Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.64
Liaison Beth Klein
Submission Date April 23, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

State University of New York at Cortland
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Matt Brubaker
Energy Manager
Facilites Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) Measurable Objectives (Yes or No)
Curriculum Yes Yes
Research (or other scholarship) Yes No
Campus Engagement Yes Yes
Public Engagement Yes Yes
Air and Climate Yes Yes
Buildings Yes Yes
Dining Services/Food Yes Yes
Energy Yes Yes
Grounds Yes Yes
Purchasing Yes Yes
Transportation Yes Yes
Waste Yes Yes
Water Yes Yes
Diversity and Affordability Yes No
+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015
Health, Wellbeing and Work Yes Yes
Investment No No
Other No No

A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:

Sustainability Curriculum Coordination Committee has incorporated a Sustainability Attribute.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):

Find out the number of students obtaining the Sustainability Attribute. Goal to have the number of courses with the Sustainability Attribute increase by 20% within the next three-years.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):

Sustainability Curriculum Coordination Committee and Office of Sustainability


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):

The Sustainability Curriculum Coordination Committee is coordinating with the College Research Council to increase research efforts in the academic departments and campus programs.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):

The goal is to capture and assess the number of students doing research in Sustainability fields.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):

Sustainability Curriculum Coordination Committee and Office of Sustainability


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:

The Office of Sustainability has developed a Sustainability engagement plan that includes Campus Engagement. This plan includes the improvement of the involvement of faculty, students, and staff in in sustainability activities. The plan includes developing a coordinated effort among the Green Days Committee, student-run Sustainability Club, Climate Action Plan Committee, Student Affairs Sustainability Committee, Campus Garden Committee, Office of Sustainability, and Office of Residential Life and Housing.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:

For the 2015-2016 academic year 5 measurable objectives are part of the Office of Sustainability Engagement plan:

Residential Life & Housing's Green Rep program will expand from primarily offering residence hall-based programs to offering 2 more campus-wide programs. The Green Rep coordinator will collaborate with the Office of Sustainability to organize and advertise these 2 additional student-led campus-wide engagement activities.

Office of Sustainability in conjunction with the Green Days Committee will plan, implement and advertise an additional 5 Green Day events offered during the fall semester.

Each of the students in the new Sustainable Housing Unit will offer a campus engagement event in coordination with the Office of Sustainability.

Students in the Sustainable Housing Unit will devise and implement a campus engagement long-term program during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Data on attendance at sustainability events will be collected during the 2015-2016 academic year and maintained to use as one metric for sustainability engagement.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):

Office of Sustainability
Office of Residential Life & Housing
Climate Action Committee
Green Days Committee

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:

The office of Sustainability has developed a Sustainability engagement plan that includes Public Engagement. This plan includes the involvement of faculty, students, and staff to work with community groups in improving community sustainability. The plan includes working through the Green Days and Climate Action Plan Committees to increase our public engagement.

For example, the public engagement plan for the 2015-2016 academic year will focus on sustainable energy. The Sustainability Coordinator working with the Physic Department though it's M.S. In Sustainable Energy Systems is working with community groups including Sustainable Cortland to coordinate a Solarize Cortland initiative. The program will provide free technical assistance to help residents throughout Cortland County as they learn about solar photovoltaic installations.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):

The objective is to double the amount of installed residential solar photovoltaic within Cortland County. The strategies the program will use include a series of public information sessions, tours of residential solar installations, and seminars for area businesses and organizations. Program is expected to run June 2015 through August 2016.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):

Office of Sustainability and Physics Department

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:

SUNY Cortland has committed to purchase 100% Renewal Credits since fall of 2013 Renewable Energy Credit purchase program. In addition has development of on-site renewable energy.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):

Meet the Executive Order 88 guideline of 20% energy use intensity for all campus buildings by 2020 when compared to the 2010 baseline year.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):

the Office of Facilities Management and the Energy Manager


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:

In order to maintain compliance with Executive Order 88, Facilities Management has developed a policy for ALL new construction to meet USGBC's LEED Gold rating. All renovated buildings will meet USGBC's LEED Silver rating.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):

ALL new construction to meet USGBC's LEED Gold rating. All renovated buildings will meet USGBC's LEED Silver rating.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):

The Office of Facilities Management


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:

The Campus Dining services, Auxiliary Services Corporation, has sustainability plan. This plan includes increasing in composting, pre and post consumer food waste reduction; and increasing local food purchases.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):

Measureable objectives include, development of an on-site composting system within the next two years to increase pre and post consumer waste composting to 100%, Continued implementation and updating of a pre-consumer waste reduction plan, and implementation of post consumer waste reduction program which reduces servings to 1 per person, per station visit. Pre and post consumer waste will be measured to determine success with waste reductions and program updated and revised on a yearly basis.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):

Auxiliary Services Corp.and Facilities Operations and Services


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:

The Executive Order 88 and SUNY Office of Capital Facilities require the reduction of energy and campus has committed to 100% renewable energy . In order to meet these campus will provide sub metering to monitor better the energy consumption as well as continue commissioning of the existing building to make them more efficient.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):

Meet the Executive Order 88 guideline of 20% energy use intensity for all campus buildings by 2020 when compared to the 2010 baseline year. To date campus has achieved 30% reduction of gas usage and over all 12% reduction in energy.
Adding sub-meter by 2016 on all building over 100,000 GSF.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):

Office of Facilities Management and the campus Energy Manager


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:

SUNY Cortland Office of Facilities Management has a sustainability plan that includes grounds. The grounds plans include the continuation of No Mow Zones, planting of more native species, using less salt in winter and the barricading of secondary walks and steps to reduce plowing and salting.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):

Increase no mow zones and wild-flower areas by 10% over the next two years.
Replace every tree that has been lost on the main campus


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):

the office of Facilities Management through Facilities Building and Grounds Services
Tree Campus USA Committee


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:

The campus as part of SUNY system is required to comply with New York Stat Executive Order 4 in Green Purchasing. Impact is electronic purchasing, cleaning products, and all office paper products. The list of sustainability Plans and policies can be found on the Purchasing and Information Resources webpages.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):

Submit annual report and comply with requirement.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):

Office Purchasing Department,
Office Facilities General Services
and Office of Information Resources.


