Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.18
Liaison Weston Dripps
Submission Date Aug. 19, 2024

STARS v3.0

Amherst College
PA-2: Commitments and Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.80 / 6.00 Weston Dripps
Director of Sustainability
Sustainability

Criteria

2.1 Public sustainability commitment

An institution earns 2 points when it has made a public commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by a published statement, policy, or plan that outlines the institution’s guiding vision or goals for sustainability and/or its status as a signatory to one or more external sustainability commitments that include a reporting requirement. 

Measurement

Report on the institution’s current plans and commitments. External commitments that do not include ongoing reporting requirements do not qualify.

2.2 Measurable sustainability objectives

An institution earns 3 points when it has adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address A) teaching, learning, and research, B) stakeholder engagement, C) campus operations, D) racial equity and social justice, and E) administration and finance, as evidenced by their inclusion in a published plan and the identification of an accountable staff position or unit for each objective. Partial points are available as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on the institution’s active plans, e.g., the institution’s current strategic plan, campus master plan, sustainability plan, and/or climate action plan.

2.3 Climate resilience assessment and planning

An institution earns 1 point when it A) has conducted a baseline assessment to identify vulnerabilities and resilience activities related to climate change on campus and in the local community, B) participates in an ongoing campus-community task force or committee that is focused on climate resilience, and C) has incorporated climate resilience strategies and/or goals into one or more of its published plans. Partial points are available as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on active plans and assessments completed or updated within the previous five years.

A campus-community task force or committee may be hosted by the institution, by an entity in the community, or jointly as long as both institutional and community representatives participate.  


Applicability

Applicable to all institutions.


Scoring


Measurement

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.