| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.34 |
| Liaison | Sally DeLeon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2022 |
University of Maryland, College Park
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Emily
Hightower Sustainability Coordinator Environmental Safety, Sustainability, and Risk |
Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
1) Association for the Advancement of Sustainability (AASHE); 2) The Carbon Commitment (formerly the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment); 3) U.S. Green Building Council; 4) Menus of Change University Research Collaborative
Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
1) Big Ten and Friends Sustainability Group; 2) Metro DC Sustainability Consortium; 3) University System of Maryland Sustainability Summit
Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy virtual events series (2021) -- Presented on greenhouse gas emissions at the University and opportunities to create carbon sinks within the state of Maryland.
Universitas21 Presidential Symposium (2020) -- Broadening the Boundaries of Climate Action: A Case Study on University Food Culture -- Presented on the University's Green Dining programs and progress towards sustainable food cultures.
Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, Pittsburgh (October 2018) -- Presented on potential opportunities for profitable carbon Capture technology for campus power plants.
Leaders in Energy (2018, 2019, 2020) presentations -- Presented on clean energy practices, research, and novel technologies. Specifically, a 2020 presentation discussed the role of universities in affordable clean energy
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
Staff from the UMD Office of Sustainability are appointed to the Prince Georges County Mitigation Work Group, the AASHE STARS Advisory Council and the Maryland Climate Commission Mitigation Work Group.
Previously, Office of Sustainability staff have participated in Second Nature’s Bioenergy work group (2019-2020) and a Commuting work group (2019) for the Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform (SIMAP).
Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
The University of Maryland regularly offers guidance and advice to other University System of Maryland colleges and universities on programs including climate action planning, renewable energy portfolios, and other initiatives. The Office of Sustainability partners with the University System of Maryland Office of Capital Planning to host USM System-wide Sustainability Summits.
Additionally, the Office of Sustainability is regularly contacted by universities -- both national and international -- for guidance on carbon neutral air travel initiatives.
Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the peer review activities:
The University of Maryland, College Park, Office of Sustainability peer reviewed American University’s AASHE STARS submission in February 2020.
A brief description of other inter-campus collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year :
The University of Maryland, College Park, Department of Engineering and Energy participates in the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility Strategic Energy Management network as a mentor to D.C. Universities and Colleges.
The UMD Office of Sustainability has provided guidance to at least three Ph.D candidates from external universities for dissertations on travel-related sustainability initiatives.
Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations 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.