a Campus Sustainability
Leader by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, or
AASHE (Sustainability). In addition to being promoted by outside entities, Furman promotes its
own sustainability efforts through community engagement in sustainability projects. For
example, the Furman Farm teaches students and community members about sustainable farming

practices. The university also participates in service projects, including tree planting in the
community, with the help of the Heller Service Corps (Sustainability). These projects provide
students with volunteer opportunities while also promoting sustainability in the surrounding
community.
Website Critique
Furmans website for sustainability is visually pleasing, but navigating is more difficult
than the other universities sites because the organization of the content is awkward. Pictures of
sustainability-related events serve as a banner across the top, with the most recent starting from
the left to the oldest on the right. This can be confusing, because it is typically seen as advancing
forward in time when one scrolls to the right. As a viewer scrolls down the page, there is a
permanent banner of links on the left that scrolls up and down with the page. This banner
contains links to general information about Furman, not sustainability topics, which can cause
confusion if the viewer is wondering how those links relate to sustainability. It both distracts
from the content of the page and covers a portion of the pictures at the top. Removing this banner
would reinforce the website as a sustainability page, not general information about Furman. The
website features two other major sections with links to additional sustainability content. In a
small banner on the right, a viewer can find links such as Furmans sustainability vision, what
you can do to live sustainably, and academics and research. Below the general summary of
sustainability at Furman, more links take a viewer to content such as the sustainability science
minor, the Shi Center for Sustainability, and how Furman is demonstrating sustainable practices.
Like USCs website, some information is repeated in these sections. Instead of having the small
sidebar of links, these links can be combined with the ones in the main content area to avoid

repetition. This also reduces the number of sidebars on the page, which can distract from the
central information.
Coastal Carolina University https://www.coastal.edu/sustain/index.html
Program Information
Coastal Carolina Universitys sustainability program, called Sustain Coastal, was
established in 2005 and is partnered with TD Bank. According to the website, this program is
committed to transforming the university into a sustainable campus. With the tagline, Teal Goes
Green, Sustain Coastal coordinates sustainable projects and programs, including recycling,
water refill stations, waste reduction, and conservation (Sustainability at Coastal). It also hosts
campus events, such as a farmers market, sustainability fair, and Landfill on the Lawn which
involves dumping bags of trash onto a tarp on Prince Lawn and sorting out recyclables. By
participating in this demonstration, students can see the quantity of recyclables that get thrown
away.
Coastals Sustainability Office has undergraduate student leader representatives known as
Eco-Rep leaders. These leaders model and promote sustainable living, as well as develop
programs and events that challenge their fellow students and community to adopt a more
sustainable lifestyle (Sustainability at Coastal). Another unit in the office is the Green Team,
which conducts behind-the-scenes sustainability work. Comprised of student workers, the
Green Team collects on-campus recyclables in all campus buildings as well as during special
eventsathletic events being the most frequent (Sustainability at Coastal). A third division of the
office is the Students for Environmental Awareness club (SEA); the sustainability office acts as
advisor for this club. As a student-organized club, SEA helps create a more sustainable campus
by participating in clean-ups, recycling programs, and environmental talks. The goal of SEA is to

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educate and demonstrate sustainable practices (Sustainability at Coastal). By demonstrating these

practices among peers, it is likely that students will adopt them as well.
Coastal Carolina has also established a Student Green Fund, which provides students
with an opportunity to receive funding for sustainability projects and activities on campus. The
university asks for voluntary donations of $5 or more per semester in order to support these
projects (Sustainability at Coastal). An additional component of CCUs sustainability efforts is
the Sustainability Council, established in 2014. Consisting of 25 members, the council sets the
vision for sustainability on campus and advises the President, the Office of Sustainability, and
the campus community about sustainability practices. Promotion of these practices by the Office
of Sustainability is accomplished by educating the campus community, developing programs that
impact campus operations, supporting collaboration across departments, measuring and reporting
campus efforts towards sustainability, and striving to meet campus sustainability goals
(Sustainability at Coastal). Sustain Coastal further promotes itself through social media,
including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Website Critique
It is clear that CCUs sustainability website is about sustainability with its large
Sustainability Initiative title across the top of the page over a bright green image. The
homepage clearly summarizes the universitys program, Sustain Coastal, and includes
hyperlinked graphics at the bottom, linking to programs, getting involved, recycling, and

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suggestions. Navigating the site, however, is not as easy as USCs, and the content is very plain.
On the homepage, there is a sidebar with links such as a calendar, contact information, getting
involved, and programs. When a viewer clicks on these links, he is taken to that page, and
different links appear in the sidebar related to the content of the page. If the viewer wants to go
to another link that was in the main sidebar, he must click the back arrow or click
Sustainability at the top of the page. This can be confusing if the viewer only wants to look at
the major content under each main link. To prevent confusion, the additional links can be put as
sublinks under each major link in the homepages main sidebar. More pictures or graphics
should also be added to the content pages, because many of them only have blocks of text, which
is very boring to students.

