| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.15 |
| Liaison | Emma Blandford |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2024 |
Georgia Institute of Technology
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Emma
Blandford Portfolio Manager Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Sustainability Partnerships
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
FY22 and 23 have served as building blocks for the future of sustainability at Georgia Tech.
At the end of 2022, the Office of Campus Sustainability was restructured into the Office of Sustainability within Infrastructure and Sustainability (I&S). The mission of the new office is to serve the Institute in bridging sustainability efforts across research, education, and operations. Under the leadership of a newly established position, the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Sustainability, the office was expanded to include the departments of utilities, sustainable buildings, and the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design.
In January 2023, the team came together for the first time during a strategic planning retreat. Together, they set out to revamp sustainability data collection and management at Tech, advance operational sustainability initiatives ranging from department-level purchasing policies to operations and management standards for buildings, and lead the development of Institute-level plans including Sustainability Next (SN) and the Georgia Tech Climate Action Plan (CAP).
The Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems
The vision of BBISS is to grow and mobilize Georgia Tech’s knowledge assets to create a sustainable future for all. BBISS is a key partner to the implementation of Georgia Tech’s Sustainability Next 2023-2030 Strategic Plan and help advance Georgia Tech’s vision of addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges of our time, relentlessly serving the public good, and developing exceptional leaders with positive societal impact.
As a key Georgia Tech hub for interdisciplinary sustainability research and education, they prioritize creating linkages between researchers in all disciplines towards the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals. They support interdisciplinary teams in obtaining high-impact research and education grants. The primary focus areas are climate science, solutions, and policy; ecosystem and environmental health; sustainable cities and infrastructure; sustainable resource and material use; just and equitable sustainable development; and the economics and business of sustainability.
BBISS activities are organized around three axes: catalyzing high-impact research, developing future leaders, and fostering partnerships that translate knowledge into practice.
In the spring of 2023 our Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS) academic initiative that was created through Georgia Tech’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) from 2015-2020 joined with BBISS and created the new Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE). SLS serves as the educational wing of the SCoRE center while additionally adding community engaged research as an institutional priority. https://research.gatech.edu/sustainability
Reminder: Serve Learn Sustain
Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS) is a campus-wide academic initiative working with all six or Georgia Techs colleges to offer students and faculty the opportunity to study and work on key sustainability challenges. SLS builds the capacity of faculty by offering a multitude of services that help faculty teach sustainable communities-related courses and collaborate with diverse partners on research. Through a variety of programs, SLS aims to educate students through classroom, co-curricular, and real-world learning experiences that contribute to the making of sustainable communities. Through major themes of work, SLS’s accomplishments demonstrate an integration of sustainability in the curriculum that supports a core sustainable leadership function at Georgia Tech.
At the end of 2022, the Office of Campus Sustainability was restructured into the Office of Sustainability within Infrastructure and Sustainability (I&S). The mission of the new office is to serve the Institute in bridging sustainability efforts across research, education, and operations. Under the leadership of a newly established position, the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Sustainability, the office was expanded to include the departments of utilities, sustainable buildings, and the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design.
In January 2023, the team came together for the first time during a strategic planning retreat. Together, they set out to revamp sustainability data collection and management at Tech, advance operational sustainability initiatives ranging from department-level purchasing policies to operations and management standards for buildings, and lead the development of Institute-level plans including Sustainability Next (SN) and the Georgia Tech Climate Action Plan (CAP).
The Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems
The vision of BBISS is to grow and mobilize Georgia Tech’s knowledge assets to create a sustainable future for all. BBISS is a key partner to the implementation of Georgia Tech’s Sustainability Next 2023-2030 Strategic Plan and help advance Georgia Tech’s vision of addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges of our time, relentlessly serving the public good, and developing exceptional leaders with positive societal impact.
As a key Georgia Tech hub for interdisciplinary sustainability research and education, they prioritize creating linkages between researchers in all disciplines towards the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals. They support interdisciplinary teams in obtaining high-impact research and education grants. The primary focus areas are climate science, solutions, and policy; ecosystem and environmental health; sustainable cities and infrastructure; sustainable resource and material use; just and equitable sustainable development; and the economics and business of sustainability.
BBISS activities are organized around three axes: catalyzing high-impact research, developing future leaders, and fostering partnerships that translate knowledge into practice.
