Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 56.35
Liaison Amy Kadrie
Submission Date Dec. 15, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Rochester
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 4.00 Karen Berger
Ph.D.
Earth and Environmental Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives 

Academics

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
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Engagement 

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
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Operations

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Annual energy savings are measured and reported: electricity (kwh), chilled water (ton-days), natural gas (therms). All utilities are measured and reported monthly as well.

Administration

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The University of Rochester's value statement is in the form of an acronym: MELIORA. The University strives to hold itself accountable to these values in the design of its programs, the development and delivery of its services, the evaluation of performance, and the ways in which is interact as a community. The statement is as follows:

Meliora: we strive to be ever better, for everyone.
Equity: we commit to diversity, inclusion, and access.
Leadership: we take initiative and share responsibility for exemplifying excellence.
Integrity: we conduct ourselves with honesty, dedication, and fairness.
Openness: we embrace freedom of ideas, inquiry, and expression.
Respect: we value our differences, our environment, and our individual and collective contributions.
Accountability: we are responsible for making our community ever better, through our actions, our words, and our dealings with others.

Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
Minor theme

Optional Fields

The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
No

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
The University recognizes and accepts the following definition that comes from the The Brundtland Report, (United Nations) 1987 - “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter No
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) No
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter No
Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability ---
SDG Accord ---
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment No
The Talloires Declaration (TD) No
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
In support of sustainable investing, the University of Rochester joined Climate Action 100+. This coalition of investment firms, pension funds, and institutional investors pushes the corporations that are the world’s largest greenhouse-gas emitters to agree to plans that will lower these emissions, be transparent about their operations, and take necessary action on climate change.

The University Ethical Investment Advisory Committee (EIAC) has als oput forth two resolutions about fossil fuels, coal/tar sands, and Climate 100+ (attached).

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.