Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.03
Liaison Kristyn Achilich
Submission Date Oct. 4, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Saint Michael's College
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.93 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
440 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach 0 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials 136 Acres
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 5 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 141 Acres

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
Land excluded from the area of managed grounds includes all campus buildings (Academic/Administrative/Residential areas), all impervious surfaces (walkways, parking lots and roads) as well as a large area of forested/undeveloped lands owned by the college along the Winooski River. Total building coverage is 11.39 acres and total impervious surface coverage is 19.08 acres.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
0

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
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Organic Program

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
96.45

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
The college does not have a formalized organic landscape care plan, but our general practice is that we do not use pesticides or herbicides on campus, except in extreme cases (which apply to specific areas of campus). Key practices followed: limiting of vectors for infestation and growth, planting resistant species, limiting monocultures, limiting the introduction of pests, and generally providing for a healthy horticultural environment. When pesticides/herbicides have to be used, timing of application is done so in a manner to protect pollinators and other key species on campus. Acreage was excluded above to covers the small portion of areas where (in extreme and very rare cases) pesticides/herbicides are utilized.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
The institution has begun to make an effort to incorporate more native perennials on campus.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
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A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
All landscape "waste" is composted on site.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
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A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
The Grounds Department utilizes eco-friendly "salt" to de-ice campus walkways, roads and parking lots.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.