In the spring of 2023 our Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS) academic initiative that was created through Georgia Tech’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) from 2015-2020 joined with BBISS and created the new Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE). SLS serves as the educational wing of the SCoRE center while additionally adding community engaged research as an institutional priority. https://research.gatech.edu/sustainability
Reminder: Serve Learn Sustain
Serve-Learn-Sustain (SLS) is a campus-wide academic initiative working with all six or Georgia Techs colleges to offer students and faculty the opportunity to study and work on key sustainability challenges. SLS builds the capacity of faculty by offering a multitude of services that help faculty teach sustainable communities-related courses and collaborate with diverse partners on research. Through a variety of programs, SLS aims to educate students through classroom, co-curricular, and real-world learning experiences that contribute to the making of sustainable communities. Through major themes of work, SLS’s accomplishments demonstrate an integration of sustainability in the curriculum that supports a core sustainable leadership function at Georgia Tech.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Research
Campus Engagement
Research
Campus Engagement
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
PA 3 : Inclusive and Participatory Gov., Max= 2, went from 1.13 to 1.88
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
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Second Point of Distinction
Student Orientation
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
The Office of Sustainability and Campus Services tables during the undergraduate orientation expo (Week of Welcome) to provide students an opportunity to discuss offerings on campus related to sustainability. All students have the opportunity to receive a guidebook for sustainable practice.
Trash to Treasure – A student targeted event hosted at the 2023 fall Week of Welcome orientation expo. The event lectured students about the importance of reusing and recycling materials. Students had the opportunity to repurpose roof slates to create an arts and crafts project.
GT 1000 Serve Learn Sustain - GT 1000 is designed to support incoming Tech students and to help them to have a smooth, successful transition to Georgia Tech. The course is open to all students in all majors and 80% elect to enroll. This section of GT-1000 explores methods of incorporating sustainability, civic engagement, and global communities into the academic experience. Students will engage in discussions and activities that will encourage them to reflect on how their academic and career goals impact and contribute to sustainability and sustainable communities. https://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/gt-1000
https://advising.gatech.edu/gt1000-first-year-seminar
GT 2000 - GT 2000 Serve Learn Sustain - GT 2000 is designed to help Transfer students start their Georgia Tech experience on the right foot. The seminar covers topics critical to a transfer student’s success. Through activities and field trips students learn the fundamentals of how to shape and be part of a sustainable community. https://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/gt-2000
GT6000 - GT6000 is Georgia Tech’s small-group, peer-led, extended-orientation program for first-semester graduate students. This program is designed to promote a positive student experience through social interaction, familiarization with campus resources, and peer mentorship. The course focuses on the following themes: Mentor/Advising Relationships, Professional Development, Stress/Time Management, Resilience, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Leadership Development and Maintaining Community. https://grad.gatech.edu/gt6000/syllabus
Trash to Treasure – A student targeted event hosted at the 2023 fall Week of Welcome orientation expo. The event lectured students about the importance of reusing and recycling materials. Students had the opportunity to repurpose roof slates to create an arts and crafts project.
GT 1000 Serve Learn Sustain - GT 1000 is designed to support incoming Tech students and to help them to have a smooth, successful transition to Georgia Tech. The course is open to all students in all majors and 80% elect to enroll. This section of GT-1000 explores methods of incorporating sustainability, civic engagement, and global communities into the academic experience. Students will engage in discussions and activities that will encourage them to reflect on how their academic and career goals impact and contribute to sustainability and sustainable communities. https://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/gt-1000
https://advising.gatech.edu/gt1000-first-year-seminar
GT 2000 - GT 2000 Serve Learn Sustain - GT 2000 is designed to help Transfer students start their Georgia Tech experience on the right foot. The seminar covers topics critical to a transfer student’s success. Through activities and field trips students learn the fundamentals of how to shape and be part of a sustainable community. https://serve-learn-sustain.gatech.edu/gt-2000
GT6000 - GT6000 is Georgia Tech’s small-group, peer-led, extended-orientation program for first-semester graduate students. This program is designed to promote a positive student experience through social interaction, familiarization with campus resources, and peer mentorship. The course focuses on the following themes: Mentor/Advising Relationships, Professional Development, Stress/Time Management, Resilience, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Leadership Development and Maintaining Community. https://grad.gatech.edu/gt6000/syllabus
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Diversity & Affordability
Wellbeing & Work
Diversity & Affordability
Wellbeing & Work
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
EN 2: Student Orientation, Max= 2, went from .92 to 2
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
Continuing Education
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Georgia Tech offers several certificate programs that are “sustainability-related in the area of health& wellbeing, equity and inclusion and Energy. Examples of certificates are:
Power Systems Certificate
Selected Topics in Occupational Health Certificate
Women’s Innovation Lab Certificate
Georgia Tech is expanding their curriculum opportunities through their Continuing Education Programs. Additional relationships are being built across academic and research institutes as well as the office of sustainability to create cross-disciplinary workshops and access to educational opportunities beyond traditional for-credit courses.
Power Systems Certificate
Selected Topics in Occupational Health Certificate
Women’s Innovation Lab Certificate
Georgia Tech is expanding their curriculum opportunities through their Continuing Education Programs. Additional relationships are being built across academic and research institutes as well as the office of sustainability to create cross-disciplinary workshops and access to educational opportunities beyond traditional for-credit courses.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Coordination & Planning
Diversity & Affordability
Wellbeing & Work
Coordination & Planning
Diversity & Affordability
Wellbeing & Work
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
EN 12: Continuing Education, Max- 5, went from 0.98 to 3.38
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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