| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.83 |
| Liaison | Mark Lichtenstein |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2023 |
State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Sue
Fassler Sustainable Facilities Manager Facilities |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Nearly three dozen scientists from ESF are among the world's top 2% most cited, according to a Stanford University study.
Stanford created two lists that were released by the PLOS Biology Journal: single-year and career-long impact. Of those on the most-cited in 2021 are 22 scientists from ESF, while 29 from the College made the career-long impact list. The data examines approximately 160,000 scientists from across the globe in 22 scientific fields and 176 subfields. The list goes beyond counting papers, but is a metric that measures the usefulness of work conducted. Some examples include:
- Dr. David Nowak ranks #2 overall in the Forestry subfield for single-year impact and #6 overall for career-long impact.
- Dr. Stephen Stehman, Sustainable Resources Management, ranks #11 overall in the Geological & Geomatics Engineering subfield and #26 overall for career-long impact.
- Dr. Ruth Yanai ranks #75 overall in the Forestry subfield for career-long impact.
- Dr. Karin Limburg ranks #88 overall in the Fisheries subfield for career-long impact.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Research
Public Engagement
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
ESF believes that campus-wide change occurs through collaboration and communication. The goal of the Sustainability Ambassadors program closely aligns with the College's mission by supporting and facilitating sustainable practices through peer education and collective action.
Sustainability Ambassadors are paid staff and faculty members who advocate for sustainability in everyday practices and decisions within their home department, division or office during academic semesters.
Ambassadors are expected to commit 5 hours per month to fulfilling the following responsibilities:
- Attending monthly meetings with other Ambassadors and Office of Sustainability staff
- Disseminating sustainability messages and information throughout their home department, division or office
- Encouraging participation in sustainability initiatives and programming
- Facilitating attainment of sustainability certifications for their home department, division or office
- Assisting in brainstorming new sustainability programming at ESF
- Submitting a monthly summary of work
Topics covered as part of the Sustainability Ambassador program are wide-ranging, include but are not limited to:
- Practicing sustainability on campus
- AASHE STARS
- ESF’s sustainable certification programs
- Zero waste
- Sustainable materials management
- Energy use
Currently 16 departments, divisions and offices (academic and non-academic) are represented by an Ambassador. The goal of the Sustainability Ambassadors program is to have every department, division or office at the College represented by a staff Ambassador (of which there are 32).
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Coordination & Planning
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
ESF's high level zero waste/circularity goals include:
- Reducing the "waste" that the College sends to landfill and/or incineration by 90% by 2025 (compared to 2018 baseline)
- Achieving a diversion rate of 90% by 2025 (recycle and/or compost 90% of the items that we discard on campus
Since 2018, trash produced by all ESF campuses has declined from ~365,000 lbs to 214,850 lbs (41% decrease). At the Syracuse campus (largest campus), trash during this time period declined from 235,000 to 92,000 lbs (61% decrease). The campus-wide diversion rate now stands at 52% with the Syracuse campus boasting a 65% diversion rate. In 2018, the campus-wide diversion rate was 28% and the Syracuse campus diversion rate was 31%. (Note that this data does not include construction and demolition debris and compares 2022 data to the College's 2018 baseline).
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Purchasing
Waste
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Photo descriptions:
-List of world’s top-cited scientists includes 34 from ESF:
ESF students participate in Biology Lab.
- Employee Educators: Sustainability Ambassadors Program:
Sustainability Ambassadors gather for a group photo in front of the quad at ESF's Syracuse campus.
- ESF reduces waste by 41% and increases diversion by 23.5% compared to 2018 baseline:
ESF staff volunteers participate in an October 2022 Recycling Audit on ESF's Syracuse campus.
Photo descriptions:
-List of world’s top-cited scientists includes 34 from ESF:
ESF students participate in Biology Lab.
- Employee Educators: Sustainability Ambassadors Program:
Sustainability Ambassadors gather for a group photo in front of the quad at ESF's Syracuse campus.
- ESF reduces waste by 41% and increases diversion by 23.5% compared to 2018 baseline:
ESF staff volunteers participate in an October 2022 Recycling Audit on ESF's Syracuse campus.
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.