| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.84 |
| Liaison | Troy Goodnough |
| Submission Date | June 2, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Minnesota, Morris
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Troy
Goodnough Sustainability Director Office of Sustainability |
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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 | No |
| Research (or other scholarship) | --- | --- |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | --- | --- |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | Yes |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | Yes | Yes |
| Investment | --- | --- |
| Other | --- | --- |
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
The Morris strategic plan identifies a goal of integrating sustainability across the curriculum. Morris has designated course development grants specifically for advancing sustainability in the curriculum.
Date Revised: Aug. 13, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
As mentioned in a previous section, grant awards up to $3,000 have been designated for course development in this area. Our goals is to have at least 5 grants in this area between 2015 and 2016.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Dean’s Office, Sustainability Leaders for the Future Program
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
The Morris strategic plan identifies campus engagement around sustainability as a key initiative. The Morris campus supports several offices that advance these initiatives on-campus, including an Office of Sustainability. We have launched a new program for this purpose. A description of some of these efforts can be found here:
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=12946
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13128
Date Revised: Aug. 13, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
One goal includes instituting a sustainability literacy assessment in 2015.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Dean, Grants Development, Office of Sustainability
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The Morris strategic plan articulates public/civic engagement as a key initiative.The Morris campus funds three outreach arms: the Center for Small Towns, Office of Sustainability, and Office of Community Engagement -- they work together to advance our public engagement goals around sustainability. This work is embedded in the mission/vision plans and work of each of these outreach arms. In 2015, Morris earned Carnegie classification as a Community Engagement School, including for campus sustainability efforts around water, food, and climate.
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13165
Date Revised: Aug. 13, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
For example: Integrate sustainability-themes into Soup and Substance conversations each year. Further develop the community-climate education project. Hold at least 3 community meetings that intersect with climate, renewable energy, and economic development each year. In 2015, Morris earned statewide recognition from Environmental Initiative for our community-climate education work:
http://www.environmental-initiative.org/our-work/environmentalinitiative-awards/2015-awards-finalists/morris-engaged-planning-and-action-for-climate-resilience
Date Revised: Aug. 13, 2015
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Office of Sustainability, Center for Small Towns, Office of Community Engagement
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
Morris has a climate recommendation embedded in its master plan. This includes developing a carbon master plan. A proprietary carbon master plan, in the form of an interactive spreadsheet, was developed with an external partner for Morris and has helped guide our clean energy development. We have presented at several conferences about the Morris Carbon Master Plan.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
See our ACUPCC commitment goals.
http://rs.acupcc.org/progress/1061/
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, and Sustainability Director
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Morris has building recommendations and energy conservation embedded in its master plan. This plan incorporates USGBC LEED into our planning. Additionally, University of Minnesota building must be built in compliance with the State of Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines - Buildings, Benchmarks and Beyond, known as B3.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
New buildings will comply with B3 and have LEED ratings. The last two buildings built or significantly renovated at Morris have achieved LEED Gold certification.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Vice-Chancellor of Student Life
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
A description of our food action plan can be found here, including our community action plan, logic model, healthy eating target and community food assessment.
http://www.morris.umn.edu/healthyeating/actionplan/
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Morris has a goal, in partnership with Sodexo, to have all sustainable seafood by 2015, 20% sustainable food by 2020. The Morris master plan has a number of recommendations around developing a system to better understand the carbon footprint of our campus food system, incorporating more seasonal menus, and more.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Morris Healthy Eating, Facilities Management, Office of Sustainability
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
The Morris master plan and strategic plans describe our campus energy goals by using renewable energy sources. Our campus goal is carbon neutrality. Information about our energy and climate goals are also in our ACUPCC report.
http://rs.acupcc.org/progress/1061/
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
For example: our goal is to obtain a 70% reduction (in Scope I, II, III) in our greenhouse gas emissions by 2015. Our goal is to obtain 60% of our electricity from wind. Our goal is to offset 70% of our traditional fossil fuel usage by biomass.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Facilities Management, Office of Sustainability
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
The Morris grounds crew has a landscaping/integrated pest management (IPM) plan which informs their work. They earned Tree Campus USA recognition for their efforts in 2015. Currently, the grounds crew has worked on several key areas in the past 5 years: increasing the diversity and resilience of the Morris campus tree canopy, improving the signage of native plantings on campus, increasing rain garden installations on campus, improving the campus compost program, and supporting edible landscapes.
