Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 65.17
Liaison Lisa Mitten
Submission Date March 2, 2023

STARS v2.2

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 4.00 Lisa Mitten
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Campus Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives 

Academics

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
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.

Engagement 

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
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. The above action items fall under Essential Initiative VI Improve Internal Processes and Address Institutional Capacity.

Operations

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The BuildSmart 2025 policy for New York State applies to SUNY New Paltz and includes the following core goal: The 2025 statewide energy efficiency target is 185 TBtu of cumulative annual site energy savings over 2015–
2025, relative to forecasted energy consumption in 2025.
https://www.suny.edu/media/suny/content-assets/documents/capital-facilities/sustainability/BuildSmart-2025-Guidelines.pdf

Administration

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
SUNY New Paltz will:
- Recruit and retain diverse faculty, staff, and administrators
- Foster open and effective dialogue between all members and units in the Campus Community, while developing an awareness of our potential unconscious biases and our individual and collective responsibility to learn more about and engage in anti-racist work.
- Consciously provide members with strategic, educational, and experiential opportunities for cultural competency and inclusive leadership skill development. Encouraging the community to build coalitions across groups to leverage goals and spur systemic change.
- Recruit and retain a diverse student body
- Support individual members of our community in their efforts to advocate for public policy changes that advance social inclusion and cultural understanding
- Promote intercultural and international interaction, campus programming, community activities, campus spaces, and co-curricular experiences
- Engage with diverse alumni to support diversity and inclusion on campus, while supporting their success and involvement.

https://www.newpaltz.edu/media/New%20Paltz%20Diversity%20Plan%20April%202017%20FINAL.pdf

Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
No

The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
Minor theme

Optional Fields

The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
No

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
In its Middle States Self-Study, the following four institutional priorities were identified:

1. Nurture a learning environment founded on critical thinking, creativity, and the growth and sharing of knowledge
2. Cultivate sustainability in all its forms, including institutional, social, economic, and environmental sustainability
3. Forge community and enhance our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
4. Increase accessibility of undergraduate and graduate education in the region

The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter No
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) No
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter No
Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability No
SDG Accord No
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
The Talloires Declaration (TD) No
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) No

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.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
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.