| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.15 |
| Liaison | Emma Blandford |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2024 |
Georgia Institute of Technology
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives
Academics
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Sustainability Next
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 1: Be a Global Sustainability Thought Leader
Strategies and Objectives
● Increase the breadth and depth of sustainability research and strengthen transdisciplinary research efforts across Georgia Tech, commensurate with its role as a global leader in sustainability research.
● Develop, validate, and disseminate innovative and effective course design and pedagogy in Education for Sustainable Development.
● Expansion and demonstrated learning impact of strategic sustainability and SDG course design and redesign projects.
Focus Area 2: Catalyze Innovation Through Education and Research
Strategies and Objectives
● Expand sustainability and SDG concepts and skills across degree programs and co-curricular opportunities to ensure all students are equipped to innovate, collaborate, and lead change within their chosen professions.
● Increased number of and enrollment in high-impact courses (e.g. required courses, high-enrollment electives, experiential, problem-based service learning and study abroad courses) incorporating sustainability and SDG concepts and skills.
● Increased participation in student internships and faculty and staff professional development opportunities that enhance the application of disciplinary skills to advancing sustainability.
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Leverage our campus as a living-learning environment and platform for transdisciplinary research and education that engages students, faculty, and staff.
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 1: Be a Global Sustainability Thought Leader
Strategies and Objectives
● Increase the breadth and depth of sustainability research and strengthen transdisciplinary research efforts across Georgia Tech, commensurate with its role as a global leader in sustainability research.
● Develop, validate, and disseminate innovative and effective course design and pedagogy in Education for Sustainable Development.
● Expansion and demonstrated learning impact of strategic sustainability and SDG course design and redesign projects.
Focus Area 2: Catalyze Innovation Through Education and Research
Strategies and Objectives
● Expand sustainability and SDG concepts and skills across degree programs and co-curricular opportunities to ensure all students are equipped to innovate, collaborate, and lead change within their chosen professions.
● Increased number of and enrollment in high-impact courses (e.g. required courses, high-enrollment electives, experiential, problem-based service learning and study abroad courses) incorporating sustainability and SDG concepts and skills.
● Increased participation in student internships and faculty and staff professional development opportunities that enhance the application of disciplinary skills to advancing sustainability.
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Leverage our campus as a living-learning environment and platform for transdisciplinary research and education that engages students, faculty, and staff.
Engagement
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Sustainability Next
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 1: Be a Global Sustainability Thought Leader
Strategies and Objectives
● Develop deep and sustained local community, government, and industry collaborations that center community expertise, equity, and the public good in solution development and adoption.
● Expansion of Georgia Tech’s community and corporate engagement capabilities and deployment of recognized best practices to increase the number, size, and impact of sustainability-related research collaborations with diverse academic, industry, nonprofit, and community partners.
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Leverage our campus as a living-learning environment and platform for transdisciplinary research and education that engages students, faculty, and staff.
● Implementation of a program to train students, staff, and community members in the development of a local and campus green workforce.
● Active engagement in the Living Campus initiative by students, faculty, and staff.
● Increased community service and partnerships with K-12 students and teachers exposed to sustainable systems through campus visits and external engagement.
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 1: Be a Global Sustainability Thought Leader
Strategies and Objectives
● Develop deep and sustained local community, government, and industry collaborations that center community expertise, equity, and the public good in solution development and adoption.
● Expansion of Georgia Tech’s community and corporate engagement capabilities and deployment of recognized best practices to increase the number, size, and impact of sustainability-related research collaborations with diverse academic, industry, nonprofit, and community partners.
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Leverage our campus as a living-learning environment and platform for transdisciplinary research and education that engages students, faculty, and staff.
● Implementation of a program to train students, staff, and community members in the development of a local and campus green workforce.
● Active engagement in the Living Campus initiative by students, faculty, and staff.
● Increased community service and partnerships with K-12 students and teachers exposed to sustainable systems through campus visits and external engagement.
Operations
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Sustainability Next
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Develop and implement a Climate Action Plan with the goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
● Reduction of 50% of Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (with a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050) from a 2010 baseline.
● Adopt anchor institution practices in areas such as sustainable procurement, zero waste, resilient infrastructure, DEI, community partnerships, and business development.
● Implementation of a Sustainable Procurement Policy and a Diversity in Procurement Policy.
● Achievement of campus zero waste, or 90% diversion from landfill, by 2050.
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Develop and implement a Climate Action Plan with the goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
● Reduction of 50% of Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 (with a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050) from a 2010 baseline.
● Adopt anchor institution practices in areas such as sustainable procurement, zero waste, resilient infrastructure, DEI, community partnerships, and business development.
● Implementation of a Sustainable Procurement Policy and a Diversity in Procurement Policy.
● Achievement of campus zero waste, or 90% diversion from landfill, by 2050.
Administration
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Sustainability Next
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Enhance access, equity, and inclusion on campus through increased affordable housing, transit access, food security, green workforce development, curricula, and community partnerships.
● Adopt anchor institution practices in areas such as sustainable procurement, zero waste, resilient infrastructure, DEI, community partnerships, and business development.
https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainabilitynext-plan
Focus Area 3: Lead by Example in the Practice and Culture of Sustainability
Strategies and Objectives
● Enhance access, equity, and inclusion on campus through increased affordable housing, transit access, food security, green workforce development, curricula, and community partnerships.
● Adopt anchor institution practices in areas such as sustainable procurement, zero waste, resilient infrastructure, DEI, community partnerships, and business development.
Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document
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?:
Major theme
Optional Fields
---
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?:
No
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
---
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
---
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) | No |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
Outlined in the Institute Strategic Plan, Georgia Tech has made strategic commitments to advance sustainability on campus, in the region and globe, and in society. These include:
Connect Globally: Lead and contribute to global collaborative efforts that advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals through our education, research, and service.
Lead by Example: Demonstrate our commitment to sustainability in the development and management of our campus.
Amplify Impact: Be an anchor institution, partner, and catalyst of sustainable development in our city and our state.
In addition, since 2008 Georgia Tech has committed to pursue Carbon Neutrality by 2050 through the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
Georgia Tech’s recently released landmark Sustainability Next plan guides sustainability implementation at the institute for the next decade. In addition to addressing physical operations, the plan outlines specific strategies for integrating sustainability into research, academics, culture, and even the way we use our campus as a living learning lab.
Connect Globally: Lead and contribute to global collaborative efforts that advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals through our education, research, and service.
Lead by Example: Demonstrate our commitment to sustainability in the development and management of our campus.
Amplify Impact: Be an anchor institution, partner, and catalyst of sustainable development in our city and our state.
In addition, since 2008 Georgia Tech has committed to pursue Carbon Neutrality by 2050 through the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).
Georgia Tech’s recently released landmark Sustainability Next plan guides sustainability implementation at the institute for the next decade. In addition to addressing physical operations, the plan outlines specific strategies for integrating sustainability into research, academics, culture, and even the way we use our campus as a living learning lab.
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.