| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.99 |
| Liaison | Megan Butler |
| Submission Date | July 18, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Macalester College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.50 / 4.00 |
Suzanne Savanick
Hansen Sustainability Manager Macalester Sustainbility Office |
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 | No |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | No |
| Public Engagement | Yes | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes | No |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | No |
| Diversity and Affordability | No | No |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | No |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | No | No |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance sustainability in Curriculum under section 1.3 Education (Student Learning in the Classroom):
1) Continue supporting academic internships that focus on sustainability
2) Increase opportunities to use the campus as a teaching tool
3) Support new faculty seminar, academic leadership seminars, and "talking about teaching" sessions that focus on sustainability topics
4) Augment faculty development by providing resources and encouragement to integrate sustainability throughout the curriculum
5) Continue to support and strengthen faculty connections to ongoing community partners whose focus is sustainability issues
6) Identify sustainability opportunities and programs for study abroad
7) Support students in creating academic civic engagement projects to promote innovative sustainability efforts related to campus operations and/or create Macalester-community partnerships
8) Continue outreach to faculty about opportunities for sustainable classroom management
9)Continue to offer grants for curriculum and course development
10) Develop resource guides by department with examples of syllabi, assignments, service learning, course materials, and other tools to assist faculty who want to include sustainability as part of courses they teach and research they conduct with students
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following goal for advancing sustainability in the curriculum: increase the number of students exposed to sustainability through academic work.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for our Research plans: Corporate and Foundation Relations, and the Sustainability Office
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance sustainability in Research under section 1.3 Education (Research):
1) Develop and implement a plan to more effectively publicize opportunities for sustainability research funding
2) Develop an effective tracking mechanism for faculty sustainability research
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following goal for advancing sustainability in Research plans: Increase the amount of faculty research on sustainability issues.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
Corporate and Foundation Relations, and the Sustainability Office
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability under section 1.3 Education (Campus and Community Learning):
1) Promote sustainability across campus by requiring each administrative department to develop a bi-annual Departmental Sustainability Action Plan
2) Develop campus outreach programs to raise awareness of, and participation in, sustainability projects including, but not limited to, waste reduction and the Campus Energy Challenge.
3) Create outreach opportunities for campus sustainability events and programs for the community
4) Continue to support ongoing student initiated community projects, such as the Live It! Fund, Action Fund, and Projects for Peace.
5) Support students looking for sustainability related career options
6) Continue to offer sustainability tours and other sustainability topics at Reunion
7) Increase opportunities to leverage alumni engagement and connect with students around sustainability issues, including guest lectures, provide internships and career support
8) Investigate developing a Sustainability Alumni Network
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
The Sustainability Plan includes the following strategy for advancing campus engagement around sustainability: Incorporate sustainability into student learning outside the classroom.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for Campus Engagement Plans: Residential Life, Civic Engagement Center, and the Sustainability Office.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability under section 1.3 Education (Campus and Community Learning):
1) Promote sustainability across campus by requiring each administrative department to develop a bi-annual Departmental Sustainability Action Plan
2) Develop campus outreach programs to raise awareness of, and participation in, sustainability projects including, but not limited to, waste reduction and the Campus Energy Challenge.
3) Create outreach opportunities for campus sustainability events and programs for the community
4) Continue to support ongoing student initiated community projects, such as the Live It! Fund, Action Fund, and Projects for Peace.
5) Support students looking for sustainability related career options
6) Continue to offer sustainability tours and other sustainability topics at Reunion
7) Increase opportunities to leverage alumni engagement and connect with students around sustainability issues, including guest lectures, provide internships and career support
8) Investigate developing a Sustainability Alumni Network
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following strategies for advancing public engagement around sustainability:
1. Create diverse opportunities for the campus community to be involved in efforts to foster ownership of sustainability processes in all aspects of college life and operations. Connect Macalester community members with sustainability opportunities in the community and connect community members with sustainability opportunities and events on campus.
