| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.00 |
| Liaison | Lisa Mitten |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York at New Paltz
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.17 / 4.00 |
Lisa
Mitten Campus Sustainability Coordinator Office of Campus Sustainability |
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 | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | No |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | No |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | No |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | No |
| Purchasing | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | No | No |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | No |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | No |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | --- | --- |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
The college has substantially expanded its environmental curriculum in the last ten years. In 2003, an interdisciplinary Environmental Geochemical Science major was added, followed in 2006 by an Environmental Studies minor. Given the level of interest in environmental issues among students, it is expected that increased enrollments will create the impetus for greater allocation or reallocation of resources for these programs, such as more dedicated faculty and increased operating budgets. In 2010-11, 48 courses focused specifically on the environment including science courses such as Ecology and Natural Resources and Energy and social science courses such as Gender and the Environment and the Politics of Environment and Development. In addition, many courses in some way incorporate environmental themes. For example, in recent years some English and art classes have used the environment and sustainability as themes for creative expression. In the School of Business, several classes incorporate environmentally related issues such as environmental accounting and business ethics as they relate to sustainability.
The new mechanical engineering program will have a concentration in energy and the environment. When first-year mechanical engineering students enter their third year of study, courses in this area will begin to be offered. http://sites.newpaltz.edu/sustainability/about/campus-sustainability-plan/
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
The Campus Sustainability Plan includes the following goals:
* Increasing the number of students enrolled in environmental majors and minors from 38 in 2010 to 75 in 2016
* Increasing environmental internships from 48 in 2010 to 50 in 2015 and increasing sustainability courses from 25 in 2010 to 40 in 2015.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Academic Departments
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
All faculty at the college are engaged scholars actively conducting research in their respective disciplines. A number of faculty conduct research in environmentally related areas. In some cases students are also engaged in such research activities either as research assistants working on faculty directed projects or as part of their class work or independent study projects. On occasion faculty and staff also secure grants to fund environmentally related research. In recent years, faculty have received external funding to study such topics as renewable energy, water resources and sustainable agriculture. The Office of Sponsored Programs provides support for faculty by identifying relevant funding opportunities and aiding in proposal development. However, faculty research is primarily driven by the independent research agendas of individual faculty members and that is directly tied to the areas in which they were hired to teach. As more faculty are hired to serve in environmental education roles, we are likely to see more self-assembly of faculty into cross-disciplinary research groups and overall, more environmentally related research undertaken at the college.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
The Campus Sustainability Plan identified one measurable objective under the "Research Action Plan" to increase applications for external funding for environmentally related faculty research. Campus Sustainability Coordinator engages with many faculty, learns of their personal and professional research interests and has witnessed many faculty members take the lead on sustainability research. A list of faculty members involved in sustainability research is available in STARS Credit AC-9: Academic Research.
http://sites.newpaltz.edu/sustainability/about/campus-sustainability-plan/
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
Individual faculty members with the support of the Office of Sponsored Programs.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
One of the main action items of the Campus Strategic Plan is to integrate sustainability throughout campus life. The Office of Campus Sustainability carries this out on a day to day basis. Several student organizations also increase campus engagement around sustainability.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Number of students, faculty, staff, and departments engaged in sustainability practices
Number of ongoing and one-time sustainability programs
Number of on-campus student sustainability jobs and internships
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Office of Campus Sustainability and individuals and groups across campus.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
The Campus Sustainability Plan outlines a plan to reduce the campus' greenhouse gas emissions. The campus has been tracking its greenhouse gas emissions since 2006.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
The Campus Sustainability Plan is designed to allow for the achievement of full sustainability in fifty years. Based on current projections in the plan, the college expects that by the year 2030 Scope 1 and 2 emissions could be reduced by as much as 80% from 2008 levels. The implementation of strategies outlined in the Energy Master Plan will play a major role in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. http://sites.newpaltz.edu/sustainability/about/campus-sustainability-plan/
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Office of Campus Sustainability and partners
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
One of the key goals listed in the Facilities Master Plan of 2010 is a more sustainable campus. The executive summary of the Facilities Master Plan indicates that, "The Plan strives to improve the sustainability of the campus buildings and grounds in a number of ways. By making the Campus more compact and walkable, the Plan lessens the reliance on the private automobile. In order to be practical and conservative with the College’s physical resources, wherever possible the Plan recommends rearranging uses within existing buildings in lieu of demolition and new building; it also calls for building additions where growth is needed. For those new buildings which are proposed, the Plan calls for them to be flagship examples of sustainability, with LEED Silver performance or better, and visible examples of sustainability, such as green roofs and glazing for passive solar energy. The Plan is extremely efficient and uses every available square foot. This is not only the most environmentally responsible path for the College to take as a signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), it will also result in substantially lower operating costs in the future. Dining Hall options were considered as components of new residence halls and included in various building renovations. http://www.newpaltz.edu/construction/FMP_exec_summary.pdf
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Facilities Management
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
The Campus Sustainability Plan included a recommendation to include sustainable food action item to include sustainable food recommendations and goals written into the new food service contract. http://sites.newpaltz.edu/sustainability/about/campus-sustainability-plan/
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
The new contract does not include goals, but does outline definitions of real food. Campus Auxiliary Services is in the process of assessing its baseline "real food" metrics for the 2012-13 academic year. Professor Michael Sheridan conducted a study to determine the cost difference between food procured from local and national food vendors. When a baseline has been established, Campus Auxiliary Services intends to set incremental, annual "real food" procurement goals that meet sustainability goals and student needs.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Campus Auxiliary Services and the campus' dining contractor, with the support of the Office of Campus Sustainability.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
