Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.54
Liaison Jay Price
Submission Date March 2, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Tennessee at Knoxville
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.17 / 4.00 Preston Jacobsen
Sustainability Manager
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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) Yes No
Campus Engagement Yes No
Public Engagement Yes No
Air and Climate Yes Yes
Buildings Yes No
Dining Services/Food Yes No
Energy Yes Yes
Grounds Yes No
Purchasing Yes No
Transportation Yes Yes
Waste Yes No
Water Yes No
Diversity and Affordability Yes No
Health, Wellbeing and Work Yes Yes
Investment No No
Other No No

A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Climate Action Plan includes a section on Education and Outreach that commits the university to integrating climate change and sustainability into the curriculum and educational experience of all students.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):

The Climate Action Plan commits UTK to take a leadership role in mitigating human influences on climate in their day-to-day operations, curriculum and research.
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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 University of Tennessee's Environmental policy states that the faculty, staff, administration, and students will strive to increase awareness of environmental problems and will promote sound environmental practices.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:

The University of Tennessee's Environmental policy states that the university will ensure full compliance with existing environmental laws and regulations and will seek to lead the community in developing beneficial laws and regulations.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:

The University signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007 and in 2010 followed this commitment up with a formal Climate Action Plan. In this plan, UT pledges to reduce it's carbon emissions with a 5 step plan, eventually leading to climate neutrality.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):

The Climate Action Plan commits the university to reducing/offsetting Green House Gas (GHG) emissions to 20% below fiscal year 2007-08 levels by 2020-21, 40% by 2030-31, 60% by 2040-41, 80% by 2050-51 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2060-61.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):

Office of Sustainability, President's Office, Facilities Services


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:

The UT Sustainable Building Policy commits all new campus buildings and renovations to conform to LEED standards.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:

The Environmental Progress Report contains goals of integrating sustainable practices into dining locations on campus such as buying local and providing a range of alternative meal options.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):

Committee on the Campus Environment, Aramark


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:

The UT Climate Action Plan includes several plans to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency in on campus buildings.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):

The objectives of the Climate Action Plan include replacing transformers in 4 campus buildings to reduce total campus electricity use by 248,219 kWh per year, upgrade lighting in multiple buildings to save 11,999,908 kWh per year, and to design new buildings to use 20% less electricity per SF than existing buildings, among other plans.


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):

This plan holds the Office of Sustainability accountable for overseeing energy and climate-neutrality operations.


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:

The Campus Landscape Vision and Site Standards lays out the goals for grounds development at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. One of the five main principles of the plan is sustainability, outlining a dedication to augment the integrity and performance of the campus landscape by employing sustainable practice. Focuses in this category include implementing sustainable landscape principles and practices, supporting sustainable practices for construction and maintenance, and encouraging and supporting sustainable practices by the UTK community and showcasing sustainable elements as they are incorporated into the campus.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):

The Campus Planning and Design Committee was formed to oversee all campus projects and is in charge of review of all new construction and renovation projects to ensure the projects adhere to the Campus Landscape Vision and Site Standards.


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:

The Environmental Progress Report specifically makes goals on responsible purchasing such as creating guidelines on recycled paper.


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):

Committee on Campus Environment


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:

In the UT Master Plan one of the most significant features of the transportation component is the accommodation of bicycles. This plan outlines plans to construct bike lanes on several of the main roads through campus, as well as adding a bike path to connect to the city's green ways. The plan also calls for moving parking to the perimeter of the campus, expanding pedestrian walkways and adjusting and improving the public transit as necessary.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):

Plans for increasing bike-friendly areas on campus include:
-Provide bicycle facilities so that bicyclist can travel from Neyland Drive to the Hill via a combination of greenways, dedicated bike lanes on the Joe Johnson bridge, and bike paths on the Grand Mall.
-Provide bike lanes on Volunteer Boulevard West and Volunteer Boulevard (downsized segment).
-Provide bike lanes on Phillip Fulmer Way fromCumberland Avenue to the proposed bike path just south of Neyland Stadium
-Provide a bike path south of Neyland stadium that would link into the Neyland Drive and Second Street greenway
-Provide bike lanes on Caledonia Avenue
-Provide a bike path on Volunteer Boulevard East from Cumberland Avenue to Circle Park
-Provide a "sharrow" on Lake Loudoun Boulevard from Neyland drive to Volunteer Boulevard


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):

Parking and Transit Services


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:

The UT Master Plan includes a commitment to continue to increase recycling efforts on campus. Additionally the University of Tennessee's Knoxville Environmental Policy states the UT will strive to reduce waste and increase reuse, recycling and compost.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:

The Landscape Site Standards Plan lays out strategies to improve water use and quality around campus. Goals include minimizing pavement to increase opportunity for groundwater recharge, utilizing pervious pavements to minimize non-point source pollution to local waterways, and employing best management practices for stormwater management, including stormwater harvesting to reduce demands on water systems for irrigation.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):

Stormwater Manager


A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:

The Vol Vision, UTK's strategic plan, states that, as an institution, UTK values, "Broad diversity, including people of all races, creeds, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientations, gender identities, physical abilities, and socioeconomic groups." Additionally, it names as two of the strategic priorities of the university "Recruit, develop, and graduate a diverse body of undergraduate, graduate and professional students," and "Attract an retain stellar, diverse faculty and staff."


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:

The Human Resources Strategic Plan provides a clear picture of UT’s workforce profile and to compare the results against future needs – ultimately providing recommendations and strategies for recruitment, employee development and retention. HR’s priorities are clustered in five categories: compensation, HR technology plan and metrics, performance management and professional development, recruitment, and workforce strategic plan and work culture enhancement.


The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):

Measurable objectives listed in the HR Strategic Plan include:
-Reestablish Benefits Advisory Group
-Establish a Compensation Advisory Board
-Conduct detailed analysis of UT's compensation structure
-Conduct detailed analysis of UT's benefits
-Continue Leadership Institute
-Evaluate Concept of Women's Leadership Conference
-Develop Model for Career Development Institute
-Enhance/Improve recruitment process for staff
-Receive approval, develop RFP and select/implement applicant tracking system
-Develop RFP for employee satisfaction survey
-Implement Statewide Healthy Campus Program


Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):

Human Resources


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?:
No

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:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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