Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.69
Liaison Susan Dorward
Submission Date July 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Raritan Valley Community College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.25 / 4.00 Susan Dorward
Sustainability and Energy Coordinator
Facilities and Grounds
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:

Pillar 4 is INCREASE EQUITY, SUSTAINABILITY, COLLABORATION, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. It states "RVCC is committed to providing opportunities for students and employees to become active and engaged citizens. Valuing diversity enriches the intellectual and cultural environment for students and employees. RVCC recognizes the importance of our continued leadership in promoting the public good and
environmental stewardship.

This pillar is supported by RVCC’s nationally recognized leadership in
Service Learning, environmental sustainability, and diversity initiatives."

Sample metrics for this pillar include:
1. Narrow the achievement gap across student cohorts.
2. Increase civic engagement opportunities, such as Service Learning, community-based research, action-driven co-curricular activities,
internships, and independent research projects.
3. Increase employee diversity by utilizing recruitment and retention best
practices.
4. Increase conservation initiatives, including
 Reducing the campus’s carbon footprint
 Reducing water usage by 10% by 2020
 Reducing waste and increasing recycling as a percentage of waste (diversion rate)


A copy of the strategic plan:
The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
No

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:

For Environmental Science, (1) hiring new faculty and (2) developing new courses for majors and non-majors. A second Environmental Studies faculty member, Emilie Stander, was hired in 2013. ENVI 202 Geographic Information Systems was offered for the first time in Fall 2012. ENVI 203 Organic Agriculture was offered for the first time in spring 2013, and will be offered again in spring 2015. ENVI 102 Environmental Science and Sustainability is being offered for the first time in Spring 2015. ENVI103 Energy and the Environment is under development. For Biology, (3) offering new environment-related courses. BIOL 247 Vertebrate Zoology, was offered for the first time in Spring 2014. BIOL 139 Introduction to Marine Biology is under development. For English (4) offering additional sections of ENGL 112 Composition 2 Focus on Nature. First offered in fall 2011 with one section, three sections were offered in fall 2014.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:

From the Strategic Plan Pillar 4: RVCC is committed to providing
opportunities for students and employees
to become active and engaged citizens.

metrics: Increase civic engagement
opportunities, such as Service
Learning, community-based research,
action-driven co-curricular activities,
internships, and independent research
projects.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:

In the Strategic Plan Pillar 4: RVCC recognizes the
importance of our continued leadership
in promoting the public good and
environmental stewardship.

metrics: Reducing the campus’s carbon
footprint


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:

From Strategic Plan Pillar 4: RVCC recognizes the
importance of our continued leadership
in promoting the public good and
environmental stewardship.

metric:  Reducing waste and increasing
recycling as a percentage of waste
(diversion rate)


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:

From Strategic Plan Pillar 4: RVCC recognizes the
importance of our continued leadership
in promoting the public good and
environmental stewardship.

Metric:  Reducing water usage by 10% by
2020


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:

From Strategic Plan pillar 4: Valuing diversity enriches the intellectual
and cultural environment for students
and employees.

Metrics:
Narrow the achievement gap across student cohorts.
Increase employee diversity by utilizing recruitment and retention best practices


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:

OUR MISSION
Raritan Valley Community College is an educational community that works to develop critical thinking, foster intellectual curiosity, promote leadership, encourage social responsibility, support personal growth, and sustain engaged citizenship within a diverse population of students and community members.

Our Core Values
The College values the diversity of our communities as a resource that strengthens the institution.
The College commits to environmentally sustainable practices.
Educational programs must be affordable.

Our Commitment to Diversity

Raritan Valley Community College values all aspects of diversity including but not limited to race, sexual orientation, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, socioeconomic status, and political and philosophical perspectives. We rely on diversity to enrich the intellectual environment for students and employees. We support educational access and opportunity by recruiting and retaining a diverse college community. We foster diversity by developing and maintaining curricular and social programs that infuse the contributions of all people, and by preparing students to excel in a global society. Our commitment to diversity is reflected in the College’s Mission Statement and Strategic Goals, all of which support excellence in teaching, learning and professional development in a welcoming and respectful climate.


The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):

Sustainability is defined as environmental sustainability, diversity, and affordability.


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
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment No
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:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.