Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 77.24
Liaison Jim Dees
Submission Date June 10, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Appalachian State University
IN-1: Innovation 1

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
2014-2019 Strategic Plan of Appalachian State University: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future

A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome :

Appalachian State University's campus wide Strategic Plan is innovative because of its focus and the associated metrics used to measure its effectiveness over a five year period. Appalachian State University's Strategic Plan is one only a few in the country that is integrates sustainability throughout its campus wide strategic plan.

The strategic plan titled, The Appalachian Experience: Envisioning a Just and Sustainable Future, provides direction for the campus over the course of the next five years. The plan serves as a recognition that the primary focus of the campus is to transform the lives of our students. We believe that this transformational Appalachian Experience results in engaged citizens who understand their responsibility to society. Our students leave with a clear charge to make a difference and to care for the planet and its people.

Sustainability at Appalachian State University is not a trend, it is a tradition. We are active stewards of our State’s interconnected financial, cultural and natural resources. Through engaged scholarship, we balance critical, creative and global thinking in a living laboratory, transforming theory into practice and fostering responsible citizenship.

Strategic Directions:
1: Creating the Transformational Educational Experience
2: Advancing Knowledge and Addressing the Challenges of Our Region, State and World through Creativity and Innovation
3: Engaging the State, Region and World
4: Embracing Diversity of Thought, Belief and Community
5: Preserving Faculty and Staff Excellence


A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):

The Strategic Plan will be evaluated annually between 2014-2019, through benchmarks tied to the AASHE's STARS report, Sustainability Literacy Assessment, the Green House Gas Inventory. Some of these benchmark and final measurable goals include:

STARS 2.0 Academic Credits: Curriculum: = 65% achievement

STARS 2.0 Engagement Credits: Campus Engagement: = 65% achievement

Public Engagement: = 65% achievement

Sustainability Literacy Survey:baseline and gain scores, research design under development.

STARS 2.0 Academics Credits: Research: >= 65% achievement

STARS 2.0 Planning &Administration Credits: Diversity & Affordability: >= 65% achievement

STARS 2.0 Planning &Administration Credits: Health, Wellbeing & Work: >= 65% achievement Health, Coordination, Planning & Governance: = 65% achievement

STARS 2.0 Operations Credits: All 8 subcategories: = 65% achievement

STARS 2.0 Planning &Administration Credits:
Health, Coordination, Planning & Governance: = 65% achievement
Investment: = 65% achievement

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 68,000 eCo2 by ’18-19

Energy Consumption: 90,000 Btu/GSP by ’18-19

Renewable Energy Utilization: 0.5% of total consumed energy from university owned renewable energy systems by ‘18-19

Water Usage: 17.15 gallons/GSF by ’18-19

Transportation, Single Occupant Vehicle Utilization: student rate of 85% by ’18-19 and faculty/staff rate of 28% ’18-19

Zero Waste, Solid Waste Diversion Rate: 75% by ’18-19


A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of 5):
Yes or No
Curriculum No
Research No
Campus Engagement Yes
Public Engagement No
Air & Climate No
Buildings No
Dining Services No
Energy Yes
Grounds No
Purchasing No
Transportation No
Waste Yes
Water No
Coordination, Planning & Governance Yes
Diversity & Affordability Yes
Health, Wellbeing & Work No
Investment No

Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
---

The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.