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:

Install electric charging station, have alternative transportation incentivized parking spaces and signage which includes, carpool, vanpool, low-emission vehicles, and shared vehicle parking spaces. A completer list of transportation goals can be found on the sustainability Master Plan.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):

Install four electric vehicle charging stations and have two shared vehicles on campus by 2018.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):

Office of Sustainability
Office of Facilities Management


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:

Office of Facilities Operations and Services has a sustainability plan that includes a waste management component. Plans are to increase the amount of compostable waste by using an on site, or community collaborative composting facility by 2017.

Currently yard waste is either composted on site or hauled to the city compost site. Much of the waste from dining services is transported to a local farmer for composting. The plan goal for waste include the increasing of amount of waste composted and reduce the need for transportation by collecting all and composting all compostable waste on site.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):

The Waste management component includes the following measurable objective:

Increase on-site composting by 100% within the next two years by developing an on-site composting system.

Residential Life and Housing (RL&H) will continue to develop “take it or leave it program” in the residence halls whereby students are encouraged to donate clothes, food, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, etc. during move out times, rather than throwing it directly into the trash. RL&H will continue to encourage student participation and assess program participation by trash accumulation compared to the quantity of “left” articles. Over the next two years, we intend to reduce the amount of trash by 10%.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):

Office of Facilities Operations and Services, Auxiliary Services Corp, and Residential Life and Housing Services

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:

ASC Dining Services sustainability plan includes reduction of water from water using appliances. In the main dining facility, ASC upgraded a dishwasher unit that uses far less water than the prior unit, and the new dining facility has water saving features on it’s equipment as well.

An Office of Facilities Management plan has set goals for plumbing fixture water usage and has developed minimum standards of performance. This has applied to several projects under construction and has guided how replacement faucets and toilet flush valves will be replaced over the coming years due to failure and infrastructure that is at the end of its useful life. Replacement fixtures would include low flow faucets and dual flush style flush valves for water closets.

Office of Facilities Planning and Construction has adopted the Rainwater Management criteria developed by the LEED rating system to establish storm-water and rain-water minimum requirements for design projects. This requires construction projects to replicate site hydrology process and manage onsite runoff from developed site up to the 95th percentile of regional and or local rainfall events utilizing low-impact development and green infrastructure. Examples of this include bio-retention swales, pervious pavement, and other green infrastructure practices to reduce storm-water runoff. The 95th percentile is established using rainfall data and the methodology in the US EPA Technical Guidance on Implementing the Storm-water Runoff Requirements for Federal Projects under Section 438 of the Energy Independence and Security Act.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):

SUNY Cortland’s Sustainable use of Water includes the following Measurable objectives:
Replacing a minimum of 5 non-dual flush flush valves to dual flush flush valves over the next two years.
Replace a minimum of 4 non-water bottle fill enabled drinking fountains with a water bottle fill station over the next two years.

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):

Office of Facilities Management, Office of Facilities Planning and Construction, and Auxiliary Services Corporation

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:

The SUNY System has outlined goals for increasing diversity of the student body at SUNY Institutions. These can be found here: https://www.suny.edu/diversity/goals/ In addition, the SUNY System is dedicated to maintaining affordability at SUNY institutions. http://blog.suny.edu/2013/07/higher-education-access-and-affordability-for-all/

+ Date Revised: Aug. 31, 2015

The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):

Comply with New York State and SUNY requirements for administering the Tuition Assistance Program, or TAPs.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):

Office of Admissions
Office of Multicultural Life and Diversity


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:

SUNY Cortland has adopted the "wellbeing " as one of four main priorities for campus is 2011 and used as basis for 2012 Middle states Accreditation. Most recently the construction of Student Life Center will provide open access to all student and staff free of charge from 6am to mid night daily. This along with advancement in Plans such as Tobacco free campus , Wellness Wednesdays program , will enhance the wellbeing on campus.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):

The Middle States Review outlined the complete measureable objectives including;
- Construction of Student Life Center in soring 2015 and fully executed program
- Tobacco free campus is being assed to reduce smoking
- the office of EH&S provides assessment in injury and illnesses as well ergonomic assessments
- A hand washing poster campaign was initiated by the EH&S committee during the flue season
- A "Walk Like A Penguin" poster and email campaign was developed during the winter season to reduce the slip and fall on snow and ice.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):

Office of Recreation and Intermural Sports, Recreation, Park & Leisure Studies department, Office of Wellness Promotion, EAP, Human Resources, Kinesiology Department , Health Department, Office of Environmental Health and Saftey. A loner list can be found at Middle States Review .


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
Yes

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

It is two of the four strategic campus priorities for the institution, maximizing resources and improving wellbeing.


The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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