University of Texas at Austin
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 4.00 |
Jim
Walker Director of Sustainability, Financial, and Administrative Services University Operations |
Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives
Academics
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The UT Austin 2016 Sustainability Master Plan states objectives to:
• Increase the number of courses with sustainability content
• Increase number of major and minor degrees focused on sustainability
The Sustainability Course Development Awards, funded by the Mitchell Foundation and Lemelson Foundation, have supported faculty from across campus to create a wide variety of courses that teach students about sustainability.
Several new degrees have been approved and opened to enrollment in the last 2 years.
Engagement
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The UT Austin 2016 Sustainability Master Plan states objectives to increase co-curricular experiences across a wide array of campus units:
• Integrate sustainability into the first-year experience by creating a sustainability focused living learning community within the division of University Housing and Dining
• Support inclusion of sustainability topics in first-year interest groups (FIGs)
• Introduce all first-year students to sustainability during student orientation
• Evaluate contribution of sustainability programs to student experience and student success
• Increase the number of green jobs on campus
• Continue student-run campus gardens as a co-curricular opportunity
• Establish food pantry to support off-campus students experiencing food insecurity
The graduate experience is distinctly different from the undergraduate experience. They expect to focus intently on their studies with less exploration of co-curricular activities, but for many, that does not diminish their interest in cross-disciplinary work. The UT Austin 2016 Sustainability Master Plan addresses increasing support for graduate students pursuing interdisciplinary collaboration around sustainability.
Operations
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The UT Austin 2012 Campus Master Plan and the 2016 Sustainability Master Plan focus on the quality and contribution of the physical campus environment to the operational and educational mission of the university.
• Continue investment in high performance buildings
• Integrate LEED v4 and SITES prerequisites into campus standards
• Adopt LEED v4 Silver as new campus standard
• Develop green custodial procedures
•Expand lab equipment efficiency program
Both of these plans also reference the 2011 Natural Resources Conservation Plan which states:
Reliable and Efficient Energy System
Utilities will maintain utility system performance at, or above, its current level of reliability and annual average plant efficiency of about 88%, average electrical generation performance of about 8,500 BTU/kWh, and chilling station performance at approximately 0.70 kW/Ton.
Demand Side Energy Efficiency
Reduce energy consumption at the building level by 20% by the year 2020 using 2009 as the base year. This goal was achieved in FY2018 and restated to reduce energy consumption at the building level by 2% per year, including campus growth.
Food and Health
Food is an integral part of sustainability and health. Food fuels our bodies to learn, work, and play. The quality of our food is determined in part by how it was grown and how far it traveled to get to us. Making nutritious food more attractive to the community by highlighting its freshness encourages its consumption. In turn, the food we eat can impact our health and performance. By promoting local and healthy foods across campus, we support environmentally friendly practices and strive to improve the health of our students, faculty, and staff.
• Increase availability of local food choices at campus food service locations
• Expand access on campus to sustainably grown campus produce (e.g. Farm Stand)
• Increase the number and variety of healthy and plant-based food offerings provided at campus food service locations
• Establish food pantry to support off-campus students experiencing food insecurity
The spring 2014 UT Austin Landscape Master Plan focuses primarily on the quality and function of the physical campus environment. The continued health and ecological function of our landscape reflects our commitment to operational excellence.
• Adopt new stormwater management standards to reduce erosion, improve water quality, and reduce the rate of runoff
• Adopt new standards based on Landscape Master Plan and SITES prerequisites for capital and major renovation projects
• Restore Waller Creek as a natural environment and campus amenity
Administration
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
Reporting for this section of this credit reflects the current state of activities as of summer 2024. See note in PRE-1 regarding impact of Texas Senate Bill 17 on our STARS submittal.
Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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?:
Optional Fields
Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Sustainability refers to societal efforts that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability presumes that the planet’s resources are finite, and should be used conservatively, wisely, and equitably. Decisions and investments aimed to promote sustainability will simultaneously advance economic vitality, ecological integrity, and social welfare.
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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 | No |
| SDG Accord | No |
| 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) | No |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
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:
The university’s highest guiding priorities are stated in the UT Austin Strategic Plan, Change Starts Here, released May 3, 2022.
One of the major priorities is to pursue research and educational opportunities that “Tackle society’s biggest challenges in key areas of interdisciplinary strength, including Energy & Environment, Health & Well-Being, and Technology & Society.” The Energy & Environment theme expressly includes climate change and campus emissions.
The Strategic Plan also includes a commitment to “provide solutions for a changing state. Planet Texas 2050 examines the problems of rapid population growth and accelerates solutions to provide clean water, reliable electricity, and a sound infrastructure.” Within this same principle is a commitment to “provide young Texans — no matter their circumstance — an education on par with the greatest universities in the world. This university plays a key role in the upward mobility of Texas families.”
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.