Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 76.71
Liaison Gioia Thompson
Submission Date Feb. 6, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Vermont
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 4.00 Gioia Thompson
Sustainability Strategist
UVM Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Measurable sustainability objectives 

Academics

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
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Engagement 

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
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Operations

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
The 2021-2030 Facilities Sustainability Plan includes hundreds of actions related to STARS topics, with some explicitly aiming for 100% completion by 2030:
-All buildings connected to central Building Automation Monitoring controls systems
-Eliminate floor finishes that require toxic maintenance protocols.
-Transition to an alternatively fueled fleet (primarily by electrification)
See
https://www.uvm.edu/facilities/facilities-sustainability-plan-2021-2030

Administration

Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
DEI:
"Inclusive Excellence at UVM: A Framework for Building a More Diverse, Inclusive, and Multiculturally Competent Campus (2016-2021)" is at https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Advancing-Diversity-and-Inclusion-at-UVM/Inclusive_Excellence_at_UVM.pdf
The plan includes the requirement that each College, Support Center, and
specific Departments --like Athletics and Enterprise Technology Services--develop and update their own diversity and inclusion plans, which can be found here: https://www.uvm.edu/advancingdiversity/diversity-action-plans

DIVESTING :
The Board of Trustees decided in 2014 to divest from fossil fuels: "As of July 14, 2020, the University will immediately end new direct investment in fossil fuels, will fully divest from public investments in fossil fuels by July 2023 and will allow pre-existing multi-year private investments, which it stopped acquiring in 2017, to lapse without renewal." https://www.uvm.edu/sriac/past_actions

Part 2. Sustainability in institution’s highest guiding document

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
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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?:
Major theme

Optional Fields

The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
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Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
No

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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The institution’s definition of sustainability:
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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 Yes
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:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The Catamount Core Curriculum as managed by Faculty Senate has a goal of 100% of undergraduate students take DEI and sustainability courses-- goal that has now been implemented. https://www.uvm.edu/faculty_senate/catamount-core-curriculum-committee

In 2022 UVM achieved a goal that 100% of first year students be part of a learning community, as a way to promote health and wellbeing https://www.uvm.edu/studentaffairs/planning_assessment
About 40% of residential students are part of the sustainability and wellness communities.

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.