Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.16
Liaison Scott Doyle
Submission Date Oct. 25, 2022

STARS v2.2

Ithaca College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 4.00 Scott Doyle
Director
Energy Management and Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives 

Academics

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
While there are several Ithaca College plans that support the advancement of sustainability in academics, none currently include specific measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research.

Engagement 

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
While Ithaca College actively works to advance sustainability through campus engagement it does not have published specific measurable objectives.

Operations

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Our current goals are:
1. Add additional water sub-meters to help identify at least 50% of the usage from our main incoming water meter
2. Add electrical sub-meters to five more buildings

Please refer to the Sustainability Plan at https://www.ithaca.edu/sustainability-ithaca/campus-commitments

We are working to more fully sub-meter our major buildings, and are working to better understand and minimize our Total Cost of Ownership as well as our carbon footprint. Our goal is to install and upgrade water meters on 50% of our major buildings (currently we are at 20%) and to install electrical sub-meters on 5 additional buildings.

Administration

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
IC's strategic plan, Ithaca Forever, includes the goal to "Become a national model for college committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion" and a stated objective to "develop a campus climate marked by culturally competent faculty and staff and an inclusive living and learning experience for students."

https://wwwcdn.ithaca.edu/file-download/download/public/13896

Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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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

The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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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?:
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The Ithaca College's strategic plan, Ithaca Forever, lists Sustainability as one of its core values. Specifically it states, "Adopting institutional strategies that offer ecological and resource-based sustenance to the people and places of Ithaca College ensure its futurity. Sustainability means increasing our usage of renewable energy sources and reducing our carbon footprint because we understand the impact of our decisions on the community and the planet. It means practicing good stewardship of financial resources. It means fostering connections among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and administrators to serve the public good. We activate critical thinking, scholarly inquiry, professional skills, and performance in order to positively impact, sustain, and advance our local and global communities."

Other stated core values along with Sustainability include: Academic Excellence • Respect and Accountability • Innovation • Equity

The institution’s definition of sustainability:
As stated above, "Sustainability means increasing our usage of renewable energy sources and reducing our carbon footprint because we understand the impact of our decisions on the community and the planet."

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) Yes
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
IC is a Non-Government Organization (NGO) observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of the Parties (COP).

https://unfccc.int/process/parties-non-party-stakeholders/non-party-stakeholders/admitted-ngos/list-of-admitted-ngos

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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