| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.88 |
| Liaison | Audrey McSain |
| Submission Date | March 20, 2023 |
Lehigh University
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 3.00 |
Audrey
McSain Sustainability Program Manager Office of Sustainability |
Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
Lehigh is an active member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
Lehigh is an active member of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC).
Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
Presented at the AASHE Conference 2021.
1. Sustainability Strategic Planning: Where to Start and How to Get Going
Strategic planning can often be a daunting process, particularly with limited staffing and resources. The Office of Sustainability at Lehigh University recently led a year-long strategic planning process to develop Lehigh’s Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030, a ten-year plan that establishes a long-term vision for sustainability on campus. It involved an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental strategic planning process that not only considered the internal Lehigh community, but also engaged with Lehigh alumni and the greater Bethlehem community.
But how do you get started? How do you ramp up your efforts? What is the path to developing an inclusive and comprehensive plan that has complete buy-in and support from departments across campus? In this session, we will discuss Lehigh University’s recent path including key lessons learned and best practices. Through a strong and well thought out strategic planning effort, you can set your plan up for a successful implementation.
2. A Beginner's Guide to Developing a Comprehensive Communication Strategy
As sustainability professionals, we tend to wear many hats. This session is designed for those who are new to communications and unsure of where to begin developing a communications plan for that big announcement on the horizon. Throughout the session, we will walk through the strategy behind the release of Lehigh University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030. Whether you have major news to share or a one-off event to promote, by the end of the session, you will gain insight on how to create a comprehensive communications strategy of your own.
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
The Office of Sustainability, Lehigh Dining, and Lehigh Facilities submitted two case studies to the Campus Race to Zero Waste in spring 2021. One was on composting and the other was about Lehigh's reusable Eco Container program.
Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
Members of the Office of Sustainability at Lehigh serve on the conference planning committee for the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges biennial Campus Sustainability Conference. Lehigh has also hosted this conference twice.
Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the peer review activities:
A brief description of other inter-campus collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year :
Lehigh University is a member of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC). Our activities, focused on our strategic priorities of professional excellence, programmatic sharing and synergy, and operating efficiencies, provide expanded and enhanced opportunities for faculty, staff, and students and free resources to support campus-specific programs.
Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Inter-campus collaboration was not impacted by COVID-19 and therefore is representative of a normal year.
Inter-campus collaboration was not impacted by COVID-19 and therefore is representative of a normal year.
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.