University of Colorado Colorado Springs
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Kraemer Family Library Sustainability Plan
https://kfl.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj2196/files/inline-files/KFL%20Sustainability%20Plan%202019-2021_1.pdf
The Kraemer Family Library seeks to be a key player in this campus sustainability movement.

We seek to contribute to these elements of the plan’s mission by:
• modeling effective and efficient resource usage and fiscal responsibility
• educating the University community about the importance of individual and institutional environmental and social responsibility
• preparing our students by integrating sustainability literacy into academic learning and research across the curriculum
• integrating sustainability into all aspects of the library, including buildings, operations, planning, and purchasing, in a way that we minimize the impact upon the Earth
• fostering a culture of sustainability throughout our library, campus and also our extended community

UCCS Climate Action Plan 2010
https://sustain.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1306/files/inline-files/UCCS%20CLIMATE%20ACTION%20PLAN%202010.pdf
Accordingly, we commit our institutions to taking the following steps in pursuit of climate neutrality:
1. Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible.

a. Within two months of signing this document, create institutional structures to guide the development and implementation of the plan.
b. Within one year of signing this document, complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating, commuting, and air travel) and update the inventory every other year thereafter.
c. Within two years of signing this document, develop an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral, which will include:

i. A target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible.
ii. Interim targets for goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality.
iii. Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students.
iv. Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality.
v. Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions…”

UCCS Recreational Trails Micro-Master Plan
https://recwellness.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj2336/files/2020-11/UCCS_Recreational_Trails_Micro-Master_Plan.pdf
Encourage curriculum-based, trail-related monitoring. Opportunities discussed included trail durability and the effects of aspect, moisture, soils, grade, cross slope, experimental construction techniques, and use, sustainability, natural resource impacts and wellness/nutrition/exercise science topics.

Planning Considerations
Recognizing the nature and context of natural resources on the UCCS campus, the following principles and guidelines were integrated into the planning process and should be considered during plan implementation
• Cultural Resources – Avoid trail development within known cultural resource sites, while integrating opportunities to use trail connections to manage access to select sites for research, education, or interpretive opportunities.

Interpretative and Educational Opportunities
The UCCS campus contains unique natural and cultural resources. These are opportunities for interpretation, educational programs and research. During the planning process, attention often turned towards interpretative and educational opportunities to engage and inform the campus community.

Kraemer Family Library Sustainability Plan
https://kfl.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj2196/files/inline-files/KFL%20Sustainability%20Plan%202019-2021_1.pdf

Staff Training and Workflow
• add environmental impact section in KFL Implementation Plan form to invite actions during project planning to mitigate waste and invite sustainable purchasing practices
• evaluate and reward contributions to the library’s sustainability plan through the establishment of specific goals as part of the employee’s annual evaluation process
• work with KFL supervisors to encourage employees to attend at least one campus sustainability event per plan period
• work with KFL Administration to add statement to KFL job posting “description” section such as: Demonstrate environmental sustainability by supporting the library’s sustainability initiatives and innovation
• hold semiannual professional development for KFL staff to explore updated KFL sustainability practices and to foster awareness of and involvement in sustainability initiatives
• orient new KFL employees to KFL sustainable practices during the Volunteer Committee portion of New Employee Orientation
• create a tool to assist with educating KFL staff and student employees on KFL sustainable practices

KFL Student Employee Engagement
• encourage the assistance of student employees with KFL presence at campus sustainability events with supervisor approval
• develop handout outlining KFL sustainable practices to assist with new KFL student orientation
• include KFL sustainable practices in KFL student employee training

UCCS Recreational Trails Micro-Master Plan
https://recwellness.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj2336/files/2020-11/UCCS_Recreational_Trails_Micro-Master_Plan.pdf
Interpretative and Educational Opportunities
The UCCS campus contains unique natural and cultural resources. These are opportunities for interpretation, educational programs and research. During the planning process, attention often turned towards interpretative and educational opportunities to engage and inform the campus community. Below are the ideas and concepts discussed. Signage system design recommendations are in the Design Guidelines.

