Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.23
Liaison Jim Walker
Submission Date June 14, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Texas at Austin
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Jim Walker
Director of Sustainability, Financial, and Administrative Services
University Operations
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Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
Yes

The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:

The University of Texas at Austin President's Sustainability Steering Committee, was initially chartered and appointed by the President of the University in 2007. The charge of the PSSC is to develop recommendations on policy and operations to reflect the University’s commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the environment, and to serve as the principal channel of communication between the campus community and the University administration on setting priorities for sustainability related activities.

https://sustainability.utexas.edu/leadership/pssc

The Green Fee Committee is a nine-member committee of six students and three non-students that governs the distribution of approximately $460,000 per year of tuition fee funds for environmental services on campus. The Office of Sustainability serves as ex oficio for the Committee and facilitates funded projects, but all funding decisions are made by these nine members.

https://sustainability.utexas.edu/getinvolved/greenfee

The Sustainability Staff Roundtable is a less formal group that meets monthly and consists of front-line staff responsible for initiatives with direct impact on the wellbeing and health of the physical campus, including students and employees.


Members of each committee, including affiliations and role (e.g. staff, student, or faculty):

Five members of General Faculty
• Sharon Wood, Dean – Chair (engineering) Sept. 1, 2017-August 31, 2018
• Jay Hartzell, Dean – Vice-chair (Chair-elect) (business) Sept. 1, 2017-August 31, 2019
• Jay Banner, faculty (GeoSciences) (continuing) Sept. 1, 2017-August 31, 2018
• Heather Houser (Liberal Arts) (continuing) Sept. 1, 2017-August 31, 2018
• Shalene Jha, faculty (Natural Sciences) (new) Sept. 1, 2017-August 31, 2019

Three Staff members
• Chris Plonsky, staff (from Athletics Director)
• John Salsman, staff (from Associate VP for Campus Safety and Security)
• Dean Hansen, staff (from Associate VP for Utilities, Energy and Facilities Maintenance)

Students
•Valerie Vines, undergraduate student (SG appointment), Sept. 1, 2017-August 31, 2018
•TBD, graduate/post graduate (GSA appointment), Sept. 1, 2017-August 31, 2018

Ex-officio
• Jim Walker, Director of Sustainability

Green Fee Committee, 2018

Katie Aplis – undergraduate (at-large member)
Susan Ward – undergraduate (at-large member)
Hailey Thompson – undergraduate (SG appointment)
Jake Greenfield – graduate student (at-large member)
Laura Sigelman – graduate student (at-large member)
Angelica Ferandino – graduate student (GSA member)
John Salsman, Director of Environmental Health and Safety – CFO appointment
Jennifer Speer, Director of Communications, Assessment and Development – VP of Student Affairs appointment
Dr. Jayme Walenta, Lecturer, College of Liberal Arts – Provost appointment

Sustainability Staff Roundtable, Spring 2018

Ana Thiemer
Blanca Gamez
Brianna Duran
Claire Moore
Carin Peterson
Craig Gilden
Dixon Hankins
Elizabeth Cobbe
EJ Patterson
Grace Hsieh
Jen Hrobar
Jennifer Hobson
Jeremy Hernandez
Jill Parrish
Jim Carse
Jim Walker
Kristin Phillips
Lauren Lichterman
Laurie Lentz
Laramie Gordon
Lindsey Hutchison
Markus Hogue
Matt Stevens
Meaghan Cuddy
Meaghan Jones
Merrick MyCue
Neil Kaufman
Nick Parras
Patrick Mazur
Robert Moddrell
Sarah McKay
Stephanie Perrone
T Hilterbran
Tejas Pevekar
Tejashri Kyle
Teresa Rodriguez


Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) employee?:
Yes

A brief description of each sustainability office:

The Office of Sustainability was created in 2010 and collaborates across the university to advance ideas and programs that transform the physical, social and educational environments of campus for the enduring benefit of society and the planet.

The Office staff collaborate year round on producing various events with both academic and operational departments, auxiliary units and student groups. Office staff have also worked within policy and procedural initiatives to promote sustainability outcomes; for example, green purchasing guidelines, green building design and construction, building efficiency and operations, and course and degree development.


Full-time equivalent (FTE) of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
4

Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Yes

Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Jim Walker, Director of Sustainability, Financial and Administrative Services, Brianna Duran, Program Coordinator, Campus Environmental Center, Jill Parrish, Program Coordinator, Green Fee, Kristin Phillips, Communications and Events Coordinator

Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution (e.g. a campus-wide committee or an officer/office responsible for the entire campus)?:
Yes

A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:

For the entire institution, the primary entities are the Office of Sustainability, the President's Sustainability Steering Committee, the Sustainability Staff Roundtable, and the Green Fee Committee.

These groups collaborate frequently from the policy to the front line implementation level. Their accomplishments include numerous annual series, academic and staff oriented, focused on sustainability efforts, both day to day and long term. The joint efforts of these entities has played a significant role in elevating the presence and importance of sustainability across campus.


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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.