Winthrop Office of Sustainability

Program Information
Winthrops Office of Sustainability uses its page on Winthrops website, weekly emails to
faculty and staff fliers and social media to get its message out. Facts about water waste and what
students can do to better conserve water on its website. There is also a section with information
on the advanced technology that Winthrop uses in the West Center as well as information about
the unique function of Campus Green.
Recommendations for Winthrops Office of Sustainability
Although Winthrop is making a strong effort to communicate its sustainability message,
there are aspects that could be changed.

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1. Winthrop should find ways to get students more involved in sustainability issues.
Giving students prizes to those who promote water conservation is
a way to give them an incentive to practice awareness, like schools in San Diego
County.
Running recycling competitions with rewards to the winners is
another way to create involvement, since most students love competition.
2. Winthrops sustainability office should adopt a catchphrase that students can
easily remember and use as hashtags on social media to create buzz. The University of
South Carolina and Coastal Carolina both have catchy taglines.
3. Hosting more events is the key to student interest. The Water in the World
Conference is an example of a major sustainability event at Winthrop. More events like
this would likely increase attention to sustainability.
4. Currently, SEAC and SOAR (environmental organizations on campus) are
inactive. There should be an active effort to get these clubs running to help create student
involvement and raise awareness of sustainability.
5. Advertising the Office of Sustainability on campus more is also a step, because
many students are not aware that it exists. This can be done by posting fliers and utilizing
the TVs in the DiGiorgio Center with slides of sustainability facts and upcoming events.
Also, tabling and putting news in the Daily Student Announcements are alternative ways
to get the message out.
6. To improve Winthrops sustainability website, one suggestion is to include a
photo gallery of events that the office has hosted or participated in. Most students are
more interested in pictures than words, so having a gallery of photos will draw more
student attention as well as explain events that students might be unfamiliar with. An
example of a good photo gallery can be found on USCs website.
7. Insert a link on the website to invite suggestions from students, faculty and
community members for the Office of Sustainability, like on CCUs website. Because the

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office is not as well known as an organization like DSU, hearing suggestions for
improvement from individuals both on and outside of campus will benefit future growth.
By implementing a few or all of these recommendations, Winthrops Office of
Sustainability will strengthen its presence both on campus and online, as well as draw more
student attention to sustainability.

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Works Cited
"Fewer Australians Are Drinking Bottled Water Says Survey." Sustainability Matters,
Westwick-Farrow, 20 Apr. 2012. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.
Http://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/sustainability/news/fewer-australiansare-drinking-bottled-water-says-survey-1184953418.
Lee, Mike. "Water Conservation Campaign Goes to College." Water Conservation Campaign
Goes to College. San Diego County Water Authority, 2 Sept. 2014. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.
"Office of Sustainability." Office of Sustainability. University of South Carolina, 2012. Web.
30 Aug. 2015. http://www.sc.edu/green/index.php
"Office of Sustainability." Winthrop University:. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.
http://www.winthrop.edu/sustainability/
Parker, Abraham. "Creating a "Green Campus"" Oxford Journals 57.4 (2007): 321. JSTOR
[JSTOR]. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.
"Schools and Universities Introduction." Schools and Universities Introduction. Alliance for
Water Efficiency, 2010. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.
"How green is your campus? an analysis of the factors that drive universities to embrace
sustainability." Contemporary Economic Policy 29.3 (2011): 337+. Academic OneFile.
Web. 5 Oct. 2015.
"Sustainability." Sustainability|Furman University. Furman University, n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.
http://www.furman.edu/sites/sustainability/Pages/default.aspx
"Sustainability at Coastal Carolina University." Sustainability. Coastal Carolina University,
2015. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. https://www.coastal.edu/sustain/index.html

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