Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 72.19
Liaison John Pumilio
Submission Date Aug. 11, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Colgate University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.66 / 2.00 John Pumilio
Director of Sustainability
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
720.34 Hectares

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach 43.71 Hectares
Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials 474.29 Hectares
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 80.94 Hectares
Total area of managed grounds 598.94 Hectares

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
Colgate has just over 300 acres of farmland that the university leases to local farmers. These are not included in the above area of managed grounds. Likewise, we have excluded the building footprints and paved surfaces.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
7.30

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
Colgate University Integrated Pest Management Plan - 2017-03-20.pdf

A brief description of the IPM program:
Colgate University recently expanded our practice of IPM principles on campus grounds to include additional areas around our built environment.

Organic Program

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
79.19

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
Our campus grounds, buildings, and landscaping are lined with all local and native tree species, shrubs, and flower gardens. We do not irrigate our campus grounds and we do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides on 1,172 acres of managed land. In 2011, we incorporated an additional 20 acres of conventionally managed land and placed into meadow restoration through a reduced mowing regime. We do not treat this land with any chemicals.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Colgate makes every effort to minimize the use of chemicals on campus and implement IPM practices to ensure that our landscaping is healthy with native plants.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Colgate does not irrigate campus grounds and uses retention ponds and native plantings to reduce stormwater runoff.

A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
All of Colgate's grass trimmings are mulched up during the mowing process, we do not collect clippings. Furthermore, all tree limbs and yard waste is collected, chipped, and used to provide energy in our wood-fired boiler.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Since 2011, we have incorporated about 20 acres into a reduced mow regime.

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
We have replaced road salt with magnesium chloride that is more environmentally benign.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.colgate.edu/distinctly-colgate/sustainability/climate-action-planning/forest-management-land-use

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Actively Managed Land: Forested land: 1,059 acres (Sustainable Landscape) Mowed lawn: 150 acres (Conventional) Golf course: 175.5 acres 35.5 acres (IPM) 90 acres (Sustainable Landscape) 50 acres (Conventional) Brush hog: 15 acres (Sustainable Landscape) Willow plot: 8 acres (Sustainable Landscape) Community Garden: 0.5 acres (IPM) IPM: 72 acres TOTAL Actively Managed Land: 1,480 acres IPM: 108 acres Sustainable Landscape Management (no chemicals): 1,172 acres Conventional: 200 acres Leased agricultural land (excluded from management): 300 acres

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.