Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.54
Liaison Tom Hartzell
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2020

STARS v2.2

Calvin University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Becky Haney
Associate Professor
Economics
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:

In the Strategic Plan Scorecard (Internal dashboard only), Initiative 9.3 is to "Incorporate sustainability student learning outcomes, as described in the "Environmental Sustainability Roadmap," into the curriculum and develop an assessment plan to measure progress." This is targeted to start on July of 2021.

This initiative (9.3) is a measurable objective for Strategy 9 "Advance a university-wide commitment to creation care" of the Strategy Map 2019-2025 available at this link: https://calvin.edu/vision2030/files/2025-strategy-map.pdf

NOTE: This strategic plan initiative is based on the Sustainability Taskforce recommendation #4 described below.

See Taskforce Recommendation 4: Commit to achieving sustainability literacy for all graduates and begin assessing sustainability literacy SLOs as part of the core curriculum in AY 2018-2019: The taskforce recommends, pursuant to Strategic Plan I.1.d, that the CCC and EPC review and adopt the taskforce-recommended SLOs and curriculum plan that will collectively guide sustainability literacy for all graduates, with implementation beginning in AY 2018-2019.


Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:

In the Strategic Plan Scorecard (Internal dashboard only), Initiative 9.4-7.

These are based on the Taskforce Recommendation 5, pg. 21: "Expand incentives and awareness-building initiatives for lifestyle choices that align with the college's sustainability goals."

Taskforce Recommendation 6, pg. 23: "Align campus messaging with a cohesive sustainability narrative..."


Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:

In the Strategic Plan Scorecard (Internal dashboard only), Initiative 9.1-2.

Taskforce Recommendation 2, pg. 9: Sign the Second Nature Carbon Commitment in February 2017 and begin tracking Calvin's carbon reductions and financial savings.


Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:

Yes, In the Strategic Plan Scorecard (Internal dashboard only), Initiative 9.xxx. Achieve STARS Gold rating, which includes Diversity, etc.

See Taskforce Recommendation 3, p. 14: Appoint a Sustainability Director.


Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
Major theme

The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The institution’s definition of sustainability:

Sustainable living is the daily working out of the stewardship mandate. We seek to live as part of the natural world in ways that mirror the care and love God has for the creation. To live in a sustainable fashion means our daily activities will be conducted in such a manner that they do not seriously jeopardize, but instead promote, the well being of other people, other species, and the ability of future generations of all creatures to flourish.

(Note 4.26.19 from Calvin's Statement on Sustainability https://calvin.edu/dotAsset/dc0a78fe-0730-44c5-8184-12ea766eba3b )


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
Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability No
SDG Accord No
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
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:

Calvin College President signed the Second Nature's Climate Commitment in December 2017.


Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

In AY 2018-2019, the EESC adopted a new definition for sustainability that will be published in AY 2019-2020.


In AY 2018-2019, the EESC adopted a new definition for sustainability that will be published in AY 2019-2020.

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.