Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 59.21
Liaison Elaine Durr
Submission Date Feb. 11, 2022

STARS v2.2

Elon University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Elaine Durr
Senior Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
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Sustainability committee(s) 

Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
Yes

The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
Elon University’s Environmental Advisory Council is a standing Council whose members are appointed by the President. Members typically serve a two or three-year term but may be re-appointed. The role of the Council is to raise awareness of environmental issues and sustainable practices and promote environmental awareness. The Council may make recommendations to the President on new sustainability initiatives to undertake or improvements to current initiatives.

Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
Kelsey Bitting, Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Associate Director, Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning
Brooks Depro, Assistant Professor of Economics
Samantha DiRosa, Professor of Art and Environmental Studies, Faculty Fellow for Sustainability
Elaine Durr, Director of Sustainability, Chair
Tom Flood, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management
Kelly Harer, Assistant Director of Sustainability for Education and Outreach
Jessica Merricks, Assistant Professor of Biology
Patrick Noltemeyer, Chief of Staff and Secretary to the Board of Trustees
Jen Platania, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Economics
Evan Small, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness for Experiential Learning and Outdoors Adventures and Instructor in Wellness
Chase Solomon, Class of 2023
Akani Bey, Class of 2024
Eryn Van Lear, Integration Project Lead

Sustainability office(s) 

Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent employee?:
Yes

A brief description of each sustainability office:
The Office of Sustainability's mission is to advance sustainability at Elon by helping to streamline and improve university operations and developing and fostering educational programs. The Office works toward this mission by collaborating across the campus and overseeing and coordinating sustainability programs and initiatives. Key areas of focus include: reducing greenhouse gas emissions toward carbon neutrality by 2037; continuing identification and implementation of strategies that support sustainable operations; and enhancing and expanding programs to educate students, faculty and staff about sustainability.
There are two full-time staff members in the Office: Director of Sustainability and Assistant Director of Sustainability for Education and Outreach.

Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
2

Sustainability officer(s) 

Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Yes

Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Elaine R. Durr, Director of Sustainability

Institution-wide coordination 

Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution?:
Yes

A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
Environmental Advisory Council
-Reviewed yearly GHG inventories
-Facilitated 2021 Commuter Habit Survey
-Facilitated 2019 Sustainability Survey
-Provided input on sustainability initiatives (e.g., reporting, sustainable transportation, waste reduction, energy conservation, carbon neutrality)

Office of Sustainability
-Completed yearly GHG inventories
-Conducted 2021 Commuter Habit Survey
-Conducted 2019 Sustainability Survey
-Completed STARS report
-Partnered with Facilities Management personnel on energy conservation/efficiency, waste reduction and alternative transportation initiatives
-Coordinated purchase of verified carbon offsets
-In partnership with the Global Education Center, implemented the Carbon Neutral Global Engagement Initiative
-In partnership with Environmental Services, established a Waste Reduction Advisory Group, which will finalize a waste reduction master plan
-Developed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative for the Office of Sustainability
-Proposed and received support to pilot an Emergency Ride Home Program
-Adapted programs as needed in response to the pandemic
-Increased collaboration across campus to expand sustainability awareness and engagement
-Created a volunteer program to provide students, specifically first-year students, with additional opportunities to be involved with campus sustainability efforts
-Managed the Eco-Reps program
-Coordinated the Loy Farm tour program
-Coordinated and managed the yearly move out waste reduction program
-Developed, implemented and managed sustainability education and outreach programs (e.g., Campus Sustainability Week, Earth Week, etc.)
-Started a Sustainability Employee Resource Group
-Started a pilot Sustainable Events Program focused on student-led events
-Promoted sustainability to the campus community through events, promotional materials and various forms of communication
-Worked with Faculty Fellow for Sustainability to promote academic sustainability programs and infuse sustainability across the curriculum
-Provided supervision for several student employees (Eco-Reps, Interns)
-Served as administrator for the car share and ride share programs
-Maintained Student Sustainability Projects Database
-Participated in the LEED certification process for new construction projects
-Conducted thermal comfort surveys

Optional Fields 

Job description (1st position)

Job title of the sustainability officer position:
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Job description for the sustainability officer position:
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Job description (2nd position) 

Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
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Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
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Job description (3rd position) 

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Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
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Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
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.