| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.82 |
| Liaison | Amy Kadrie |
| Submission Date | Jan. 21, 2025 |
University of Rochester
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Amy
Kadrie Recycling Coordinator Facilities |
1.1 Coordinating committee, officer, or office for sustainability
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s sustainability committees:
The Sustainability Office is the central hub for coordinating and advising on institution-wide sustainability efforts and initiatives. We collaborate with units, schools, and offices across all of the University’s campuses, as well as with community partners and organizations. Housed in University Facilities and Services, the office plans, implements, and communicates sustainability initiatives to reduce resource consumption and the University’s overall carbon footprint. See https://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/about/.
Does the institution have one or more sustainability officers?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s sustainability officers:
The Sustainability Senior Manager oversees the University’s sustainability programs to include strategies and initiatives to help lead the University to a more sustainable future. Manages the Sustainability office and team; supports the coordination of the sustainability efforts of staff, faculty, and students. Manages, plans, schedules, and track projects. Housed within University Facilities & Services, the team works closely with various areas of Facilities (to include Transportation & Parking, Utilities & Energy Management, Planning & Project Management, and Support Operations) as well as with other departments and areas such as Academics and Auxiliary Operations (Dining Services).
Does the institution have a sustainability office that includes more than one full-time equivalent employee?:
Description of each sustainability office:
The Waste Minimization Specialist manages, tracks, and evaluates the University’s recycling, compost, reuse and waste minimization programs. Initiates best practices for resource conservation, recycling, solid waste management processes, and related sustainability programs; incorporates best practices within service contract specifications as appropriate. Manages participation in zero waste related competitions and organizes and/or participates in sustainability related events and conferences on campus (i.e. recycling collection events, Earth Day, America Recycles Day, and various tabling opportunities for program promotion).
The Sustainability Programs Specialist works to increase education and engagement in all areas of sustainability among all members of the University community, including students, faculty, and staff. Manages the Green Reps employee engagement program alongside a working group and provides training and educational sessions to various academic and supportive departments, employee teams and groups, various student organizations, and academic courses. Works alongside the Administration and Finance Director of Communications to develop promotional and educational marketing material such as websites, social media, signs, flyers, handouts, brochures, and labels. Organizes and/or participates in sustainability related events and conferences on campus (e.g. Earth Day, Campus Sustainability Day, and various tabling opportunities for program promotion).
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability offices:
Is at least one of the institution’s sustainability committees, officers, or offices charged with coordinating various campus constituencies in the advancement of sustainability across the entire institution?:
Narrative outlining the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
In 2022, the Sustainability Coordinator worked with over 70 stakeholders University-wide and a consultant to create a draft Sustainability Plan. As part of this plan was to create a new central sustainability office housed within Facilities and Services, the Sustainability Coordinator was promoted to the new position of Sustainability Senior Manager in January of 2023. The Sustainability Senior Manager was charged with created a plan for a new central Sustainability Office and thus created the two positions described above of Waste Minimization Specialist and Sustainability Programs Specialist. Since this time, a new webpage has been created to better reflect the sustainability programs at the University, a new communications plan was developed, a project to improve idnetify recycling improvements at the Medical Center was formulated, and a RFP for a new waste hauler that would meet our needs for waste reduction was issued (see points of distinction in PRE).
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
Job descriptions
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (1st position):
Text of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (2nd position):
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (2nd position):
Text of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (3rd position):
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (3rd position):
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.