There a number of plans and studies that advance sustainability in energy including:
- The Campus Sustainability Plan
- Siemens Energy Services Report that identify energy conservation measures for the campus' 10 most energy intensive buildings
- The Energy Master Plan, begun in early 2014
http://sites.newpaltz.edu/sustainability/about/campus-sustainability-plan/
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Governor Cuomo signed Executive Order 88 requiring state agencies to reduce their source energy use intensity by 20% by 2020. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher increased this goal for the SUNY System so SUNY schools, including SUNY New Paltz, are required to reduce our source EUI by 30% by 2020. The SUNY Office of Capital Facilities and the New York Power Authority tracks the annual source EUI numbers for SUNY New Paltz. The Energy Master Plan will outline specific energy conservation measures for the campus to implement these strategies. The Office of Campus Sustainability and our partners in Facilities Management and across campus are working closely together to implement these measures.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Office of Campus Sustainability and Facilities Management
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
One of the key goals listed in the Facilities Master Plan of 2010 is a more sustainable campus. The executive summary of the Facilities Master Plan indicates that, "The Plan strives to improve the sustainability of the campus buildings and grounds in a number of ways. By making the Campus more compact and walkable, the Plan lessens the reliance on the private automobile. In order to be practical and conservative with the College’s physical resources, wherever possible the Plan recommends rearranging uses within existing buildings in lieu of demolition and new building; it also calls for building additions where growth is needed. For those new buildings which are proposed, the Plan calls for them to be flagship examples of sustainability, with LEED Silver performance or better, and visible examples of sustainability, such as green roofs and glazing for passive solar energy. The Plan is extremely efficient and uses every available square foot. This is not only the most environmentally responsible path for the College to take as a signatory to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment
(ACUPCC), it will also result in substantially lower operating costs in the future. Dining Hall options were considered as components of new residence halls and included in various building renovations. http://www.newpaltz.edu/construction/FMP_exec_summary.pdf
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
Meet the state's aggressive M/WBE procurement goals. Continue to implement current executive orders pertaining to green procurement, including EO4 and E18. Discontinue the sale of single-use plastic water bottles.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
The Campus Strategic Plan includes a metric of tracking green procurement purchases. The campus is considering a full or partial bottled water ban. The SUNY System also has aggressive M/WBE procurement objectives and strategies that are updated annually. http://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-sets-highest-mwbe-state-contracting-goal-nation-30-percent-state-exceeds-20 SUNY New Paltz hired an MWBE procurement specialist in the fall of 2014. The SUNY system just released updated policies, procedures, and new, higher utilization goals, to follow suit with the Governor's early October 2014 announcement of new M/WBE procurement goals. SUNY is launching a new database (PRISM) for M/WBE contract monitoring, compliance, utilization tallying, etc.
The college is discontinuing the sale of single use plastic water bottles beginning in August of 2015.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
Purchasing Department, Office of Campus Sustainability, Facilities Management, Campus Auxiliary Services
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The Campus Sustainability Plan includes a solid waste action plan that include specific objectives including expanding food composting to all dining facilities, improving the management of campus landscaping waste composting, and implementing additional improvements in recycling systems in classroom buildings. The campus launched a zero waste initiative during 2014 in the residence halls. Over time, the program will be expanded to other locations.
http://sites.newpaltz.edu/sustainability/about/campus-sustainability-plan/
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Composting, recycling, and landfill rates and volumes are tracked annually and reported to Ulster County and New York State. These metrics are also a part of the Campus Strategic Plan. Specific objectives have not been identified in this plan.
Measurable objectives 10% annual reduction are called for paper and waste as a part of Executive Order 4 guidelines.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Office of Campus Sustainability, Facilities Management, and Campus Auxiliary Services.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The SUNY New Paltz Site and Landscape Master Plan called for green infrastructure to be implemented across campus. Many green infrastructure sites have been designed and constructed across campus. http://www.newpaltz.edu/construction/facilities_master_plan.pdf
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Track water usage
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Facilities Management and Office of Campus Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
The Strategic Plan Essential Initiative: Establish an Engaged Living and Learning Community includes the following goal:
* Recruit, support and encourage students across the broad spectrum of diversity including age, economic status, gender, race, sexuality, and disability status.
* Develop an inclusive residential community of first-year and continuing students, transfers, international students, and graduate students.
* Recruit, hire and retain a more diverse faculty and staff. http://sites.newpaltz.edu/strategicplanning/essential-innitiaitives/#engaged
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
The corresponding measurable objectives include track applicants, acceptances and enrollments in these categories: age, economic status, gender, race, sexuality, disability. Establish baseline and track changes. Increase the number of target opportunity hires and establish a baseline year for tracking changes.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Enrollment Planning/Admissions, Academic Affairs, the Office of Institutional Research and Planning, Vice Presidents, Deans, Chair, and Directors
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
SUNY New Paltz's Strategic Plan addressed sustainability in the following way within the text of the main document:
The Sustainability Committee (a governance subcommittee of the Budget, Plans, and Goals Committee) completed a Campus Sustainability Plan 2012, which President Christian submitted as part of the reporting requirements for the “American College and University President’s Climate Commitment.” This document is a planning blueprint for the College’s continuing sustainability work, which will be among the priorities addressed in the current 5-year period and beyond, within the constraints of financial resources, technical issues, and staffing time and effort. A sustainability coordinator has been hired, and will guide significant parts of this work. Pending initiatives include participation in a campus energy audit coordinated through SUNY system, completion of our second greenhouse gas emission study, curricular innovation, and research efforts guided by the Sustainability Committee to improve the College’s sustainability achievements.
Sustainability objectives, action items, example metrics, and responsible entities were identified for each action item under Essential Initiative VI: Improving Institutional Processes and Addressing Institutional Capacity. The sustainability action items and metrics all fall under the overall objective of "fostering an energy efficient and sustainable campus."
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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.