Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 41.59
Liaison Adam Maurer
Submission Date Dec. 18, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Seattle Central College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.25 / 4.00 Adam Maurer
District Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Published Plans That Address Sustainability 

Strategic Plan

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:
The most recently formally adopted strategic plan of 2011-2016 addresses sustainability in Goal 2: Create a quality, integrated, sustainable and productive educational environment. Objective D of Goal 2 reads, "Promote a culturally diverse campus where all members model civility and tolerance." Furthermore, the Seattle Central College Strategic Plan 2016-2020 was contingently approved in fall 2016 (Board of Trustees is awaiting the Seattle Colleges district strategic plan before granting full approval of campus strategic plans). Central's 2016-2020 plan addresses sustainability by aiming to; 1) "[a]ddress institutional racism and achieve equity and inclusion. Goals to achieve this are; a) create an educational environment that is framed by diversity, equity, and inclusion, b) recruit and retain students and employees who reflect the rich diversity in the community that Seattle Central serves, 2) [b]uild a sense of shared community across college programs and locations. Goals to achieve this are; a) provide learning environments that are safe, welcoming, functional, and sustainable, b) deepen partnerships to expand access to educational opportunities, and c) engage students and employees at all levels and at all locations in developing the organization, programs, and resources.

A copy of the strategic plan:
Central_StrategicPlan_2011-2016.pdf

The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
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Sustainability Plan 

Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
http://sustainability.seattlecolleges.edu/

Climate Action Plan 

Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the climate action plan:
SCCD GHG Strategy June 30, 2011, Revised Oct 2013.pdf

The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Other Published Plans 

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)? :
Yes

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
1) The Seattle Central Community College Compiled Major Institution Master Plan completed and approved by the City of Seattle in October 2002. This is the most recent master plan for the college. 2) Seattle Central College Transportation Management Plan for Employees 2016-2017 to comply with Washington State's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) law

Measurable Sustainability Objectives 

Curriculum

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal 1: Identify sustainability related and focused course in course catalogs and listing(s) Goal 2: Increase number of sustainability focused courses 20% by 2020 compared to 2013 baseline Goal 3: All sustainability projects have a student learning component

Research 

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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Campus Engagement 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal 1: Maintain an active college-level Sustainability Committee to help enact the District Sustainability Plan, Goal 2: Include a sustainability component into new student and new staff orientation, Goal 3: Produce regular sustainability communications to the campus at large

Public Engagement 

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

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

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:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal 1: Surpass greenhouse gas reduction targets provided by the State Agency Climate Leadership Act (i.e. 20% reduction by 2020 from 2005 baseline, 36% reduction by 2035 from 2005 baseline, 57.5% reduction by 2050 from 2005 baseline), Goal 2: All new buildings will be constructed to at least a LEED Silver standard, Goal 3: Meet Seattle 2030 District resource conservation targets (i.e. a minimum of 20% reduction in energy below the National median by 2020 with incremental targets, reaching a 50% reduction by 2030, a minimum of 20% reduction in CO2e of automobiles and freight below the current District average by 2020 with incremental targets, reaching 50% reduction by 2030.

Buildings 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal 2: All new buildings will be constructed to at least a LEED Silver standard

Energy 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal 3: Meet Seattle 2030 District resource conservation targets (i.e. a minimum of 20% reduction in energy below the National median by 2020 with incremental targets, reaching a 50% reduction by 2030

Food & Dining 

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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Grounds 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Seattle Central Community College Compiled Major Institution Master Plan: The intent of campus landscaping is to soften the built environment and not create any safety/security or mainentance concerns. In addition to the major landscaped open space noted below (item 5), landscaping is proposed to complement building development in the form of street trees and planting in plaza and pedestrian circulation spaces. Item 5: The minimum amount of landscaped open space on the SCCC campus will be 11% of the total campus land area of the approved MIO District. The open space is concentrated at the existing park-like area as the Broadway Performance Hall

Purchasing 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal 6: Develop a District Purchasing Policy to purchase, when available, GreenSeal or EcoLogo brand products and EPEAT Silver or higher certified electronics

