| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.22 |
| Liaison | David Petree |
| Submission Date | Dec. 8, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Guilford College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.67 / 4.00 |
Bronwyn
Tucker Sustainability Coordinator Facilities |
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | Yes |
| Research (or other scholarship) | No | No |
| Campus Engagement |
No
Date Revised: May 4, 2016
|
Yes |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy |
No
Date Revised: May 4, 2016
|
Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | --- | No |
| Waste |
No
Date Revised: May 4, 2016
|
Yes |
| Water |
No
Date Revised: May 4, 2016
|
Yes |
| Diversity and Affordability | --- | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | --- | --- |
| Investment | --- | --- |
| Other | --- | --- |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
A new major, Sustainable Food Systems, is in the process of being approved and would be based in the Environmental Studies department. This major would require some new courses and connect other departments across campus with a sustainability-focused major.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
The new major has been approved by the curriculum committee and is waiting for faculty review. We are already offering courses relevant to the major and have introduced two new courses that satisfy requirements for the major.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Environmental Studies Department and Office of Sustainability, Marlene McCauley, Kyle Dell, Holly Peterson, Bronwyn Tucker, David Petree, Nick Mangili
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
N/A
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
N/A
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
Our goal each fall semester is to educate every first year student during their FYE (First Year Experience) class about our campus sustainability practices. This allows us to speak to every first year student on campus and generally this outreach includes a campus sustainability tour. Our goal is 100%.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
We keep track of how many FYE classes receive sustainability tours/presentations
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
N/A
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
N/A
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
It is the mission of the Office of Sustainability to seek ways to decrease Guilford College's negative impact on soil, water and air and to educate our community of the need to conserve our natural resources. Our office is charged with fulfilling our commitment as signatories of the ACUPCC. Guilford College holds sustainability and simplicity as part of it's core values.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Once the STARS submission is completed, the Climate Action Plan will be updated to reflect the areas identified as needing improvement. The college seeks to mitigate it carbon footprint by setting a minimum goal of 2.5% reduction in GHG's annually.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Office of Sustainability.
Director of Environmental Sustainability
Sustainability Coordinator
Director of Facilities/Energy Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Advancements will be made when and wherever the college has the opportunity to increase building efficiency whether through fixture upgrades, building automation improvements, improvements to the envelope or other avenues. All new construction or renovations greater than 5000 sq/ft will meet LEED Silver.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
A minimum reductions in GHG emmisions of 2.5% annually as reported in our GHG Inventory bi-annually and directed by our Climate Action Plan.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Office of Sustainability.
Director of Environmental Sustainability
Sustainability Coordinator
Director of Facilities/Energy Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
We have a contract with our dining service provider, Meriwether Godsey that outlines specific sustainability objectives. We also grow produce on our campus farm that is sold to Meriwether Godsey and served in our cafeteria. Our plan is to increase the percentage of vegetables served in the cafeteria that are grown on our campus farm.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Meriwether Godsey keeps track of how much of their food is purchased locally, and/or is organic. Depending on the season, up to 40% of the food purchased qualifies as local or organic.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Meriwether Godsey; Snehal Deshmukh
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
Guilford will continue to seek opportunities to reduce energy consumption whenever possible and as funding becomes available. As funding becomes available metering devices for all utilities will be done at the building level. We continue to refine our energy conservation efforts through building automation controls.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Energy usage is continuously monitored. You can't manage what you don't measure. Our goal to reduce GHG emissions by 2.5% annually necessarily dictate that energy conservation is at the forefront. The college's goal is to be carbon neutral by 2047.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Office of Sustainability
Director of Facilities/Energy Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
The college invested in a Campus Grounds Master Plan in 2006 and revised in 2011. The plan calls for sustainable grounds maintenance practices as well as IPM. This plan is a work in progress. A goal is to eliminate use of synthetic fertilizers 100%.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
The plan calls for the elimination of the use of synthetic fertilizers. This has been accomplished on the campus grounds with the single exception of athletic fields. All food waste is composted and used as top-dressing as well the production of compost tea. Landscape plantings utilize only native trees and shrubs minimizing fertilization and watering needs. Harvested rain water is used for most plant maintenance.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Grounds Manager
Director of Environmental Sustainability
Director of Facilities/Energy Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
Guilford has a purchasing policy of selecting Energy Star rated appliances whenever that option is available. Also, our computer paper must be 30% post consumer recycled or better. We plan to incorporate EPEAT in the future for electronic purchases.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
Purchasing
Office of Sustainability
Director of Facilities/Energy Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
We plan to increase the number of bicycles in our rental fleet at the Bike Shop and to increase awareness among the community of the services provided at the shop. A goal is to promote the Bike Shop through Admissions so that incoming students know they have access to bicycles for transportation needs.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Number of bicycles in the fleet. Total number of rentals per semester.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Office of Sustainability.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
Guilford is always seeking ways to reduce waste. Each year we participate in RecycleMania and work hard to engage students and raise awareness. We compost all food waste generated by our campus dining services. We manage an electronic waste diversion program. No organic material generated by grounds maintenance goes to the landfill. We plan to institute a campus wide food waste compost program where collection vessels will be placed in all public facilities including student housing. We plan to implement an EPEAT purchasing policy.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Food waste collection vessels will roll out for the fall semester. EPEAT purchasing policy will be implemented before the next STARS submission is due (2016). We plan to compete in the Spring 2016 RecycleMania event.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Office of Sustainability
Director of Facilities/Energy Manager
Building Services Manager
Grounds Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The college plans to provide 100% water-less urinals as funding is available.
Ultra-low flow water fixtures in all locations as funding is available.
Dual flush, low volume toilets in all locations as funding is available.
Placement of water-bottle filling stations in all buildings as funding is available.
Increase rain water harvesting capabilities.
Minimization of the use of irrigation on athletic fields.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
The objectives will be measurable through monitoring of water usage bills. The time frames will be dictated by funding.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Office of Sustainability
Director of Facilities/Energy Manager
Grounds Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
N/A
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
N/A
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
N/A
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
N/A
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
N/A
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
N/A
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
N/A
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
N/A
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
N/A
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Managing our natural resources in such a way as to not hinder the opportunity of future generations.
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Our Mission Statement:
"To provide a transformative, practical, and excellent liberal arts education that produces critical thinkers in an inclusive, diverse environment, guided by Quaker testimonies of community, equality, integrity, peace, and simplicity and emphasizing the creative problem solving skills, experience enthusiasm and international perspectives necessary to promote positive change in the world."
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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.