Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 65.54
Liaison Maria Ayala
Submission Date Jan. 3, 2022

STARS v2.2

Universidad San Francisco de Quito - USFQ
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Maria Jose Ayala
Innovation and Sustainability Officer
Innovation and Sustainability Office
"---" 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:
USFQ's Institutional Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 establishes the following indicators and goals related to academics:
- All Academic pen sums contain science component

Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/es/informacion-institucional/regulaciones-institucionales

Our climate action plan states that USFQ is committed to: Continue to invest in research projects that prioritize environmental engineering, energy systems, science, biodiversity, conservationism, economic development, and communi- ty impact. As for the academics, USFQ is committed to providing students with co-curricular, international opportunities to build the skillset of the liberal art mindset and respond to world problems.

Climate action plan can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/sites/default/files/2022-01/climate-action-plan-2021.pdf

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:
The university's Institutional Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 establishes the following indicators and goals:
- Promote collaboration between academia, public and private companies, and the internal and external community for the development of innovation and
Sustainability projects.
- Factual indicator: Perform training in sustainability issues for teachers and administrative staff.
- By 2024 have at least 1 strategic alliance in sustainability with an industry partner
- By 2024 achieve 14 projects on sustainability with industries

Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/es/informacion-institucional/regulaciones-institucionales

The climate action plan states a continued commitment to: invest in community projects from the last three years with the proposed budget of $300,000 USD.

Climate action plan can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/sites/default/files/2022-01/climate-action-plan-2021.pdf

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 Institutional Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 states the following objectives:
- Create a system for the monitoring and evaluation of sustainability projects.
- Promote the growth of USFQ seeking a balance between social development
social development, environmental protection and economic growth
- Maintain sustainability certification (STARS rating)

Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/es/informacion-institucional/regulaciones-institucionales

In addition, the climate action plan states the following commitments related to operations:
- Decrease direct emissions from electricity consumption by 50% by 2025. This includes the renovation of the energy infrastructure by incorporating generation plant and energy transformers; placement of photovoltaic system and investment in automatization and renewal of illumination, along with a continuous efficient energy monitoring at campus with the participation of professors and students. In order to reduce scope 3, we aim to create a compensation plan such as reforestation campaigns for carbon capture. We also aim to support the design of a water collection system in buildings with a large roof area and the capacity to hold such a system.
- Regarding campus growth and retrofit: New construction at USFQ will be subjected to green building and efficiency standards.
- Waste: have a zero waste farm by 2023

Climate action plan can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/sites/default/files/2022-01/climate-action-plan-2021.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:
The Institutional Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 states the following objectives:
- Promote and facilitate the application of high-achieving students regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic origin.
- By 2024 offer 265 scholarships for students of excellence
The plan has a dedicated section to inclusion and affirmative action stating:
- Maintaining USFQ's spirit of diversity which considers the individual as the fundamental unit of diversity
regardless of ethnicity, ideology sex, gender, religion, physical abilities or nationality in order to attract the best talents
- Enhancing the Ethnic Diversity program tied to excellence, respecting USFQ's Liberal Arts principles.
- Integrate the agendas of inclusion and internationalization
- Facilitate access to academic activities for USFQ students regardless of their physical abilities

Strategic Development Plan 2019-2024 can be accessed at: https://www.usfq.edu.ec/es/informacion-institucional/regulaciones-institucionales

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? :
Yes

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?:
Major theme

Optional Fields

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

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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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 No
The Talloires Declaration (TD) No
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:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
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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.