| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.18 |
| Liaison | Ezra Small |
| Submission Date | Feb. 5, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Massachusetts Amherst
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Ezra
Small Sustainability Manager Physical Plant |
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | Yes |
| Research (or other scholarship) | Yes | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | No | No |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | Yes |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | No |
| Investment | Yes | Yes |
| Other | --- | --- |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
During the academic year of 2015-2016, the Faculty Senate will vote on the Creation of a "School for Sustainability and the Environment" which will combine multiple sustainability related majors into one centralized school. The proposal for this school is a direct response of the external review findings of the Sustainability Administrative & Developmental Quality Assessment (ADQUAD) Process completed in November 2014. The external review team of three campus sustainability professionals from peer institutions (University of California System, former Arizona St., and Ball State) recommended the following academic initiatives:
"Institute a General Education requirement for sustainability to “create a citizenry that is sustainability literate."
"Incentivize and recognize faculty and departments who pursue interdisciplinary sustainability research and teaching and who support campus sustainability efforts."
"Expand offerings in sustainability as part of the UMass departmental requirement for developing integrative student experiences."
"Provide resources for “release time” for campus operations personnel to play a more active role contributing to student learning opportunities."
Date Revised: July 10, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
Plans include:
Creation of a School for Sustainability and the Environment
Creation of an undergraduate Sustainability Major
General Education Sustainability Requirement
Metrics for extending learning outcomes:
2011: 14% of students
2015: 30% goal
2020: 50-60% goal
Metrics for more sustainability focused and related courses:
2011: 2%
2015: 4%
2020: 6%
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Craig Nicolson, Director of Sustainability Academic Programs, Faculty in Environmental Conservation
Steven Goodwin, Dean of College of Natural Resources
Madeleine Charney, Sustainability Librarian
Curt Griffin, Department Head for Environmental Conservation
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
These plans can be found in the Climate Action Plan v2.0 (2012).
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Place a spotlight on research that is contributing to a just and sustainable future;
begin tracking the financial commitment to sustainability related research to highlight how it can potentially offset campus emissions.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
University Relations, Communications and Marketing Manager (position currently empty)
Office of Research & Engagement, Vice Chancellor Mike Malone
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
These plans can be found in the Climate Action Plan v2.0 (2012).
Increase student engagement in residence halls and campus activities and increase
faculty and staff engagement in classroom and administrative offices
Renew the ACUPCC: Reaffirm leadership and recommit the University to the goals within
the commitment text
Restructure and grow EPAC to include members from University Relations, Budget office, Student Affairs and Residence Life, Diversity Office, Alumni & Development, and Athletics
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Grow Eco Reps from 35-40 to 75-100 members
Grow Green Games to 1 Eco Leader/Res Hall
Grow Green Office Program to every office at least Bronze certified
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Ezra Small, Campus Sustainability Manager
Dawn Bond, Student Affairs/Residential Life
Eddie Hull, Student Affairs
Enku Gelaye, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
From the Climate Action Plan 2.0:
Develop campus wide sustainable development policy for carbon neutral growth, which recovers the costs of greening new and existing buildings through energy efficiency measures.
Set more achievable and clearer emission reduction goals for 2020, 2025, 2035
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
2013: Policy drafted
2014: Policy adopted
2015: Footprint of new construction and major renovations offset by energy efficiency and renewable energy
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Ezra Small, Campus Sustainability Manager, Physical Plant
Ray Jackson, Physical Plant Director
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
The University remains committed to Massachusetts Executive Order 484 which mandates all new construction and major renovations to meet LEED Silver minimum standards. The Green Building Committee is in the process of finishing the new LEED v4 Green Building Guidelines which sets priorities and feasibility levels for every LEED credit in the new LEED v4 rating system. This document is slated to become official campus document by August 2015.
The campus has been making considerable commitments towards retro and continuous commissioning in buildings to increase energy performance and conservation. For example, in newer existing LEED certified buildings, UMass Amherst has made it policy to perform Measurement & Verification (M&V) of energy performance modeling in the first year of occupancy. Many other greening initiatives take place in our existing buildings such as potable water use reduction (see "water" section), recycling and composting, etc.
