Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 68.39
Liaison Marianne Martin
Submission Date Sept. 22, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Colorado Boulder
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 4.00 Heid VanGenderen
Chief Sustainability Officer
University of Colorado Boulder
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The college of Arts and Sciences Strategic Plan outlines numerous steps for integrating Sustainability and Research. https://www.colorado.edu/asfacultystaff/sites/default/files/attached-files/as_strategic_plan_revised_approved_1.pdf
Strategic Imperative 3.4: Prioritize our research enterprise by recognizing the intersection
of research and scholarship with teaching and service
Goal: Develop formal mechanisms for recognizing and rewarding researchers whose research
and scholarship intersect with teaching and service.
Action Items:
3.4.1. Encourage researchers to actively mentor and engage students, community
members, and others across the research lifecycle.
3.4.2. Recognize the intersection of research and scholarship with teaching and service
in tenure and promotion processes at both the unit and College levels.

Campus Master Plan (CMP) was adopted in 2011 is updated every 10 years. The CMP iniative includes energy, facilities, housing, and transportation. Some goals include:
- addition of 300 new tenured faculty in the next 10 years
- increase insitutional research funding and expenditures by 5% each year
- increase graduate student enrollment to 20% of the total enrollment
https://www.colorado.edu/masterplan/

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 Environmental Center has a strategic plan, part of which focuses on enhancing leadership and engagement. Such foci include:
- We develop student leadership and practical skills from entry to advanced levels through a spectrum of opportunities on campus and in all communities.
- We provide our student employees and volunteers with transferable leadership and sustainability skills inclusive of social equity elements that encourages critical thinking and pragmatic action to be effective in their careers and communities.
- We improve students’ mindfulness of societal and cultural challenges stemming from economic disparity and climate change by insuring each EC program is responsive to these challenges. This approach includes enhancing the understanding of intercultural competence via training and assessment models, and insuring EC programs reflect the larger cultural context (e.g. marketing, web, and social media content are reflective of social diversity). We train staff, students, and campus stakeholders that social equity and justice are key elements of sustainability so they are more relevant, effective, and competitive in their career paths.

Goals:
Goal: Enhance sustainability-leadership training and professional development opportunities
Goal: Expand co-curricular experiential learning opportunities that engage students through a sustainability focus
Goal: Include diversity and social justice outcomes in the planning and execution of all Environmental Center programs to enhance fiscal, environmental and social sustainability and support campus diversity.

Priority Projects, 2017-2020:
Conduct additional social equity trainings to students via classroom, staff faculty outreach. Support the role that CUE has traditionally filled.
Provide new immersive hands-on trainings specific for under-represented groups
Deepen partnerships with student groups on programs and events
Implement additional programming for training and professional development. Provide change-agent skills trainings.
Developmental support and trainings to identify personal strengths and effectiveness. Impart sense of leadership amongst everyday students and help students connect their talent and value to their work.
Continue partnering with underrepresented groups on campus to produce relevant educational events.

EC Assessment Plan has targets and metrics on these goals. https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/about-us/plans-reports

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 University of Colorado 2021 Sustainability Report outlines goals for the University of Colorado System which includes CU Boulder. A sample of goals from this plan:
- reduce GHG emissions by 15% from 2019 emission levels by 2026
- reduce energy campus use (EUI) in campus buildings by up to 10% from 2019 levels by 2026
- increase the amount of renewable energy produced on-site or purchased by 2026; CU Boulder's specific commitment is to increase on-site production from 2.0% to 2.5% and off-site purchasing from 0% to 14.2%
- increase waste diversion rates on the CU Boulder campus to 90% by 2025
- convert 17% of the bus fleet for CU Boulder campus to electric buses by 2026
https://www.cu.edu/doc/2021cusustainabilityreportpdf

The Conceptual Plan for Carbon Neutrality (CPCN) sets long-term goals for GHG emissions reduction, where CU Boulder is currently is Phase 2 of 3.
- Phase 2 goal: reduce GHG emissions by 50% from 2005 emission levels by 2030; this phase leverages utilization and implementation of large scale renewables
- Phase 3 goal: 80% reduction in GHG emissions from 2005 emission levels by 2050; this phase leverages utilization of innovative technologies
https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/energyclimate/cu-and-energy/carbon-neutrality-plan

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 Campus Master Plan (CMP) was adopted in 2011 is updated every 10 years. The CMP iniative includes energy, facilities, housing, and transportation. Some goals include:
- double merit and need based fianiancal aid within 5 years
https://www.colorado.edu/masterplan/

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):
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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?:
Minor theme

The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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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?:
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment Pledge of 2007

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 Yes
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
The Talloires Declaration (TD) Yes
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
The American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), signed by the Chancellor and ratified by the Board of Regents in 2007 gave CU Boulder three GHG reduction targets: 20% by 2020; 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. The last of these goals has been updated to carbon neutrality by 2050.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below):
UN Sports for Climate Action

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.