| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.62 |
| Liaison | Darcy Coughlan |
| Submission Date | Dec. 22, 2022 |
Coastal Carolina University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 4.00 |
Darcy
Coughlan Associate Director Sustain Coastal |
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
At CCU, all academic and administrative departments identify measurable objectives and create assessment reports that get published within a system called Anthology Planning. The objectives can be viewed by others across the institution. Here are two objectives published by the HTC Honors College that detail some of the objectives for addressing sustainability in the curriculum. For reference, the HTC Honors College is the college that houses the sustainability certificate and the new Sustainability & Coastal Resilience major.
FY 2021-2022 / UNIT ASSESSMENT PLAN
Objective 1.1. Review Current Sustainability Certificate Curriculum
During the AY 21-22, faculty will collectively review the current sustainability certificate curriculum.
This is an interdisciplinary certificate program. By bringing together faculty with expertise in this area from across various colleges and departments, we will review each course being offered in the current certificate program as well as review the new courses that have been added within the last few years. We know that there are classes that should count for this program that are currently not part of the official course selection. As part of this review process, we will also review the SLOs and clearly identify courses that meet those objectives.
Objective 1.2 Modify Sustainability Certificate Curriculum
During the AY 2021-22 faculty will modify the sustainability certificate curriculum.
We know that with the addition of the new Sustainability and Coastal Resilience major, there have been additional courses that have been developed. Those courses need to get integrated as options into our certificate program. This year, we will see the modifications through the academic affairs process and confirm that our certificate offerings are more reflective of the great coursework that Coastal Carolina University has to offer in this field.
OTHER RELATED OBJECTIVES
Coastal Carolina University approved to start the new program of B.A Sustainability and Coastal Resilience with concentrations in Policy and Culture, and Business and Economics; B.S in Sustainability and Coastal Resilience with a concentration in Science and Ecosystems. This program was first implemented in Spring 2021.
As part of the new program proposal form submitted to SC Commission on Higher Education, the institution articulated the goal of enrolling at least 10 students per academic year in the new major.
https://www.coastal.edu/honorscollege/academicprograms/sustainabilitymajor/
https://www.coastal.edu/media/2015ccuwebsite/contentassets/documents/iraa/insideiraa/demographics/2020-21/Demographics%20Honors%20College%20Spring%202021.pdf
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Per attached TD Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative (Sustain Coastal) Strategic Plan 2022-2027, we aim to improve sustainability in campus culture, community, and communications. Here are some examples of the measurable sustainability objectives that we have identified for the next 5 years:
Goal 3.1 Make sustainability a focus of the student experience
Goal 3.2 Increase general awareness and visibility of sustainability
Goal 3.3 Increase use of benchmarking platforms to ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability goals are being shared, reached and stretched continuously.
There are also two measurable sustainability related objectives related to engagement in the 2016 – 2021 Strategic Plan. The first objective is 2.2.2 which is CCU will engage students in partnerships that support regular physical activity, good nutrition, and healthy living. The responsible parties were Campus Life and Student Engagement, Department of Health Sciences, and Dining Services. The timeline was until January of 2018. The second objective was 2.4.1 which was CCU will define the desired attributes of a global citizen through an engaged campus dialogue, to identify a framework of campus engagements that support enhanced citizenship behaviors. The responsible parties were Academic Affairs, Campus Life and Student Engagement, Dean of Students, Global Initiatives and Sustainability Coordinator. The timeline was to be completed by January 2017.
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Per attached TD Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative (Sustain Coastal) Strategic Plan 2022-2027, we aim to improve sustainability in operations. Here are some examples of the measurable sustainability objectives that we have identified for the next 5 years:
Goal 1.1 Design a campus dining experience that promotes a robust sustainability focus
Objective 1.1.3 CCU will increase the percentage of local foods served in dining halls. Measure of Success: Increase of 20 percent is recognized.
Objective 1.1.4 CCU will only use reusable, compostable, or recyclable items in dining halls when serving meals. Measure of Success: All materials in dining locations can be reused or diverted from landfill.
Goal 1.2 Pursue zero waste in campus operations
Objective 1.2.3 Incorporate compost collection at basketball arena and baseball stadium in order continue the greening of our athletic events. Measure of Success: Compost collection is integrated in HTC Center and Springs Brooks Stadium.
Objective 1.2.6 Explore composting on-campus with in-vessel compost machinery. Measure of Success: Purchase and utilize in-vessel composter on campus grounds
Goal 1.3 Establish sustainable purchasing practices for entire campus
Objective 1.3.1 Train campus purchasers to apply a sustainable purchasing framework to include CCU Green Purchasing Guidelines, EPEAT, and Green Seal. Measure of Success: TDSE and Sustain Costal create a training for Procurement staff and all P-Card holders.
Goal 1.4 Build High Performance Facilities that Minimize Environmental Impact and Improve Occupant Well-Being
Objective 1.4.1 Ensure that all new construction and renovation projects begun in 2022 or later achieve no less than the equivalent of Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Measure of Success: All construction projects will be awarded at minimum a Gold designation from LEED.
Objective 1.4.2 Increase on campus and purchased renewable energy projects. Measure of Success: At least one major purchase of a REC or large solar project per year
Goal 1.5 Transportation Measurement of Success
Objective 1.5.3 Reduce the use of fossil fuels in University owned vehicles. Measure of Success: Realize a 50% decrease in fossil fuel usage in University owned vehicles
Objective 1.5.4 Reduce the number of singly-occupied vehicles driving to and from campus by increasing the availability and attractiveness of alternative commuting options. Measure of Success: Formulation of commuter alternative options plan.
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?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Published within the 2016-2021 CCU Strategic Plan, there are 6 unique strategies. Within Strategy 4: Accessibility, Inclusion, Diversity, the objective 4.1.3 is CCU will complete and report the results of a campus learning climate survey that measures student, faculty and staff perceptions about accessibility and effectiveness of teaching and learning environment, support and engagement, student life, and infrastructure. The next relevant objective is 4.2.1 which is CCU will hire a chief diversity and inclusion officer and develop a Diversity Council that advances a campus wide Diversity and Inclusion Plan to assess visible and invisible barriers and establish a system to enable the University to operate as an inclusive institution.
Additionally, in Spring 2020 the institution identified the Succeed @ Coastal: Building Student Achievement Through Inclusive Engagement as its Quality Enhancement Plan for the years 2022-27.
https://www.coastal.edu/qep/qeptopicexecutivesummary/
In addition to the above, please attached document for the TD Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative (Sustain Coastal) Strategic Plan.
Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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?:
The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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?:
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The TD Campus and Community Sustainability Initiative, also known as Sustain Coastal, is committed to transform Coastal Carolina University into an environmentally sustainable university through campus operations, student curriculum, engaging students through learning and outreach, and collaboration in the community through sustainable stewardship of resources.
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Sustainability examines the economic, environmental, ethical, political and social dimensions of developing a decent standard of living for all without compromising the needs of future generations.
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) | Yes |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
CCU is a signatory to the University Global Coalition. https://universityglobalcoalition.org/signatories/
CCU is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their efforts to reduce the risk of climate change through the use of green power.
https://www.coastal.edu/sustain/greenpower/
CCU also signed with Second Nature's Carbon Commitment in 2010. https://reporting.secondnature.org
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.