| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.12 |
| Liaison | Maria Dahmus |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
University of St. Thomas
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Amir
Nadav Assistant Director of Campus Sustainability Office of Sustainability Initiatives |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
The University of St. Thomas received a LEED Platinum certification in December of 2020 for its new residence Hall, Tommie East. The building is the first in the Midwest to certify platinum under the rigorous LEED v4 new construction rating system for midrise residential buildings. Tommie East is a five-story, 139,300-square–foot residence hall, which can house up to 260 students. Some of the sustainable features of the building include:
- Energy efficiency above industry standards
- Electric vehicle charging stations
- Collection of compostable waste
- High-efficiency appliances and low-flow water fixtures
- An underground rainwater infiltration system
- Over 8,000 square feet of vegetated roof area
- Carpet made from recycled content
- Indoor, secure bicycle parking
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
In the summer of 2019, the University of St. Thomas adopted its first Sustainability Strategic Plan. The plan is the result of 18 months of assessment, community engagement and work group discussions to identify goals and concrete action steps the University can pursue to advance its commitment to sustainability.
The five-year plan centers on a vision of catalyzing university-wide engagement to create a culture that prepares students to be sustainability leaders during their university years and beyond. The plan features two main goals: achieving an AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) Gold rating by 2025 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. The plan further identifies opportunities to advance sustainability on campus in the areas of academics, student engagement, employee engagement, dining services, facilities management, investment, procurement, transportation and mission.
Sustainability Strategic Plan:
https://www.stthomas.edu/media/officeofsustainability/documents/SustainabilityStrategicPlan2019Final.pdf
Year-One (2019-2020) Progress Report:
https://stthomas.edu/media/officeofsustainability/documents/Sustainability-Progress-Report.pdf
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
In late 2018, the University approved a new undergraduate core curriculum, which requires all incoming students to complete a one-credit First-Year Experience course and to participate in a learning community. Students could opt into the new curriculum in the spring of 2020, and the new requirements applied to all incoming students in the fall of 2020. The new curriculum significantly expands the sustainability education opportunities available to incoming students.
Foundations for College Success is a one-credit required seminar course that educates incoming students about university academic and social expectations, values, and resources. The course is comprised of 14 learning modules, including one module on sustainability. The sustainability module learning objectives aim to equip students with the ability to:
· Define key sustainability terminology and concepts
· Identify key elements of the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan
· Give examples of ways to engage in sustainable practices on campus
· Identify their core values that intersect with the principles of sustainability
· Practice sustainability through participation in sustainable actions on campus
To fulfill the first-year learning community requirement, students must either participate in a Theme-Based Learning Community (TBLC) or a Living Learning Community (LLC). Sustainability options are available to fulfill the learning community requirement. LLCs are specialized living environments that connect students with similar academic interests in and out of the classroom. Students participating in an LLC take one course together in the fall of their first year and live in the same community. Those same students participate in out-of-class learning activities with their LLC cohort. TBLCs provide students with an experience centered on a mission-based theme. Students take two theme-based courses from different academic areas in the fall of their first year and will be required to participate in out-of-class activities related to the theme throughout the term. Students may select from a variety of LLCs and TBLCs on different topics to complete the learning community requirement. Among the options available are a Sustainability LLC and a TBLC on Environmental Sustainability and the Common Good.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Campus Engagement
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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.