Date Revised: July 10, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
2012: 2 Buildings
2012-2017: 5 Buildings per year, Grow CCx program
campus wide, 15% reductions
2020: Continue to CCx buildings campus wide for
additional 10% or more reductions
The Green Building Committee is developing Green Building Guidelines for LEED v4.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Ted Mendoza, Design & Construction Management, Green Building Committee Chair
Green Building Researchers in Campus Planning (4)
Ludmilla Pavlova, Senior Facilities Planner, Campus LEED Contact
Ezra Small, Campus Sustainability Manager, Physical Plant
Ray Jackson, Director of Physical Plant
Juanita Holler, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities and Campus Services
Jim Sheehan, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
The Auxiliary Services Sustainability office has developed an action plan for dining sustainability which includes meeting Real Food Challenge Goals for 2020, purchasing, waste reduction, food recovery, growing the student farmers market, expanding UMass Permaculture, making the Dining Commons on campus the most sustainable dining commons in the country, and building and supporting a healthy, sustainable, regional food system.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Our recently completed baseline assessment has shown that UMass Dining is currently sourcing about 7% Real Food. We are undergoing plans to achieve 20% by 2020, according to the Real Food Campus Commitment.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Rachel Dutton, Auxiliary Services Sustainability Manager
Ken Toong, Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
From Climate Action Plan 2.0:
Develop a campus renewable energy plan to produce electricity from 30% renewable energy sources by 2020 (EO484), ultimately reducing campus emissions by 25-30%.
Develop a Reduce Your Use Campaign, including the piloting of innovative energy management technologies, reductions in individual energy consumption through student energy competitions and green office programs, reducing energy usage and campus emissions 5-10% by 2020.
Preserve the E+ Energy Efficiency Program by continuing to improve the project selection process and ultimately the effectiveness of the program.
From the Solar Energy Plan:
Develop new on-site solar energy projects on the main campus
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
2012: Increased visibility of cost savings of projects
2013: National recognition for program
2015: Continuation of projects implemented and cost savings from projects
Complete installation of first solar parking lot canopy at Visitor Center by end of 2015 (300 kW)
Complete Power Purchasing Agreement for campus wide solar projects by mid-2015, go out to bid for PPA installations (2-3 MW)
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Ray Jackson, Director Physical Plant
Jason Burbank, Energy Engineer
Ezra Small, Campus Sustainability Manager
Juanita Holler, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities and Campus Services
Jim Sheehan, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance
Andy Mangels, Budget Office
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
The Landscape Services and Grounds Department within the Physical Plant is undergoing an administrative review and part of that review is to develop a Sustainability Plan. Elements of this plan include:
-Meeting the goals of Tree Campus USA and becoming certified campus
-Increasing bike loops across campus
-Implementing bike friendly elements to meet certification level from Bicycle Friendly Campus from the League of American Bicyclists
-Increasing use of Integrated Pest Management practices on more acreage of campus
Date Revised: July 10, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Implement past designs for the West Gate storm basin near the soccer fields with a integrative stormwater design approach that will help solve flooding/erosion.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Pam Monn, Assistant Director of Grounds
Gary Glazier, Landscape Services Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
Plans to advance sustainability in purchasing will be mostly at the UMass System level. It will focus on recycled paper content purchasing, reducing paper use and waste, etc.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
The Director of Procurement for UMass System will continue working with each of the UMass campus Procurement Directors and our vendor Office Max to reduce paper usage and ordering and create a policy that will require a 30% recycled/post consumer paper or greater across all campuses.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
John Healy, UMass Procurement
John Martin, Director of UMass Amherst Procurement
Ezra Small, Campus Sustainability Manager
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The Transportation Department is involved in sustainability in numerous ways:
1. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations/EV Vehicles: The Fleet Manager in Transportation Services has a goal to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations on campus as well as procure more electric vehicles for the campus fleet. The University is mandated to do this by EO484 state executive order.
2. CNG Fleet: The Fleet Manager is also currently working to develop a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station for providing alternative fuels to campus fleet vehicles which can be converted to use cleaner burning CNG.
3. Solar on Parking Lots: The Director of Parking and the Director of Transportation Services are serving on a committee to award a bid to a Solar Developer for developing up to 11 MW of solar parking canopies on parking lots through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Date Revised: July 10, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
UMass currently has five electric vehicle charging stations on campus. Goals are in place to increase to at least 8 by end of 2015. Campus fleet continues to be made more efficient and newer. Plans are in place to implement CNG vehicles on campus and a CNG fueling station.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Bill Watts, Transportation Services, Fleet Manager
Jeri Baker, Director of Transportation Services
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The Office of Waste Management and Sustainable UMass are working with the Chancellor's Sustainability Committee for the University Administration to officially adopt and implement a new recycling policy in order to meet new state waste ban regulations.
Here is the policy text:
"Subject: Mandatory Recycling Policy
Purpose: Massachusetts environmental regulations (310 C.M.R. 19.017 – Waste Bans) prohibit the disposal of a wide range of specific recyclable or compostable materials in the state’s landfills and incinerators. The University must comply with these regulations or face possible fines and load rejections. Waste disposal facilities are required - within certain limits - to reject UMass waste shipments containing excessive quantities of banned materials. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is empowered to issue fines of up to $25,000 per violation/per day against the University for ongoing violations of the waste ban regulations.