2. Provide students with information about sustainability career options by connecting alumni with Macalester’s sustainability programs and goals.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following department as accountable for Public Engagement Plans: Sustainability Office, Facilities Services, Zero Waste Committee, Career Development Center, Alumni Office, Civic Engagement Center, High Winds, and Communications and Public Relations.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
Macalester's President Rosenberg signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment in 2007, which gives Macalester the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2025. We plan on reaching this goal by investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy on and off campus, and offsetting our current emissions.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
To ensure our efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2025 are on track, we’ve set
benchmarks, as follows (which is part of our sustainability plan):
2015 – 17.5 percent reduction from 2007-2008 levels
2020 – 35 percent reduction from 2007-2008 levels
2025 – 52 percent reduction from 2007-2008 levels, 48 percent would be offset or
obtained from off-site renewable energy
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for our Air and Climate Plans: The Sustainability Office and Facilities Services.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
The Sustainability Plan includes the following plans for advancing sustainability in buildings under section 1.2 Operations (Building Green):
1) Implement a Green Building Policy: All new construction or major renovations must meet the Minnesota B3 guidelines or be designed to at least a LEED silver standard
2) Systematically share information and gather feedback about major infrastructure projects with the Macalester community
3) Analyze the effectiveness of current green building metrics for campus buildings
4) Investigate LEED for existing buildings
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following strategies for advancing sustainability in buildings:
1) Implement a Green Building Policy: all new construction or major renovations must meet the Minnesota B3 guidelines or be designed to at least a LEED silver standard.
2) Systematically share information and gather feedback about major infrastructure projects with the Macalester community.
3) Analyze the effectiveness of current green building metrics for campus buildings.
4) Investigate LEED for existing buildings
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for the building plans: Facilities Services, Sustainability Office, and the Sustainability Advisory Committee
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Macalester College President Brian Rosenberg signed the Real Food Challenge Campus Commitment in 2012, which commits the school to 30% Real Food by 2020.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
The Real Food Campus Commitment pledges Macalester to purchase 30% Real Food by 2020. Real Food is defined as ecologically sound, fair, humane and community based and is assessed using the Real Food Calculator. The Macalester Sustainability Office is currently developing a real food action plan to layout benchmarks for this goal. Strategies for reaching 30 percent Real Food include, shifting conventionally produced products to locally produced products, reducing conventional purchases, and continuing to implement Bon Appetit's sustainability benchmarks.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Bon Appetit, the Sustainability Office, and the Food Systems Working Group are accountable parties for our Real Food Challenge Commitment.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
The Sustainability Plan includes the following plans for advancing sustainability in buildings under section 1.2 Operations (Energy):
1) Implement energy efficiency projects with a five-year or better financial payback and projects with longer paybacks where practical
2) Investigate installing solar panels when renovating buildings
3) Investigate renewable energy opportunities and implement renewable energy programs as they become practical
4) Investigate systems to individually monitor energy usage for buildings
5) Eliminate fuel oil usage by switching to natural gas by 2015
6) Install solar panels on Markim Hall
7) Install on-site energy systems as these projects become financially practical
8) Research carbon-neutral, renewable fuel sources such as biogas with the goal of switching to a carbon-neutral fuel at Macalester College by 2025
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following strategies for advancing sustainability in energy:
1) Implement energy efficiency projects with a five-year or better financial payback and projects with longer paybacks where practical. Annually review energy efficiency options.
2) Develop a mechanism to track cost savings from energy projects in order to fund later projects.
3) Investigate new ways to form partnerships (with other school, community groups, utilities, etc) to generate, own, and reap financial benefit from clean energy generation
4) Investigate installing solar panels when renovating buildings
5) Investigate renewable energy opportunities and implement renewable energy programs as they become practical
6) Investigate systems to individually monitor energy usage for buildings
7) Investigate creating an energy-efficiency maintenance position
8) Investigate opportunities for energy savings through behavior change, information feedback loops, and outreach.
9) Eliminate fuel oil usage by switching to natural gas by 2015.
