Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.37
Liaison Alan Brew
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2021

STARS v2.2

Northland College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 4.00 Alan Brew
Dean
Academic Affairs
"---" 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:
---

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:
---

Operations

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
---

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?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
---

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):
Northland College Strategic Plan.pdf

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):
---

Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
https://my.northland.edu/sustainability/

Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
Mission Statement: Northland College integrates liberal arts studies with an environmental emphasis, enabling those it serves to address the challenges of the future.

The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Northland College uses the Natural Step definition of sustainability:
In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing…
(1) concentrations of substances from the earth’s crust (such as fossil CO2 and heavy metals), (2) concentrations of substances produced by society (such as antibiotics and endocrine disruptors), (3) degradation by physical means (such as deforestation and draining of groundwater tables). And (4) in that society there are no structural obstacles to people’s health, influence, competence, impartiality and meaning.

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 ---
SDG Accord ---
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
The Talloires Declaration (TD) No
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) No

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
In 2007, Northland became a member of the leadership circle of signatories of the American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). As part of its commitment under the ACUPCC, Northland College has committed to pursue carbon neutrality by 2030. This will involve identifying aggressive opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in all campus buildings, exploring opportunities for purchasing and producing large amounts of renewable energy, and investigating technologies that will allow us to dramatically reduce or even eliminate our dependency on fossil fuels to heat and cool the campus.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
https://www.northland.edu/sustain/full-spectrum-sustainability/our-sustainability-story/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

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.