Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.27
Liaison Veronica Johnson
Submission Date Jan. 14, 2022

STARS v2.2

Southwestern University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.82 / 2.00 Randy Erben
Manager of Custodial and Grounds
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
700 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides 0 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 119.50 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 25.50 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 145 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:
Although Southwestern University is located on 700 acres, only 145 acres are managed by the university. The excluded area includes undeveloped prairies, the EcoLab, and leased ranch land.

Organic program

Percentage of grounds managed organically:
0

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
---

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
82.41

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
Southwestern University (SU) is committed to practices of sustainability. SU’s least-toxic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan endeavors to uphold all three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Economic sustainability is attempted by constantly inspecting the land in an effort to prevent major pest problems which could require corrective, and possibly expensive, action. Environmental sustainability is achieved by consistently taking a least harmful to most harmful approach to every pest problem. Finally, social sustainability is reached by providing the campus and local communities with a well-managed, non-toxic environment, with balanced and controlled pest populations.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Southwestern University uses native or drought-tolerant plants during landscape improvements.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
The baseball, football, softball fields, and the track and field area are irrigated using gray water from the City of Georgetown.

A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
Southwestern produces mulch from trees that had to be removed for health or safety reasons.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
---

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
---

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
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.