Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.63
Liaison Yaffa Grossman
Submission Date May 19, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Beloit College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 4.00 Lindsay Chapman
Sustainability Coordinator
Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Published Plans That Address Sustainability 

Strategic Plan

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
No

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
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A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
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Sustainability Plan 

Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
https://www.beloit.edu/sustainability/assets/Beloit_College_Sustainability_Plan_FINAL_Dec2014.pdf

Climate Action Plan 

Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Other Published Plans 

Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
No

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
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Measurable Sustainability Objectives 

Curriculum

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
As outlined in our campus 3-year Sustainability Plan, the following measurable goals will help us gauge our sustainability curricular offerings. a. Provide four Sustainability Citizen opportunities in each of first three years (first year: 2014-15 academic year). Sustainability Citizen opportunities include courses and course modules that empower students with the conceptual, empirical, and creative tools they need to be effective environmental citizens and to develop into responsible and capable leaders. b. Provide twelve Sustainability Fellow opportunities during the summer of each of the first three years (first year: 2014-15 academic year). The Sustainability Fellows Program provides students the opportunity to contribute their expertise to a sustainability project on campus or in the Beloit community. Fellows are full-time interns, paired with faculty and community mentors for two months during the summer. c. Provide four Sustainability Leader Team opportunities each year for first three years (first year: 2014-15 academic year). Sustainability Leader Teams are three- or four-member collaborative teams charged with completing a sustainability project that is usually full-time for two months in the summer or part-time for an entire academic year. Student team members consult regularly with their Faculty and Staff Mentors to discuss their projects, including the ethical, creative, economic, political, and cultural dimensions, as well as how others may be persuaded to pursue their recommended solution(s).

Research 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
As outlined in our campus 3-year Sustainability Plan, the following measurable goals will help us gauge our progress on furthering Sustainability research at Beloit College. b. Provide twelve Sustainability Fellow opportunities during the summer of each of the first three years (first year: 2014-15 academic year). The Sustainability Fellows Program provides students the opportunity to contribute their expertise to a sustainability project on campus or in the Beloit community. Fellows are full-time interns, paired with faculty and community mentors for two months during the summer. c. Provide four Sustainability Leader Team opportunities each year for first three years (first year: 2014-15 academic year). Sustainability Leader Teams are three- or four-member collaborative teams charged with completing a sustainability project that is usually full-time for two months in the summer or part-time for an entire academic year. Student team members consult regularly with their Faculty and Staff Mentors to discuss their projects, including the ethical, creative, economic, political, and cultural dimensions, as well as how others may be persuaded to pursue their recommended solution(s).

Campus Engagement 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
1. Increase sustainability literacy throughout the Beloit College community. a. Launch and sustain a multi-faceted communications strategy, driven by the Sustainability Coordinator. Communications will consist of social media utilization, website development, monthly success stories of projects on and off campus, town halls, promotion of sustainability campus events, and sharing best practices and opportunities for involvement to all faculty, staff, and students. These efforts will be documented in a database in development during the 2014-15 academic year by the Sustainability Coordinator. b. Include the College’s sustainability goals, initiatives, and progress in new employee training, new student orientation, and campus tours. c. Conduct an annual survey and focus groups to determine if the communication strategy is positively affecting sustainability literacy. Surveys and focus groups will be conducted by the Sustainability Hall Director and the Sustainability Coordinator.

Public Engagement 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Air & Climate 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Buildings 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Energy 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
As outlined in our campus 3-year Sustainability Plan, the following measurable goals will help us gauge our progress on energy intensity. a. Create a baseline of usage (2013-14 yr) and determine a best-fit energy intensity metric for the College (MMBtu/sq. ft.). b. Reduce energy intensity by 2.5% each year for first 3 years (2014-15 yr - 2016-17 yr).

Food & Dining 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
As outlined in our campus 3-year Sustainability Plan, the following measurable goals will help us gauge our sustainability progress in dining services. a. During the 2013-14 academic year, Beloit College Bon Appetit sourced 27% of its food through Bon Appetit Management Company’s Farm to Fork program, a companywide initiative requiring chefs to buy at least 20% of their ingredients from small farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and food producers within 150 miles of their kitchens. Over the next three years, Beloit College Bon Appetit will source 37% of its food through the Farm to Fork program. b. Beloit College Bon Appetit will purchase all of the Beloit Urban Garden’s (BUG) produce, as long as BUG members are willing. c. Decrease food waste by 10% over the next three years. i. Finalize a baseline of food waste in the 2013-14 academic year. ii. Decrease food waste through a combination of education, employee training, community partnerships and technological advances.

Grounds 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
a. Catalog current landscaping practices and create a Beloit College policy of best-practices to further healthy grounds. b. Increase the area of campus planted with native species over a 3-year period (2014-15 yr - 2016-17 yr).

Purchasing 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
As outlined in our campus 3-year Sustainability Plan, the following measurable goals will help us gauge our progress in sustainable purchasing. a. Create and adhere to a Sustainable Purchasing Policy that will promote purchasing options that minimize costs and promote a positive ecological impact.

Transportation 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Waste 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
As outlined in our campus 3-year Sustainability Plan, the following measurable goals will help us gauge our progress towards waste minimization. a. Create a baseline of trash disposal (2014-15 yr) and determine a best-fit waste intensity metric for the College (tons/sq. ft.). b. Create a baseline of Beloit College’s recycling rate (2014-15 yr). c. Increase Beloit’s recycling rate by 2.5% each subsequent year (2015-16 yr - 2016-17 yr).

Water 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
As outlined in our campus 3-year Sustainability Plan, the following measurable goals will help us gauge our progress in water consumption. a. Create a baseline of usage (2013-14 yr) and determine a best-fit water intensity metric for the College (gallons/sq. ft.). b. Reduce water intensity by 2% each year for first 3 years (2014-15 yr - 2016-17 yr).

Diversity & Affordability 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Investment & Finance 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Wellbeing & Work 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Other Impact Areas 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The following goals on Cultural Resources are part of Beloit's 3 year sustainability plan. Cultural Resources a. Create a geospatial database that incorporates extant, historic, and prehistoric structures and feature locations, archaeological testing locations, collections, and associated data. b. Assess current practices and develop long-term cultural resource conservation plans, preservation plans, and best practices to preserve extant, historic, and prehistoric structures and features.

Optional Fields 

Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
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The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
Sustainability requires that we meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs by focusing on the environmental, economic, social and ethical aspects of human decision-making and action.

Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter No
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) No
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter No
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment No
The Talloires Declaration (TD) No
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) No

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://www.beloit.edu/sustainability/plan/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.