| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 26.70 |
| Liaison | Raymond Bowdish |
| Submission Date | Feb. 4, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York at Potsdam
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.25 / 4.00 |
Heather
Sullivan-Catlin Professor, Environmental Studies Environmental Studies |
Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The recently adopted (2018) campus strategic plan includes sustainability as one of eight key commitments: "We will embrace our unique
responsibility as an institution of higher education to provide leadership for the transition toward a more resilient, sustainable society, and will foster a culture of sustainability, to prepare students to address the intertwining social, economic and ecological challenges of our increasingly complex and
interdependent world."
A copy of the strategic plan:
The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
A copy of the sustainability plan:
The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
A copy of the climate action plan:
The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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)? :
A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
-SUNY (system-wide) Strategic Plan and Current Initiatives for Sustainability
--https://system.suny.edu/capital-facilities/energy-management/sustainability/initiatives/
-Facilities Master Plan
--https://www.potsdam.edu/about/administrative-offices/physical-plant-and-facilities/facilities-master-plan
-Academic Affairs Strategic Plan
--https://www.potsdam.edu/about/leadership/provost-academic-affairs/plans-and-goals
-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan
---https://www.potsdam.edu/about/administrative-offices/division-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/strategic-plan
[The full document is not publicly accessible, but I am uploading it below]
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Academic Affairs Strategic Plan
Focus Area: Support and strengthen academics to enhance student success.
Action Step 6: Provide students with expanded opportunities to explore issues around sustainability, broadly defined, across curricular experiences. (pg 5)
Action Step 7: Expand Curricular options related to rural studies. (pg 5)
Focus Area: Support the success of faculty and staff.
Goal A: Support a positive work/life balance (pg. 8)
Focus Area: Support Diversity and Inclusion
Action Step 5: Expand/strengthen curricular offerings focused on the region's Native American and indigenous student populations. (pg. 16)
Action Step 6 : Enhance opportunities to share indigenous knowledge to the campus community. (pg. 16)
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
- New buildings must be LEED Silver
- Campuses engaged in the construction of new buildings shall achieve at least a 20% improvement in energy efficiency performance relative to levels required by New York State's Energy Conservation Construction Code.
-For substantial renovation of existing buildings campuses shall achieve at least a 10% improvement (SUNY Compliance)
- Ensure that 20-30% of materials used for new construction or renovation are harvested
and/ or manufactured within 500 miles of the project site (Potsdam Facilities Master Plan 2010)
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
- Reduce system wide energy consumption by 30 percent over ten years (Set by SUNY Central)
- Campuses shall seek to purchase sufficient quantities of energy generated from renewable sources so that 20% of the overall annual electric energy requirements of buildings owned, leased or operated by the campus are met through renewable sources currently (SUNY Compliance)
- Plans for building-automation and energy management analysis are in progress on campus. The FMP suggests a phased implementation of this type of system would be recommended to begin in late 2010 through early 2011.
- Receive at least 100 megawatts of solar power by 2015.
- Negotiate ownership of property for NATCO Solar Park
Executive Order 88 Please view SUNY's Energy Plan https://system.suny.edu/capital-facilities/energy-management/
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
- PACES has made a commitment to purchasing over $200,000 annually in local produce
goods and services
- PACES, in 2006 adopted the Global Sullivan Principles which advances a development framework that enables businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to pursue their business objectives while being mindful and respectful of employees and the communities in which they operate.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Grounds has been working on locations to designate as "No Mow Zones". Also Grounds has been approved to plant a 1.5 acre pollinator garden.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
- Ensure that 20-30% of materials used for new construction or renovation are harvested
and/ or manufactured within 500 miles of the project site (Facilities Master Plan 2010)
-Campuses shall purchase energy-efficient commodities (ENERGY STAR) when acquiring new energy-using products or replacing existing equipment (SUNY Compliance).
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
-Campuses shall procure increasing percentages of alternative-fuel vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles.
-At least 50% of new light-duty vehicles acquired by each campus shall be alternative-fueled vehicles.
-100% of all new light-duty vehicles shall be alternative-fueled vehicles, with the exception of specialty, police or emergency vehicles as designated by the New York State Division of the Budget (SUNY Compliance)
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Below is the complete list of goals in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategic Plan
(https://www.potsdam.edu/about/administrative-offices/division-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/strategic-plan - The full document is not publicly accessible, but I am uploading it below under additional documentation]
Annual and Multi-Year Goals
Goal I: Campus Climate
Create and sustain a campus climate in which all members of the campus community (students, employees, families, alumni, friends, allies, guests to campus and members of the surrounding communities) feel accepted, welcomed and included
Objectives
I: Develop new and support on-going campus-wide diversity, equity and inclusion education programs and trainings.
II: Review and improve campus policies and procedures to ensure that the campus is meeting the needs of the changing student body, and by extension, the changing profile of the campus community.
III: Foster positive engagement between and among students, campus employees and alumni.
IV: Enhance, support and sustain a culture of inclusion in the student body, to ensure that students from all backgrounds engage positively with each other.
Goal IIA: Student Recruitment/Retention/Access/Persistence and Completion
Demonstrate a commitment to recruit, retain and provide appropriate resources for students of diverse backgrounds.
Objectives
I: Recruit students from diverse backgrounds for all programs and departments in line with the SUNY Performance Improvement Program and campus goals.
II: Provide academic, cultural and economic resources for students to persist and complete degrees and programs; and continue to assess regularly the changing needs of our students for such resources.
Goal IIB: Faculty, Staff, Administration Recruitment, Retention, Promotion and Tenure
Demonstrate a commitment to recruit, retain and provide appropriate resources for faculty/staff/administration of diverse backgrounds.
Objectives
I: Increase the recruitment of diverse faculty, staff and administration to mirror more closely the student population, by using best practices.
II: Demonstrate a commitment to retaining diverse faculty, staff and administrators through best practices.
III: Recognize and reward faculty/staff/administration contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in campus personnel decisions (e.g. promotion, tenure, continuing appointment, discretionary salary decisions).
Goal III: Curriculum and Academic Programs
Demonstrate academic excellence through a curriculum that includes instruction related to diversity, equity and inclusion
Objectives
I: Infuse the SUNY Potsdam curriculum with educational content, objectives and practices informed by DEI principles
II: Embed topics of diversity, equity and inclusion in every department, program, major, minor and concentration.
III: Encourage and support faculty and staff to expand their knowledge of issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion.
Goal IV: Communication
Increase collaboration and create open lines of communication to encourage involvement in all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts campus-wide.
Objectives
I: Institutionalize regular communication about diversity, equity and inclusion – with check-ins and discussions becoming expected and regular agenda items.
II: Create a culture of open two-way communication on issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion; including constantly soliciting feedback to ensure that stakeholders are getting the information that they need and that we are building a common understanding among constituencies from across campus.
III: Ensure all official campus-wide publications and digital content accurately reflect the College’s diversity.
IV: Enact a comprehensive communications strategy for new Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
None
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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)? :
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
sustainable principles deal with limiting energy consumption and carbon output, conserving resources and protecting and restoring ecological systems.
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 |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | No |
| 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:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.