Action: It is the policy of the University of Massachusetts/Amherst that each member of the campus community (staff, faculty and student) is individually must recycle and to compost their solid waste in accordance with the requirements of the Massachusetts Waste Ban regulations. Acceptable recycling and composting practices - as specified in UMass Recycling Guidelines - are hereby instated as a Campus Community Standard. As such, this standard shall be enforced (including reports of violations) by all UMass department heads, staff supervisors, residence directors, and faculty – among their staff and within their respective areas of authority (e.g., faculty are the most immediate and appropriate authority within campus’ classrooms, auditoriums and laboratories).
The facilities and collection schedules necessary to support the mandated recycling and composting efforts are provided by the Physical Plant, Residential Life and Auxiliary Services operations departments. The Physical Plant’ Office of Waste Management will continue to lead and to supervise this program through dissemination of the UMass Recycling Guidelines, provision of appropriate recycling/composting containers and collection services, and through monitoring of waste materials disposed by the campus community in order to identify the source of careless or deliberate violations of this policy."
Date Revised: July 10, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Reuse: New2U Program will expand from one residential area in 2014 to 2 areas in 2015, 3 in 2016, and so on until all of Residential Life is offering reuse options to students during move-out.
Recycling Rates: Increase the 30% residential recycling rates to help achieve 60% campus wide rates by end of 2015.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
John Pepi, Solid Waste Manager, Office of Waste Management, Physical Plant
Pam Monn, Director of Grounds, Physical Plant
Ezra Small, Campus Sustainability Manager, Physical Plant
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The Physical Plant recently received a Class A Reclaimed Water Application from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to use reclaimed water at the Commonwealth Honors College Residential Complex cooling towers. The Amherst campus currently requires about 340 million gallons of water per year and the RWTF can process approximately 200,000 gallons of reclaimed water per day. Boiler water make-up for steam production utilizes the full capacity of the RWTF during the heating season. The addition of the cooling towers at the Commonwealth Honors College will maximize the reclaimed water capacity during the cooling season. This would result in a potential reduction of potable water consumption of 73 million gallons of water per year (21%).
Date Revised: July 10, 2015
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Currently, the campus uses over 50,000,000 gallons of reclaimed water. Expanding the program would increase reclaimed water by 50% and reduce potable water drastically.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Ray Jackson, Director of Physical Plant
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
The Diversity Strategic Plan was just released in late January, 2015.
https://www.umass.edu/chancellor/diversity-strategic-plan
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Can be found here: https://www.umass.edu/chancellor/diversity-strategic-plan
Establish UMass Amherst as a destination of choice for students of color and other underrepresented groups.
b. Improve the campus climate of inclusion.
c. Enhance effectiveness of curriculum and educational programs with regard to diversity and inclusion.
d. Increase focus on recruiting, retention, and promotion of diverse faculty and staff.
e. Increase engagement with external communities/schools with large proportions of underrepresented minorities
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
The Diversity Strategic Plan Steering Committee:
Robert Feldman (Chair), Deputy Chancellor Bryan Beck, Chancellor’s Office Jasmine Bertrand-Halidy, Student Bridges Mari Castañeda, Department of Communication Debora Ferreira, Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity Enku Gelaye, Student Affairs Adina Giannelli, Graduate Student Senate Bryan Harvey, Chancellor’s Office Jennifer Lundquist, Department of Sociology Mzamo Mangaliso, Isenberg School Josh Odam, Student Bridges Shelly Perdomo, Student Affairs Vinayak Rao, Student Government Organization James Roche, Provost’s Office Amilcar Shabazz, Chancellor’s Office
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
The University of Massachusetts Foundation Socially Responsible Investing Advisory Committee (SRIAC) is responsible for considering divestment issues raised by students, faculty, alumni and other members of the UMass community. The eight-member Committee, which consists of faculty, administrators, alumni and students, serves as a forum in which social investment issues can be raised, discussed and reviewed. The Committee is responsible for considering proposals brought forth by members of the University community to determine whether they warrant further consideration by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Campus Sustainability Manager is currently working with the Associate Vice President and Controller of the UMass Foundation.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Measurable Objectives Unknown
Principles and Guidelines of Committee can be found here:
http://www.umassp.edu/sites/umassp.edu/files/content/foundation/UMF%20SRIAC%20Principles%20and%20Guidlines.pdf
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
Judy Murphy, Associate VC and Controller, Foundation
David Basile, Senior Vice President/Wealth Management, Janney Montgomery Scott, Alumni Representative, Stephen Dunne, Managing Director, Private Banking North America, Credit Suisse Securities, Alumni Representative and Chair, Christine Wilda, Senior Vice President and Treasurer, UMass President’s Office, Senior Administrator Representative, John Kennedy, Vice Chancellor for University Relations, UMass Amherst Senior Administrator Representative, Stephen White, Professor of Marketing and International Business, Charlton College of Business, UMass Dartmouth Faculty Representative, Sharon Cantor, Associate Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, UMass Medical School Faculty Representative, Sarah Freudson, UMass Amherst Student Representative, Nolan O’Brien, UMass Boston Student Representative
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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.