Volunteer Construction and Maintenance
Recommendations
Volunteer projects and volunteer engagement
o Maintain trails
o Restore rogue trail, erosion, and drainage damage
o Maintain trail closures
o Execute short trail reroutes and closures
o When skill, resources and volunteer numbers are available, execute large trail construction and/or closures

UCCS Strategic Plan
https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/
https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1316/files/inline-files/UCCS-Strategic-Plan-2030.pdf
We value dynamic responsible growth while continuing to be financially responsible, academically sound and environmentally sustainable.

Kraemer Family Library Sustainability Plan
https://kfl.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj2196/files/inline-files/KFL%20Sustainability%20Plan%202019-2021_1.pdf

Recycling & Composting
• provide the infrastructure to reduce solid waste in the library by recycling paper, cardboard, glass, plastics #1-7, aluminum, steel cans, etc.
• compost at KFL staff on-campus gatherings to reduce waste
• track the number of materials such as books, periodicals, microfiche/film, DVDs/VHS and cases, bubble wrap, soft plastics, Styrofoam that are diverted from the landfill through alternative recycling or re-use streams
• continue to reevaluate the need for additional alternative recycling solutions
• explore addition of battery/electrical component, toner cartridge, and pen/marker/binder recycling bins within KFL for use by UCCS community since we are a high traffic hub of the campus

UCCS Climate Action Plan 2010
https://sustain.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1306/files/inline-files/UCCS%20CLIMATE%20ACTION%20PLAN%202010.pdf

The Climate Action Committee has developed this initial Climate Action Plan to fulfill requirements set forth as signatories to the ACUPCC and includes goals established by the State of Colorado Governor’s Greening of State Government Executive Orders D011 07 and D012 07. It is in accordance with the University Of Colorado Board Of Regents’ Sustainability Resolution passed in October 2009 (Appendix A) and is intended to be a planning document to assist the Climate Action Committee and the UCCS Leadership Team in developing policy and establishing priorities. This is a dynamic plan that will be altered as the campus grows, funding is made available, and new technologies arrive. Regularly scheduled updates to this plan will be provided to the Chancellor of UCCS and the plan will be updated formally every five years. The plan includes recommendations in many areas to guide further carbon reductions on the campus.

Heller Center Master Plan
https://sustain.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1306/files/inline-files/Heller%20Center%20Master%20Plan%202009.pdf

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Sustainable Design
The Heller Center should be planned so that all new development will be designed based upon the most current principles of stainability. The relationship of the Heller Center to the University provides numerous opportunities to employ “green” technologies and ideas. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards should be employed when designing new structures and should be able to serve as a teaching tool for both the University community and the broader population of Colorado Springs. Solar, wind, storm water management, water-wise landscaping will be part of the design program. New construction will be developed to preserve the visual quality of the site and surrounding areas. New development will consider siting, materials, and color to work in harmony with the historic and natural setting.
▪ Sustainable materials will be an integral part of the design.

UCCS Strategic Plan: Core Strategy 1: Foster a Community of Learning, Engagement and Inclusive Belonging
https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/
https://strategicplan.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1316/files/inline-files/UCCS-Strategic-Plan-2030.pdf

Kraemer Family Library 2020-2023 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan
https://kfl.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj2196/files/2020-07/KFL%20DiversityPlan2020-2023.pdf

A core strategy of the UCCS 2030 Strategic Plan is related to equity, diversity, and inclusion: foster a community of learning, engagement, and inclusive belonging (https://www.uccs.edu/strategicplan/).
In accordance with this strategy, the Kraemer Family Library commits to promoting awareness of and sensitivity to human differences and to addressing current inequities. We recognize that contributions made by people from diverse backgrounds benefit the personal, academic, and professional growth of all members of the UCCS community

Creating a Culturally Engaging Campus Environment: UCCS Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan 2019
https://diversity.uccs.edu/sites/g/files/kjihxj1411/files/2020-04/2019EDIStrategicrevisedformatdec2019.pdf

