| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.27 |
| Liaison | Hannah Rushing |
| Submission Date | Jan. 28, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Sterling College (VT)
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Matthew
Derr President Administrative |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | Yes |
| Research (or other scholarship) | Yes | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | --- | --- |
| Water | --- | --- |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | Yes | Yes |
| Investment | Yes | Yes |
| Other | --- | --- |
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
To offer an exemplary experiential place-based liberal arts academic program to aspiring environmental stewards.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
Objective B: Investigate adding new major areas of study, consistent with the mission of environmental stewardship.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Academic Council
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
Objective C: Increase resources for research opportunities and the Senior Applied Research Project (SARP)
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Assess the impact of Senior Applied Research Project advising to ensure that faculty has the time and support necessary to aid students in the development of their research.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
Academic Council
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
To strengthen and better define the learning opportunities associated with living in community.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Objective A: Improve upon and increase the number of opportunities for students to participate in leadership roles in the community.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Community Council
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
To create a rich and rewarding on-campus experience for students and the community as a whole.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Objective A: Create liaisons with neighboring facilities to offer students opportunities for Nordic skiing, mountain biking, alpine skiing, orienteering, rowing, etc
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
Community Council
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 150 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Implementation 1: Establish solar and non-fossil fuel sources of energy as the means of lighting and heating our campus, and invest in relations that place efficiency as a top priority.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Lands & Energy Committee
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 150 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Objective C: Make our worst facilities our best and most efficient facilities first, and thereby lift the whole campus.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Lands & Energy Committee
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 150 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Dunbar & Kane Hall Renovation:
Improve the kitchen to meet modern professional culinary standards, and improve our ability to use it as an instructional space.
Improve the dining hall with natural lighting, better acoustics, and easier flow of people.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Simeon Bittman, Executive Chef
Matthew Derr, President
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 150 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Implementation 3: Develop a three-year plan for college-wide equipment and fixtures, including the purchasing of new vehicles for community transportation and trucks for maintenance and the farm and other equipment, including outdoor education equipment necessary for the program of study.
Objective D include Paradise Hall Renovation, Kane & Dunbar Hall Renovation, and Simpson Hall Renovations
Implementation 1: In 2016, 10 additional solar trackers will be installed on site, making near 100% of our electricity to come from on-campus solar energy.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Lands & Energy Committee
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 150 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Renovations of Paradise Hall, Dunbar & Kane Hall, and Simpson Hall
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Lands & Energy Committee
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 120 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Consider the purchase of additional properties that may be important to our growth and educational program.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
Lands & Energy Committee
Matthew Derr, President
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 150 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Develop a three-year plan for college-wide equipment and fixtures, including the purchasing of new vehicles for community transportation and trucks for maintenance and the farm and other equipment, including outdoor education equipment necessary for the program of study.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Lands & Energy Committee
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
---
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
---
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
To recruit and retain a diverse population of approximately 120 students committed to environmental stewardship.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Objective B: Sustain an annual enrollment-planning model that focuses equally on retention and recruitment.
Implementation 3: Increase outreach to veterans, and provide student life support at the College.
Implementation 4: Commit new resources to support the recruitment of an increasingly diverse student population.
Implementation 7: Sustain commitment to meeting the needs of students with robust institutional support for financial aid at approximately 40-45% of tuition income.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Tim Patterson, Director of Admission & Financial Aid
Matthew Derr, President
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
To recruit and retain a diverse population of approximately 150 students committed to environmental stewardship.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Implementation 3: Increase outreach to Veterans, and provide student life support at the College.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Dean of Community
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
To improve alignment with our educational mission and the aspirations of our community by becoming increasingly self-sufficient and committing to practices that are consistent with environmental stewardship.
To retain and attract talented and passionate administrative staff, who express commitment to environmental stewardship through their support of the students and the advancement of the College’s mission.
To retain and attract talented and passionate faculty who express their commitment to environmental stewardship through life experience, teaching, advising, advocacy, and research.
To restore and renovate the campus so that all buildings are efficient and attractive and serve the needs of the community and a population of approximately 120 students.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Objective A: Become a model community with regard to use of resources and our capacity to support our mission
Objective B: Become increasingly self-sufficient and self-reliant, while sustaining collaboration with the surrounding community.
Objective C: Commit to a comprehensive plan for the use of our lands, including protection of forests and wildlife, and the thoughtful use of the campus for academic and community purposes
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
Matthew Derr, President
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
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None
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Sustainability at Sterling goes well beyond conventional practices—the reality of living and learning on our rural Vermont campus cultivates a deep sense of community based on an intimate relationship with the natural world, making “sustainability” both a way of life and a path of study.
The campus community has a shared vision for appropriately scaled and regionally suitable sustainable living practices—what we like to call “grassroots sustainability.”
None
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
Yes
None
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Sterling College's Strategic plan includes the years 2013-2018. A brief description from the current plan is listed below.
This strategic plan is presented in three sections: People & Program, Resouces, and Facilities & Infrastructure.
Each section begins with an overview of what we aspire to acieive during this five-year period, followed by goals, objectives, and implementation steps. The goals represent our core vision for Sterling and are not always directly measurable. Objectives are the directions in which we wish to move to meet the goals and are typically measurable. Implementation steps are the incremental choices we make to reach the goals in a specified period of time.
All of the above information is included in the strategic plan.
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
A hard copy of the institution's strategic plan may available upon request.
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.