University of Oregon
IN-49: Innovation C
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Sarah
Stoeckl Assistant Director Office of Sustainability |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
GEO, Office of Energy and Sustainability, and the Student Sustainability are collaborating on a project to make the study abroad experience more environmentally sustainable with an “Environmental Cost” option added to all study abroad applications. Students are given the choice to pay an amount of their choosing (with recommendations provided based on travel destination) to purchase carbon offsets directly, make a donation to a local organization focused on climate change, volunteer with one of the Student Sustainability Center's many quarterly opportunities, or not participate. The suggested offset/donation amount was calculated by the Office of Energy and Sustainability and was estimated by determining the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere by air travel from Eugene to the study abroad destination and then deciding on a reasonable amount to mitigate some or all of those emissions. Air travel is a significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, the primary contributor to global warming. This program represents a robust collaboration that empowers and educates students, while addressing one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.