| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 35.50 |
| Liaison | Brian Kelley |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2025 |
Christopher Newport University
PA-2: Commitments and Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.80 / 6.00 |
Brian
Kelley Sustainability Specialist Facilities Management |
2.1 Public sustainability commitment
Narrative detailing the institution’s guiding vision or goals for sustainability and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Under new Presidential leadership, Christopher Newport University has concluded a 19-month initiative to update the University's plan, the Strategic Compass, that will guide the University over the next 5 years. Through feedback from multiple campus stakeholders and through town hall meetings, the board unanimously approved the plan on February 7, 2025.
The Compass includes the following priorities:
- ADVANCE THE POWER AND PROMISE OF AN EDUCATION EMBEDDED IN THE LIBERAL ARTS
- CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY
- CREATE A STRONGER CULTURE OF INCLUSION AND BELONGING
- BUILD A FOUNDATION TO THRIVE
Specifically, sustainability is embedded within priority 4 of building a foundation to thrive under goal 4 to proactively enhance campus environmental sustainability. This goal includes the following objectives:
- Reduce energy intensity and water usage and incorporate renewables into our energy portfolio.
- Increase participation of students, faculty, and staff in sustainability efforts to ensure a “whole of university” effort to achieve sustainability goals on campus and set benchmarks for improvement.
- Use sustainable best practices in campus operations.
- Reduce overall waste generation through the elimination of products, enhancement and expansion of campus reusable programs, and improvement of waste management/recycling infrastructure.
More information on sustainability and the Strategic Compass can be viewed here and this will guide many new programs for the years to come.
Narrative and/or website URL outlining the institution’s external sustainability commitments that include a reporting requirement:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
2.2 Measurable sustainability objectives
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address teaching, learning, and research:
Although Christopher Newport University does not have an official objective that addresses teaching, learning, and research, the Center for Sustainability in Education (CSE) is a valuable resource.
The Center for Sustainability in Education is Directed by Dr. Linda Manning and provides opportunities for students seeking internships, fellowship opportunities for students to pair with a faculty member on a particular research project, and includes affiliate faculty to incorporate sustainability education into the curriculum.
The mission of the Center for Sustainability in Education is to embed sustainability in the academic lives of students, faculty, and staff. We do this by creating and supporting opportunities to learn about sustainability through coursework, research, workshops, co-curricular activities, and civic engagement. We engage the campus as a living, learning lab model for students to explore, understand, and apply more sustainable solutions to climate issues. Our mission is to embed sustainability in the academic lives of students, faculty, and staff.
The Center for Sustainability in Education was founded in 2020 with funding from the Redekop Family Endowment. We are a hub for students, faculty, staff, and community leaders to work together to explore complex themes at the nexus of human and ecological well-being. We leverage the best of the liberal arts and science to address sustainability challenges.
Learn more about the Center for Sustainability in Education here.
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address stakeholder engagement?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address stakeholder engagement:
The Strategic Compass priority #4 to build a foundation to thrive includes the goal to proactively enhance campus environmental sustainability with an objective to increase participation of students, faculty, and staff in sustainability efforts to ensure a "whole of sustainability" effort to achieve sustainability goals on campus and set benchmarks for improvement.
The following working groups within the GoingGreener task force are tasked with enhancing overall stakeholder engagement:
- Education, research and campus culture
- Communication, advancement, outreach, and fundraising
As a result of the newly released objective in February 2025, regular announcements regarding environmental initiatives are included in the President's announcements and the striving for Zero Waste Football campaign was created in Fall 2024 as a high visual and high impact outreach source as an initial promotion of culture change towards sustainability. A presidential video explaining the program and an official GoingGreener logo were introduced to engage the campus community and beyond.
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address campus operations?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address campus operations:
The Strategic Compass is the University's 5 year plan and was officially approved by the board of visitors and released to the public in February 2025. The goal to "proactively enhance campus sustainability" is included within the plan under the priority to build a foundation to thrive and includes four main objectives:
- Reduce energy intensity and water usage and incorporate renewables into our energy portfolio.
- Increase participation of students, faculty, and staff in sustainability efforts to ensure a “whole of university” effort to achieve sustainability goals on campus and set benchmarks for improvement.
- Use sustainable best practices in campus operations.
- Reduce overall waste generation through the elimination of products, enhancement and expansion of campus reusable programs, and improvement of waste management/recycling infrastructure.
These objectives will help guide the writing of plans and policies to support sustainability initiatives going forward. Specifically under objective 1, the University has committed to the Better Buildings Challenge to reduce energy use by 20% over the next 10 years.
The submission of this report is in alignment with the Strategic Compass as this is our 1st submission and we are using this as a guide for future improvements. With the recent release of the University's emphasis on sustainability and support from President Kelly, the submission timing makes sense to build a foundation through the STARS to open discussions and work to improve the rating for future submissions.
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address racial equity and social justice?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address racial equity and social justice:
The Strategic Compass 5 year plan released for the university in February 2025 includes the priority "Create a Stronger Culture of Inclusion and Diversity" with the main goals:
Goal 1 - Cultivate a culture of inclusion in which every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered.
Goal 2 - Develop and implement comprehensive initiatives that foster a welcoming, supportive, and accessible campus environment ensuring equitable access to resources, opportunities, and support systems for all members of the university community.
Goal 3 - Create an inclusive and respectful learning environment that values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences for all so that Christopher Newport is the most inclusive university in Virginia.
Additional information and objectives for each of the listed goals can be viewed on the website.
A President's Council on inclusive excellence is being formed and objectives are monitored by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Has the institution adopted one or more measurable sustainability objectives that address administration and finance?:
Narrative listing the institution’s measurable sustainability objectives that address administration and finance:
Christopher Newport University does not have a stated sustainability objective that addresses finance, but the Going Greener Task Force includes the working group of communication, advancement, outreach, and fundraising.
In 2024, a Revolving Green Fund was established via a large donation from the Redekop Foundation. This fund will cover the up-front costs for high Return on Investment projects, in which departments apply for funding, get approved, and then pay back the fund based on calculated savings per year. A second Sustainability Account has also been created for projects that are important, but may not have a high ROI. This account would need additional donations through events such as CNU day each March, where campus stakeholders are encouraged to donate to support university departments and causes.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
2.3 Climate resilience assessment and planning
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s climate resilience assessment:
Does the institution participate in an ongoing campus-community task force or committee that is focused on climate resilience?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the campus-community task force or committee focused on climate resilience:
Has the institution incorporated climate resilience strategies and/or goals into one or more of its published plans?:
Narrative listing the institution’s climate resilience strategies and goals and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.