Portfolio of Responsibilities for Principal Diversity Officer
The office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) is housed in the division of Academic Affairs. The Associate Vice Chancellor of EDI is the principal or lead equity, diversity and inclusion officer at UCCS; yet in accordance with the ideal of inclusive excellence, the Principal Diversity Officer (PDO) leads equity, diversity and inclusion efforts on campus, but is not solely responsible for these efforts. The AVCEDI is primarily responsible for creating a strategic vision for UCCS, which 1.) identifies organizational structures and practices that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion across the University; 2.) builds an inclusive campus-wide culture and community based on the shared principles of broad representation and social, environmental and climate justice; and 3.) creates structures of assessment and accountability at every level in order to ensure constant, sustained, and effective systemic change. The AVCEDI advances all equity, diversity and inclusion programming on campus (including staff and faculty development, research, and teaching), and supports historically underserved or marginalized campus and community stakeholders (including faculty and staff of all ranks, and undergraduate and graduate students). The AVCEDI also collaboratively and individually coordinates and facilitates a range of annual/bi-annual programming; serves on relevant campus-wide committees; represents the office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at community and campus events; and acts as a liaison to counterparts within the CU system, as well as those at local academic institutions in Colorado Springs and the larger southern tier of the Front Range.

Goal: Develop and support mechanisms for cross-pollination and integration between sustainability and EDI strategic planning, leadership, education and initiatives.

Outcome: Achieving this goal will provide inspired sustainability leadership and education, and advance and direct an informed application of social, environmental and economic sustainability measures in all University activities.

Implementation: Create a more integrated and regular collaboration between sustainability staff and provost/AVC of EDI to leverage existing programs and create new ones that serve the campus; Ensure that sustainability is represented within university equity, diversity, and inclusion planning efforts; Develop communication and education strategy for campus community to clarify and drive home the interdependent connections between sustainability, social and environmental justice, diversity, and equity. Initiate with a white paper that provides supporting evidence of the importance of tackling these issues together and follow-up strategies; Ensure that in the creation of a potential sustainability center at UCCS, that diversity, equity, and inclusion are key actionable tenets in structure and outcome.

CU Board of Regents Sustainability Resolution 2009
The CU Board of Regents encourages sustainability efforts on a university-wide basis to include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards for buildings, comprehensive plans to achieve climate neutrality, and participation in Greening of State Government.

Sustainability Strategic Plan
Sustainability as defined in the UCCS Sustainability Strategic Plan is
...meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (Brundtland, 1987),
...improving the quality and equity of human life while living within the carrying capacity of support eco-systems,
...acting with respect for nature, universal human rights, and economic justice.

Vision
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will be a recognized leader in sustainability, integrating social justice, economic, and ecological values into institutional policies, programs and practices.

Mission
Recognizing that institutions of higher learning have a responsibility to exercise leadership and create the future, UCCS actively pursues sustainability as a way to address the University’s focus on increased student recruitment and retention through courses which address contemporary and global issues, effective and efficient resource usage, and fiscal responsibility. UCCS seeks to be a campus where: Committed campus administrators, in partnership with a dedicated faculty, staff, and student body, provide leadership and expertise to local, regional, and global sustainability efforts; We recognize our obligation to educate the University community about the importance of individual and institutional environmental and social responsibility, and prepare our students by integrating sustainability literacy into academic learning and research across the curriculum and between the colleges; Sustainability is integrated into all aspects of University functioning, including buildings, operations, planning, and purchasing, in a way that we minimize the impact of our growing, dynamic campus upon the earth.
In accomplishing this vision and mission, we will foster a culture of sustainability throughout our campus and also our extended community.

UCCS is a Signatory to the ACUPCC.

A Message from the Chancellor
“…As an original signatory to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, UCCS continues to decrease greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy implementation, retrofit projects, and conservation. I am committed to a sustainability vision that builds on our early successes and utilizes all of our talents to create a legacy for future generations…”

Dr. Venkat Reddy, UCCS Chancellor
https://sustain.uccs.edu/overview/chancellors-message