Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 45.37
Liaison Grace Afflerbach
Submission Date Oct. 31, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Purchase College - State University of New York
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.75 / 4.00 Angie Kim
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

The most recent Strategic Plan includes sustainability as one of its four main directives. The college committed to work toward fiscal, academic and environmental sustainability by enhancing planning procedures, developing new academic programs and implementing new innovative ideas to generate revenue.


A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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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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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):
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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:

Our current goals reflect those set out by the Governor in his executive orders, specifically EO 88 sets a target of a 20% reduction in source use intensity by 2020 (2010 baseline) and EO 24, which sets a 80% reduction of 1990 levels by 2050

EO 88: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-88-directing-state-agencies-and-authorities-improve-energy-efficiency-state-buildings
EO 24: https://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/71394.html


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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:

New construction or major renovations will align with recent State University Construction Fund (SUCF) Construction Directive for Net Zero and Deep Energy Retrofits.
https://www.sucf.suny.edu/pdf/dir/1B-2.pdf


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 which require state agencies to decrease 20% energy use intensity for all campus buildings by 2020 when compared to the 2010 baseline year.
EO 88: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-88-directing-state-agencies-and-authorities-improve-energy-efficiency-state-buildings

Executive Order 166 offers a guideline to New York State to derive a greater portion of electricity from renewable sources. By participating within the New York Higher Education Large Scale Renewable Energy Consortium, Purchase will help develop additional renewable sources to meet the EO 166 objectives.
EO 166: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-166-redoubling-new-yorks-fight-against-economic-and-environmental-threats-posed-climate


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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Found in the Facilities Master Plan, within the Landscape Plan:
- protect woodlands, wetlands, streams and meadows
- showcase natural features as a campus asset
- learn from native landscape and incorporate elements into campus designed landscape spaces
- mimic natural rain water drainage patterns with the design of stormwater systems that promote groundwater recharge and minimize stream erosion
- use plant materials to provide shade and protect against harsh winds


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:

The college complies with Executive Order 4: State Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability Program. This states that:
All copy paper, janitorial paper and other paper supplies purchased by each State agency or authority shall be composed of 100% post-consumer recycled content to the maximum extent practicable, and all copy and janitorial paper shall be process chlorine-free to the extent practicable, unless such products do not meet required form, function or utility, or the cost of the product is not competitive.
https://www.ogs.state.ny.us/purchase/spg/pdfdocs/EO4.pdf

The college participates and complies with NYS Executive Law article 15-A that sets a goal that 30% of purchases must be from MWBE (Minority and Women Owned Businesses) vendors.
https://www.suny.edu/meansbusiness/mwbe/
https://www.dec.ny.gov/about/48854.html


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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:

As per Executive Order 18: Restricting the Use of Bottled Water at State Facilities and Promoting Executive Agency Sustainability, the College has eliminated the purchase of bottled water in state agency facilities and promoting the use of tap water as a preferred alternative. To promote the alternative, maps of all hydration stations on campus were created that provide chilled and filtered water.
EO 18: https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/executive-order-18


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:

The College has a thorough Diversity Plan to strengthen inclusive excellence within all aspects of the institution, including but not limited to:
- Increase the diversity of the student population by refining established retention programs and services and streamlining their delivery to targeted populations.
- Foster an environment conducive to faculty and staff diversity by developing funds to support diverse faculty and staff recruitment, mentoring, research and scholarship.
- Identify accessibility issues for veterans, individuals with disabilities and all members of the campus community to the curriculum, resources and educational opportunities and collaborate with support offices for solutions.
- Develop administrative processes and financial resources to create new diversity efforts in outreach, programming, recruitment and retention and strengthen existing ones.


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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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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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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)? :
No

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 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 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:

Purchase College was one of the original signatories for ACUPCC in 2006


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The 2010-2015 Strategic Plan was utilized in this data submission as we are currently in the process of writing a new Strategic Plan which will need to be approved by the newly-elected College president in 2020.


The 2010-2015 Strategic Plan was utilized in this data submission as we are currently in the process of writing a new Strategic Plan which will need to be approved by the newly-elected College president in 2020.

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.