Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.32
Liaison Kirk Hemphill
Submission Date April 24, 2020

STARS v2.2

Florida Institute of Technology
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 4.00 Ken Lindeman
Professor, Sustainability Studies
Ocean Engineering & Marine Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives 

Academics

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 document Targeting the Top Ten: Strategic Plan 2013-2023, the use of sustainability is directly related to sustainable plans on campus. The first initiative is to foster higher numbers of theses and dissertations in Sustainability of the Environment. The goal is to produce more funded research and more generous stipends and tuition coverage for Ph.D. students in the degree area (pages 26 and 34).
- Florida Tech's B.S. major program in Sustainability Studies expands on our science and engineering strengths with customized business and social science courses to produce sustainability degree graduates who can operate across multiple disciplines in existing and emerging careers. Four concentrations are offered: Technology & Engineering; Business & Economics; Environmental Sciences; and Social Sciences. Student capstone projects for the sustainability degree and the minor program are helping to spearhead sustainability initiatives on campus and around the Space Coast.

Engagement 

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:
- From 2018 Strategic Priorities and Goals, Strategic Initiative 5, the Student Life section has this objective: "To promote a living and learning environment in which students can achieve their fullest potential and a healthy and rewarding quality of life through student services and programs."
- Through Student Life, there are multiple organizations that have sustainable plans and goals to increase the education of sustainable actions to their peers. For example, the Student Organization for Sustainability Actions, SOSA, and Sustainability Outdoors Adventure Recreation Survival, SOARS, have published mission statements "to work with students, administrators, and faculty to implement best practices in sustainability throughout Florida Tech."

Operations

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 document Targeting the Top Ten: Strategic Plan (2013-2023), the use of sustainability is directly related to operations and planning on campus. An operations objective, found on pp 29 and 36, is to address a focus on campus beautification and safety to maintain campus-wide compliance with the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. An additional initiative mentioned is maintaining Florida Tech as an academic community dedicated to the collaboration between scholars that focuses on instilling greatness in students, excellence in creative thinking, leadership, "environmental sustainability", and global community.
- The Sustainability Major curriculum plan emphasizes students working with Facilities Operations staff on partnerships to develop campus-wide guidelines and sustainability initiatives to be used in future planning and to be integrated into the future University Sustainability Plan.

Administration

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?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
- In the document Targeting the Top Ten: Strategic Plan 2013-2023, the use of sustainability is directly related to diversity and equity via statements such as these: "To increase student and faculty diversity to include U.S. minorities, internationals, as well as gender", "To recruit international students through exchange programs", "To fully implement diversity recruitment and retention plans", "To establish a mentoring program for international faculty" (e.g., pp 35 & 80).

Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document

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):
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?:
Minor theme

Optional Fields

The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
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The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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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 No
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:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data sourced from several current documents including the 2013-2023 Strategic Plan, campus Facilities Operations Department, the campus Sustainability Office, The Office of the President, and the Office of Institutional Research.

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.