Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.33
Liaison James Biesecker
Submission Date Nov. 1, 2022

STARS v2.2

Gettysburg College
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.77 / 2.00 Eric Richardson
Grounds Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
260 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides 25.10 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 99.44 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 71 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 195.54 Acres

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:

Parking lots, roadways, sidewalks, building foot prints, etc.


Percentage of grounds managed organically:
12.84

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:

Campus' student led community garden is managed organically.


Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
50.85

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
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A brief description of the IPM program:

We use biological, mechanical, cultural, and/or chemical applications to control pests to acceptable levels. First we identify the pest, then establish an acceptable level of control, then evaluate and prescribe available treatments. After treatment we reevaluate control. We use the least toxic control measure available. For example, a colony of purple martins is maintained for insect control. Purple martins are a native species and help maintain acceptable levels of pests.


A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:

We primarily use native plants in landscaping and look for native alternatives to exotic plants. We do have non-native plants on campus and use them if there is no native alternative. Turf grass is an example of this.


A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:

One acre of wetland located north of campus has been protected by the college.


A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:

We currently do not have an on site composting facility but have all of the yard waste generated by the College taken to a facility that produces mulch and other organic amendments. 100% of the yard waste from campus is recycled.


A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:

We use native plantings whenever possible, and we created rain gardens next to two of our academic buildings. We have an underground stormwater system (used for irrigation or is it just storm?)


A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:

We have shifted from using sodium chloride to magnesium chloride for ice and snow removal on campus sidewalks. We have also reduced the amount of ice melt used by waiting until the end of an event and dialing down spreader rates. This has saved money as well as reduced environmental impact.


Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
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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.