http://arborday.org/programs/treecampususa/letters/?tcusa=616&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Tree+Campus+USA+Press+Release+Letter&utm_content=Tree+Campus+USA+Press+Release+Letter+CID_363601f8d62444b17ffaaab97e05d712&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Please%20visit%20this%20link%20to%20view%20it
Date Revised: Aug. 13, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Examples of grounds crew planning efforts: Improve the composting process by incorporating the use of a compost sifter. Continue to improve the campus tree canopy, by planting more diverse and climate-tolerant trees. Continue preparations for possible emerald ash borer invasion by managing the campus ash tree population.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Facilities Management, Grounds Crew, Office of Sustainability
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The Morris master plan articulates several goals related to the campus fleet vehicles and improving campus transportation options for students.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
For example: Conversion of vehicle fleet to alternative-fuel/hybrid vehicles to increase the fuel economy of the fleet. Convert existing parking to green spaces. Coordinate travel for students between Morris and common travel locations, like the Twin Cities, providing preferential parking locations for low-emission vehicles and more.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Facilities Management, Office of Sustainability
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
Morris has a goal of becoming a zero waste campus. This aspiration is described in the Morris master plan.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
To measure an increase in waste diversion towards our composting system each year. To measure a reduction in our non-recyclable/compostable waste hauled each year.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Facilities Management, Office of Sustainability
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The Morris master plan describes several goals related to Morris water management, especially pertaining to stormwater planning on campus.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Examples include: restoration of a wetland near campus, creating some wetland/drainage areas on-campus, analyzing volumes of campus water discharged to the Pomme de Terre River, improving the sump pump system at the biomass gasifier plant, and more.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Facilities, Grounds Crew, Facilities Management, Office of Sustainability
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
The Morris strategic plan identifies goals to increase U.S. students-of-color. In 2015, we exceeded our goal and attracted 26% U.S. students-of-color. Morris has the most diverse campus in the University of Minnesota system. Morris also is unique in its commitment to serving Native American students. Our campus is working hard to increase both diversity on-campus and ensure affordable tuition. Our plan is to continue to attract a diverse student body, provide our students with support structures and co-curricular experiences that help them stay in college, and keep tuition affordable by working in partnership with the U of M system and Minnesota legislature. The Office of Equity and Diversity has specific goals to maintain and student-of-color populations on-campus.You can see evidence of these efforts in some of the links below, where we have been recognized for our efforts in both of these area.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/220426641.html
http://www.morris.umn.edu/urelations/weeklybulletin/archive/index.php?itemID=12672#Story4
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13057
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13151
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13126
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13121
http://www.morris.umn.edu/equitydiversity/ourstory/officepriorities/
Date Revised: Aug. 13, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
An example from our strategic plan: increase U.S. students-of-color to 25% of total enrollment by 2016.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Admissions Office, Multi-Ethnic Student Program
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
Morris has a robust health and wellness program. The Morris strategic plan identifies specific health/wellbeing objectives. Additionally, Morris has several integrated programs that work together within their own mission/vision documents and office-specific plans to advance health/wellbeing objectives, including: Health Services, Campus Police, Morris Healthy Eating, the Regional Fitness Center and Wellness Center (which includes Student Health and Violence Prevention programs).
For example: here is the link to the 5P Community Action plan articulated by Morris Healthy Eating:
http://www.morris.umn.edu/healthyeating/actionplan/
http://www.morris.umn.edu/wellness/
Date Revised: Aug. 13, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
An example from the Morris strategic plan: modernize the Food Service Building to improve preparation and serving facilities to offer a greater variety of fresh, healthy, locally-provided food of improved quality that is attractive to a more diverse student body.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Morris Healthy Eating, Wellness Center, Campus Police, Health Services, Regional Fitness Center, Human Resources, Mental Health, Violence Prevention and Response
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
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A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.