Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.78
Liaison Lisa Mitten
Submission Date March 8, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.75 / 4.00 Lisa Mitten
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Campus 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:
SUNY New Paltz's Strategic Plan addressed sustainability in the following way within the text of the main document: The Sustainability 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."

A copy of the strategic plan:
Sustainability Objectives and Metrics in the Strategic Plan.docx

The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
http://www.newpaltz.edu/strategicplan

Sustainability Plan 

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

A copy of the sustainability plan:
Campus Sustainability Plan - 2012.pdf

The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Climate Action Plan 

Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the climate action plan:
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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):
Sustainability is included in the Facilities Master Plan and in the Site and Landscaping Plan. SUNY New Paltz is updating its Facilities Master Plan at this time and sustainability will be included within it. Facilities Master Plan: https://www.newpaltz.edu/media/construction/pdfs/FMP_exec_summary.pdf Site and Landscape Master Plan: https://www.newpaltz.edu/media/construction/pdfs/facilities_master_plan.pdf

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:
The Campus Sustainability Plan includes the following goals: * Increase the number of students enrolled in environmental majors and minors * Increase the number of environmental internships and the number of sustainability courses.

Research 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Action Item: Promote the use of regional locales for sustainability research/teaching opportunities Metric: * Number of faculty involved in sustainability research and/or teaching 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/

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:
Action Item: Integrate sustainability throughout campus life: Metrics: * 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 The above action items and metrics are found in supporting documentation that was developed to implement the main SUNY New Paltz Strategic Plan. These above action items fall under Essential Initiative VI Improve Internal Processes and Address Institutional Capacity.

Public Engagement 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Action Item: Promote the use of regional locales for sustainability research/teaching opportunities Metric: * Number of faculty involved in sustainability research and/or teaching The above action item and metric are found in supporting documentation that was developed to implement the main SUNY New Paltz Strategic Plan. These above action items fall under Essential Initiative VIII Strengthen Regional and Community Engagement.

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:
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/

Buildings 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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:
Governor Cuomo signed Executive Order 88 requiring state agencies to reduce their source energy use intensity by 20% 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.

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:
The college has adopted a definition of sustainable food and beverages and tracks its sustainability food/beverage purchasing rates annually.

Grounds 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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:
Action Item: Within policy and financial restraints, reduce resource consumption, increase green procurement and develop sustainable business practices Metric: * Volume of green procurement purchases The above action item and metric are found in supporting documentation that was developed to implement the main SUNY New Paltz Strategic Plan. These above action items fall under Essential Initiative VI Improve Internal Processes and Address Institutional Capacity. The SUNY System also has aggressive M/WBE procurement objectives and strategies that are updated annually.

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:
Action Items: * Increase on campus and proximate to campus student housing. * Promote Loop Bus ridership (measurement: ridership rates) * Institute a bike sharing program (measurement: number of bikes in bike share program) * Install bike racks near every campus building (measurement: number of campus buildings with bike racks) * Create a carpool incentive program * Shift fleet to 50% electric or low emissions vehicles These action items are found in the Campus Sustainability Plan of 2012.

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:
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.

Water 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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:
Comprehensive diversity and inclusion goals are found in Chapter 3 on page 15 of the SUNY New Paltz Diversity and Inclusion Plan (http://www.newpaltz.edu/media/New%20Paltz%20Diversity%20Plan%20April%202017%20FINAL.pdf). Below are some of the goals: 1. Increase faculty, staff, and administrators from underrepresented and underserved groups by 5 percent by 2020, through implementing a comprehensive recruitment and retention plan that takes into account the needs of these specific populations. 2. Understand the factors that contributed to the downward trend in the number of African American students enrolled at SUNY NP from 2000 to a low in 2009, and that have accounted for the 35 percent increase from 2009 to 2015, so that we can continue and amplify the latter trend. 3. Maintain current comprehensive recruitment and retention programs to ensure that the percentage of Latino students at SUNY NP continues to grow and at least mirrors their numbers in the College’s recruitment areas SUNY New Paltz tracks the following metrics in student surveys to evaluate campus climate related to diversity and inclusion: * Students' sense of belonging on campus * Student perceptions of racial harmony on campus * Student perceptions of campus acceptance of individual differences

Investment & Finance 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Wellbeing & Work 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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)?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Action Items: * Increase campus media coverage of environmental events and developments. * Institutionalize regular environmental columns in campus paper, The Orace, and other student-run media. These action items are found in the Campus Sustainability Plan of 2012.

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 Yes
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:
SUNY New Paltz is a signatory of Second Nature's Carbon Commitment.

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.