Transportation 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Seattle Central College Transportation Management Plan for employees: In 1991 the Washington State Legislature passed the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law requiring the City of Seattle to adopt a plan to reduce employer based drive-alone trips. Consistent with the state's requirements, the City of Seattle adopted and maintains a commute trip reduction plan requiring large employers (including Seattle Central College) to develop, implement and promote programs that help employees choose travel options that reduce the number of drive-alone trips made to their worksite. Seattle Central College must; 1) appoint an employee transportation coordinator (ETC), 2) prominently post the ETC's name, location, and phone number for employees, 3) distribute information at least once a year to employees regarding alternatives to single-occupant-vehicle commuting, 4) implement a set of measures designed to achieve Commute Trip Reduction goals.One goal being to have an annual drive alone rate at or below 44% for employees District Sustainability Plan: Goal 4: a minimum of 20% reduction in CO2e from auto and freight below the current District average by 2020 with incremental targets, reaching 50% reduction by 2030

Waste 

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:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal 3: Compared to 2015, reduce landfill waste 50% by weight by 2030

Water 

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:
District Sustainability Plan: Goal: Manage stormwater peak discharge and potable water use within the District by 50% below the District baseline by 2030, with incremental targets of 20% by 2020, 35% by 2025, reaching 50% by 2030

Diversity & Affordability 

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:
The most recently formally adopted strategic plan of 2011-2016 addresses Diversity & Affordability in Goal 2, Objective D. "Promote a culturally diverse campus where all members model civility and tolerance." Furthermore, the Seattle Central College preliminary Strategic Plan 2016-2020 (still to be approved by the Board of Trustees) 1) Create and implement a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan that provides direction for priorities and strategies, 2) deliver diverse educational resources and services focused on equity and inclusion, 3) promote culturally responsive pedagogy and services by increasing opportunities for professional development in these areas, 4) reinforce a culture that supports anti-bias, anti-racist curriculum and pedagogy 5) reach out to underrepresented student populations in order to recruit, retain, and support these students through the educational process, 6) standardize an anti-racist, anti-bias search and hiring process to build a diverse workforce, 7) encourage the development of an inclusive working environment in order to support and retain employees

Investment & Finance 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
District Sustainability Plan, Goal 5: Establish a Sustainability Fund that will direct 25% of all utility savings to future resource conservation activities.

Wellbeing & Work 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The most recently formally adopted strategic plan of 2011-2016 addresses well-being and work in Goal 2, Objective C. "Recruit and retain excellent faculty and staff, and allocate resources for professional development that results in institutional improvement. The Seattle Central College preliminary Strategic Plan 2016-2020 (still to be approved by the Seattle Colleges Board of Trustees): 1) standardize an anti-racist, anti-bias search and hiring process to build a diverse workforce, 2) encourage the development of an inclusive working environment in order to support and retain employees

Other Impact Areas 

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:
Seattle Central College Strategic Plan 2016-2020 was contingently approved in fall 2016 (Board of Trustees is awaiting the Seattle Colleges district strategic plan before granting full approval of campus strategic plans). The 2016-2020 plan addresses other areas of sustainability, like, 1) define, practice, and support opportunities for students and employees to participate in college governance, 2) increase student participation in student leadership and college activities

Optional Fields 

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)? :
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The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter ---
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) ---
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter ---
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment ---
The Talloires Declaration (TD) ---
UN Global Compact ---
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) ---

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
On December 19, 2016, Seattle Central College and a diverse group of Higher Education Institutions and Second Nature released a letter they collaboratively developed. This letter was sent to the new Congressional delegation and incoming Presidential transition team on January 17, 2017, and urges them to accelerate progress towards a clean energy future. The Higher Education sector is aligning with business leaders in calling on elected officials to support participation in the Paris Agreement, climate research, and investment in the low carbon economy. http://lowcarbonusa.org/highered

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://sustainability.seattlecolleges.edu/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Seattle Central College is part of the Seattle Colleges district. The Board of Trustees sit at the district level, with each campus having their own President's Cabinets and other similar decision-making bodies. Seattle Colleges is currently completing the strategic planning process. Seattle Central's 2016-2020 strategic plan was contingently approved by the Board of Trustees in fall 2016, but the district strategic plan must be complete before Central's strategic plan is formally adopted. Thus, the most recent formally adopted strategic plan for Seattle Central is 2011-2016.

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.