| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.92 |
| Liaison | Gretchen Vanicor |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2021 |
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
IN-20: Grounds Certification
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Gretchen
Vanicor Director Sustainability |
Does the institution own and/or manage land that is currently certified under the following programs? (at least one positive response required):
| Yes or No | |
| ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation | --- |
| Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) | --- |
| Bee Campus USA | --- |
| Demeter Biodynamic | --- |
| Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Management standard | --- |
| International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List Standard | --- |
| National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat Program | --- |
| An Organic standard or Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) endorsed by IFOAM | --- |
| Salmon-Safe | --- |
| Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) | --- |
| Tree Campus USA (Arbor Day Foundation) | Yes |
| An equivalent program approved by AASHE | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s third party certified land holdings:
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has been named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 11 consecutive years.
Colleges and universities earn the designation for successful campus forest management and for enlisting staff and students in conservation objectives.
In a letter to UL Lafayette, Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, wrote that the Tree Campus USA selection reflects “diligence in improving the environment and quality of life at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.”
The University earned the Tree Campus USA title by meeting five standards for effective campus forest management:
a tree advisory committee;
a campus tree-care plan;
dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program;
an Arbor Day observance; and
a student service-learning project.
Gretchen LaCombe Vanicor, director of the University's Office of Sustainability, cited an ongoing project to compile an inventory of all campus trees and shrubs as an important student project. AmeriCorps volunteers are “geotagging” trees, using an app to digitally log the location and species of each tree.
The inventory will help the University determine the most viable spots for new plantings.
“It will help us pinpoint areas where we can plant trees or shrubs to help reduce storm water runoff, for example, or to provide shade along sidewalks,” she said.
Engaging student volunteers to help with campus greenery and forest management projects is one of many initiatives included in the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan. The plan is a comprehensive statement of goals through 2021 that seek to lessen the University’s greenhouse gas emissions, and energy and water consumption.
Documentation affirming the certification(s):
Website URL where information affirming the certification(s) is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.