Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.92
Liaison Elisabeth Reed
Submission Date Feb. 29, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Illinois State University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.67 / 4.00 Elisabeth Reed
Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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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) Yes Yes
Campus Engagement Yes Yes
Public Engagement Yes Yes
Air and Climate Yes Yes
Buildings No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
Dining Services/Food No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
Energy Yes Yes
Grounds No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
Purchasing No No
Transportation No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
Waste No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
Water No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
No
+ Date Revised: May 6, 2016
Diversity and Affordability Yes Yes
Health, Wellbeing and Work Yes Yes
Investment No No
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
Educating Illinois (ISU's guiding framework) lays out 5 goals for student learning outcomes, including "Increase opportunities for students to engage in high-quality, high-impact educational experiences." The sustainability goal for education includes increasing inter-disciplinary project internship and co-curricular offerings. The learning outcome is for students to be able to work with diverse teams to solve issues through the integration of sustainability systems in a practical, hands-on experience Professional development opportunities for faculty are available through the Center for Teaching and Learning. Several courses are available on sustainability integration into curriculum, largely with a focus on civic involvement.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
http://educatingillinois.illinoisstate.edu/indicators/#tabs-accord3 Measurable objectives include: Percent of baccalaureate graduates participating in capstone courses Percent of baccalaureate graduates participating in internships, practicums, and professional practice experiences

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
The Office of Sustainability.

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
ISU has established a goal to promote sustainable, mission-consistent growth in the research enterprise. The development of inter-disciplinary research teams has been a main objective of the Office of Sustainability. Leveraging the holistic approach to problem-solving, while engaging community entities has proven successful in obtaining external funding, and providing students with phenomenal opportunities for research.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Educating Illinois measures this goal by measuring the number of faculty grant submissions, number of faculty grant awards and the percent of undergraduate students generating credit hours through special projects, independent studies, and honors independent studies. http://educatingillinois.illinoisstate.edu/indicators/goal2/#tabs-accord2

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
Office of Sustainability.

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
The plan to engage the campus focuses on three fronts. Student involvement, staff participation, and faculty teaching and research. Initial plans focused on student engagement with the development of a Student Sustainability Committee. Faculty cohorts were established, and current methodology for staff awareness involves meeting with individual departments as well as a media campaign highlighting existing programs. A sustainability communications strategy (established in 2014) has been implemented. The strategy also includes action items for public engagement and meshes with ISU's Civic Engagement strategy.
+ Date Revised: April 21, 2016

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Objectives are measured through the STARS reporting system on student engagement, operations, and academic measures.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Office of Sustainability.

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
A strategic communication plan for sustainability was developed and implemented in 2014. The six strategies encompass campus and public engagement, and are aligned with the university's Civic Engagement goals. Staff, students and interns build their programs, publicity and events in line with the strategies.
+ Date Revised: April 21, 2016

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Metrics include: Number of students enrolled in the civic engagement minor, number of grants that support civic engagement activities, number of courses redesigned to include civic engagement focus, percent of seniors who indicated "Very much" and "Quite a Bit" to how much the institution has contributed to their knowledge in the area of being an informed and active citizen on the 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement, percent of international students to overall enrollment, number of faculty collaborating/participating in international programs, percent of ELI student who transitioned to ISU.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
Office of Sustainability.

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
ISU's guiding master plan (Educating Illinois) states that a key strategy is to incorporate sustainability principles throughout university processes and practices. At ISU , this strategy is accomplished through several action items such as the Campus Master Plan (addresses buildings and grounds), the Energy Master Plan, and the efforts of multiple departments to implement the strategies outlined in the Climate Action Plan.
+ Date Revised: April 21, 2016

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
The greenhouse gas inventory, conducted every other year.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Office of Sustainability

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Sustainability in existings buildings at ISU is defined as being energy efficient and having efficient space utilization. New buildings utilizing capital funds must achieve LEED silver.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Energy consumption is the primary metric for sustainability in buildings. Metrics include BTU's/square foot and KwH/square foot.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Facilities Planning and Construction
+ Date Revised: April 21, 2016

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Dining Services strives to incorporate more local foods into their procurement, establish procurement guidelines for supply chain management, to create less waste, and to compost all food scraps.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Metrics for dining include number of pounds of food sourced from certified producers (Marine Stewardship Council), organic, and local suppliers. Metrics for food scraps and waste include pounds of food hauled away for composting, and pounds of waste sent to landfill.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Dining Services.

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
The Energy Master Plan was first developed in 2001. In the past 15 years, the entire plan has been implemented. The framework of the strategies are utilized to identify and prioritize energy procurement, energy efficiency projects, and renewable energy adoption.
+ Date Revised: April 21, 2016

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Metrics for this criteria is the percentage of renewable energy supplying power to the campus.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Office of Energy Management.

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
The current plan to advance grounds sustainability focuses on expanding storm water mitigation through natural plantings, increasing no-mow zones, decreasing the number of annuals planted each year and redesigning beds with native perennials. Additionally, there is a plan through Academic Affairs to integrate curricular programming more prominently into Grounds management. This would allow for subject matter experts to provide free advice to grounds personnel and provide students with additional research and curricular programming.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Number of acres mowed. Time and effort reports on litter pick-up. Designation of the campus as a Botanical Garden.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Office of Sustainability

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
Increased usage of public transportation system by faculty and staff. Wayfinding of the Constitution Trail, and increasing the number of bikes available in the bike share program.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Number of times faculty, staff and students utilize the bus system. Increased pedestrian and bike traffic as reflected in the 'trail counts'. Number of bikes checked out in the bike share program

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Office of Sustainability

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The university is participating in the community's re-write of the solid waste plan. The strategies for outreach and participation will be adopted by campus.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Amount sent to landfill. Amount diverted through recycling and refurbishment programs.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Office of Sustainability

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The goal is to develop a trans-disciplinary Center for Water.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Amount of grants and grant applications focused on water. Number of programs on campus for water conservation. Number of educational programs on campus and in the community for water quality awareness. Amount of water utilized on campus as measured by residential and operational systems.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Office of Sustainability

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
These goals are outlined in Educating Illinois: Recruit, enroll and retain high achieving, diverse and motivated students; Identify steps that can be taken to shorten time to degree.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Metrics include: number of institutional financial aid grants awarded to students, average loan indebtedness at graduation and percent of undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. http://educatingillinois.illinoisstate.edu/indicators/

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Office of Equal Opportunity, Ethics and Access http://equalopportunity.illinoisstate.edu/

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
Healthy Campus 2020 is a national initiative out of a coalition from the American College Health Association that is used by Health Promotion and Wellness to guide prevention work at Illinois State University.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Student Objectives: http://wellness.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/coalitions/HC2020%20Illinois%20State%20Student%20Data%209.2015.pdf Faculty/Staff Objectives: http://wellness.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/coalitions/HC2020%20Illinois%20State%20Faculty-Staff%20Data%209.2015.pdf

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Office of Health and Wellness

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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The Office of Sustainability works with community partners in improve the sustainability of the community that it serves.

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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Participation in community activities, boards and serving as a resource and advisor as requested.

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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
Office of Sustainability

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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Sustainability at Illinois State University is an evolving process which enhances quality of life and meets economic, social, and environmental needs of the present without compromising resources for future generations. At Illinois State University, this is accomplished through teaching, research, service, and administrative efforts that benefit our various communities.

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Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
Yes

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A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Educating Illinois, the university's guiding doctrine, has adopted STARS as its metric of institutional sustainability. Adopting this metric places sustainability at a high level in planning across all areas of university administration.

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The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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.