10) Install solar panels on Markim Hall
11) Install on-site energy systems as these projects become financially practical
12) Research carbon-neutral, renewable fuel sources such as biogas with the goal of switching to a carbon-neutral fuel at Macalester College by 2025.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for the energy plans: Facilities Services, Sustainability Advisory Committee, and the Sustainability Office.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance sustainability in grounds under section 1.2 Operations (Landscaping):
1) Implement the Sustainable Landscaping Master Plan
2) Review the de-icing products the college uses to find options that require the least energy to produce and have the least harmful environmental impact
3) Implement the Integrated Pest Management Plan
4) Develop a record-keeping and information sharing system for data about fertilizer, biodiversity, and water use
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following strategies for advancing sustainability in grounds and landscaping:
1) Implement the Sustainable Landscaping Master Plan
2) Review the de-icing products the college uses to find options that require the least energy to produce and have the least harmful environmental impact
3) Implement the Integrated Pest Management Plan
4) Develop a record-keeping and information sharing system for data about fertilizer, biodiversity, and water use.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for the grounds plans: Facilities Services and the Sustainability Office.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance sustainability in grounds under section 1.2 Operations (Purchasing):
Macalester recognizes that the goods and services the college purchases have both an environmental and social impact. The college has taken steps to reduce the negative impact of apparel purchases. In 2001, we became a member of the Workers’ Rights Consortium, which monitors the labor practices at apparel factories. For the past two years, the Purchasing Department has employed a sustainability student worker and has been active in promoting sustainable purchasing on campus.
Goal: Seek and create purchasing options that minimize Macalester's costs and promote a positive ecological and social impact.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following strategies for advancing sustainability in purchasing:
1) Explore opportunities for coordinated purchasing/investment with the goal of improving the sustainability of supply chains that Macalester uses while improving access for others to those supply chains.
2) Develop implementation plan for the Responsible Purchasing Policy
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan states that the Purchasing Department is accountable for purchasing plans.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance sustainability in grounds under section 1.2 Operations (Transportation):
1) Promote direct flights and travel by train, bus, or other mass transit
2) Increase promotion of, and training for, teleconferencing and videoconferencing
3) Investigate options for offsetting all college-funded airline travel in a responsible, sustainable manner, with a goal of implementing such offsets by 2025
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan includes the following strategies for advancing sustainability in transportation:
Macalester College will promote reductions in airline emissions through voluntary means, such as using technology to reduce the need for travel, and will offset the rest of the travel emissions. The College will reduce emissions from airline travel 10% from 2008 levels by 2025.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for the transportation plans: Purchasing Office, Sustainability Office, and Information Technology Services.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance sustainability in waste under section 1.2 Operations (Recycling and Waste):
1) Continue monitoring recycling, waste, e-waste, and reuse programs and assess current diversion rates and cost savings (or expenditures) from these discard programs
2) Continue a recycling and reuse outreach program
3) Increase composting at EcoHouse and the Veggie Co-op by providing additional training to students and develop a composting education program across campus
4) Participate annually in a waste reduction competition
5) Develop a guide for sustainable events to assist campus event planners
6) Investigate campus-wide commercial compost options
7) Develop a plan for adoption of compostable instead of disposable products
8) Develop program or partnership to reduce and recycle plastic bags, stretch wrap, and styrofoam
9) Develop a hazardous waste reduction plan that builds on our successful current program
10) Develop a paper reduction plan and outreach campaign
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan states that Macalester College is committed to reaching zero waste by 2020 and reduce toxicity of waste.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the following departments as accountable for the waste plans: Zero Waste Committee, Facilities Services, Information Technology Services, Macalester Library, Residential Life, and the Sustainability Office.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The Sustainability Plan states the following plans to advance sustainability in waste under section 1.2 Operations (Water):
1) Install water efficient fixtures in all new buildings and major renovations
2) Replace old fixtures with efficient fixtures when replacement is warranted
3) Investigate and support behavioral strategies and practices that will reduce water consumption
4) Investigate greywater reuse options on campus
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan states our goal to reduce the amount and improve the efficiency of potable water us on campus.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
The Sustainability Plan lists the Facilities Services and the Sustainability Office as accountable departments for our water plans.
Date Revised: July 24, 2014
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Sustainability is the continuous effort to meet the needs of the present generation without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs by working toward a
healthy environment, social justice, and a strong economy. At Macalester, sustainability is
infused throughout our core values of academic excellence, internationalism,
multiculturalism, and service to society.
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:
A new strategic planning is underway.
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.