| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.65 |
| Liaison | Kelly Nowicki |
| Submission Date | May 20, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.33 / 4.00 |
Rob
Tyser Professor Biology |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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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 | No | No |
| Research (or other scholarship) | No | No |
| Campus Engagement | No | No |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | No | No |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | Yes |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | Yes | Yes |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | --- | --- |
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
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None
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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None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
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None
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:
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None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
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None
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:
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None
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:
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
UW-La Crosse is subject to the "Sustainable Facilities Standards" maintained by the State of Wisconsin Dept. of State Facilities. To fulfill this requirement, all new campus buildings will be subject to LEED building certification.
Date Revised: June 5, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
The two most recent new campus buildings (Centennial Hall and Eagle Residence Hall), completed in 2011, were awarded LEED Gold certification. The next new building (the new student center) is under construction and will also undergo LEED certification.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Facilities Planning and Management
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
The new UW-La Crosse food services RFP contract includes a "Sustainability" section that specifies criteria that food contractor must address. These criteria include purchasing local products, use of low emission dining vehicles, creating a certified green restaurant in our new student center, offering a trayless dining program, following various waste-management policies (compatibility with vermi-composting, use of compostable paper products, use of reusable/recyclable packaging materials).
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
The contract includes measurable objectives for our new food contractor including that a minimum of 20% of food purchases be made from local and regional producers. Also, the food contractor will be reviewed annually for effectiveness and alignment to university sustainability initiatives. Following annual reviews, appropriate adjustments/amendments will be made to the food contract.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Office of University Centers
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
Sustainability in energy usage is subject to a policy of ongoing, continuous improvement. These include numerous updates in campus infrastructure, including installation of new steam traps, Concrete improvements have occurred in campus infrastructure, including installation of high-speed hand dryers in the Rec Center, lighting upgrades in buildings across campus (Cartwright Center, Whitney Center, Eagle Rec Center, resident halls, etc.), low-flow shower heads that reduce use of hot water, etc.
Facilities and Management just signed a contract with Energy Watchdog, which is a utility tracking and reporting system to track energy use by campus facilities.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
As a state facilities, UW-L operate under Wisconsin Statute 16.75(12)(b)(1), which requires that that all state facilities purchase at least 10% renewable electric energy by December 31, 2007 and at least 20% by December 31, 2011. According to documentation submitted to the Public Service Commission in 2014, UW-L electricity provider (Xcel Energy) "provided 19.2 percent of its three-year average retail energy sales from renewable-based energy sources."
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Facilities Planning and Management
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
Because of the potentially harmful effects of insecticides and pesticides, UW-L policy is that non-chemical methods are the first option considered by Landscaping Services. In addition, Landscaping Services as adopted an integrated pest management philosophy to manage campus grounds. To ensure that pesticides are applied properly, Landscape Services requires that all persons applying pesticides must be formally certified as pesticide applicators.
Date Revised: June 5, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Measurable objectives include:
Only native plants or cultivars of native plants are used.
Use of cold-hardy and drought-tolerant plant species.
Plant selection encourages a diverse selection of plant species.
Formal certification is required for individuals applying pesticides.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
Facilities Planning and Management
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
UW-L follows a Green Cleaning Program for its purchase of cleaning solutions and equipment: http://www.uwlax.edu/FPM/Sustainability/initiatives/green_cleaning.htm
A "UW-L Sustainability Store" strategy encourages recycling of office equipment, thereby reducing unneeded purchases.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Green Cleaning objectives: A minimum of sixty (60) percent, by purchase cost, of cleaning products shall meet one of the applicable compliance criteria. UW-L will retain purchasing records that identify cleaning products and cost and will regularly use this data to verify compliance with cleaning product purchasing requirements.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
Facilities Planning and Management
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
Our sustainability in transportation plan includes three elements:
(1) Bus passes: All students receive a bus pass ("U-Pass") for unlimited ridership on our municipal bus system. UW-La Crosse offers faculty and staff the option of using a pre-tax payroll deduction to purchase an annual bus pass.
(2) Green bike program: Students can rent a bike for $15 to rent a green bike. Payment of a refundable $25 or $50 deposit (depending on the quality of the bike) is also required. Refunds will be given when the bike is returned.
(3) Car share program: UW-L students age 18 and older, as well as faculty and staff, are eligible for membership in Enterprise CarShare, which offers 24/7 access to hourly, daily and overnight rentals. Members reserve a vehicle online, then access the vehicle using a membership card and return it to the same location. Fuel, basic physical damage and state-required liability protection are included in the standard rate plan.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Our municipal bus transit system tracks use of U-Passes by students. Participation in our car share program is also being tracked and will be evaluated for effectiveness. Strategies for encouraging use include featuring these options on various UW-L web sites and publicizing in campus newsletters.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
City of La Crosse Municipal Transit Authority, Outdoor Connection (Re Sports), and Transportation and Parking Services
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
UW-L’s waste management plan is to engage faculty and staff in recycling practices by signage and publicizing campus initiatives, including free recycling of batteries and electronics. Our new waste management initiative is to simplify recycling practices required by faculty and students, thus increasing our overall recycling rates. To accomplish this, UW-L has now converted to single stream recycling effective January 20, 2015. Single-stream recycling allows users to conveniently place all of their recyclable items such as newspaper, cardboard, mixed paper, magazines, glass, metal, and plastics 1-7 in one recycling bin. Because recycled items can be more easily deposed, we expect that the quantity of recycled waste will increase.
To better encourage recycling practices, UW-L has participated in Recyclemania since 2009.
Date Revised: June 5, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
UW-L has established an "R-5 Program": reduce, reuse, recycle, re-buy, and rethink. The quantity of waste (both recycled and non-recycled) generated is continually monitored and publicized: http://www.uwlax.edu/FPM/Sustainability/initiatives/recycling.htm
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Facilities Planning and Management
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
UW-L has a rainwater management plan. The goals of this plan are to provide a guide to meet storm water regulations for the UW-L campus in the present and future. The regulations that are of concern for the UW-L are WI Department of Natural Resources (NR) 116, NR 151, and NR 216.
NR 116 governs future development in floodplain areas.
NR 151 governs storm water requirements for future building projects including reconstruction projects and new development.
Plans include installation of additional bioinfiltration basins and catch basins during construction and remodeling of campus facilities. Projects may also include installation of drainages swales with native vegetation to route drainage instead of having direct connections to storm sewer from impervious surfaces.
The most cost effective best management practices (BMP’s) at UW-L include biofilters/ bioretention devices, rain gardens, drainage swales and catch basins to treat water instead of ponds, porous pavements, and proprietary devices. UW-L achieved the 20 percent TSS removal requirement in 2011. UW-L continues to integrate storm water BMP’s into all parking lot updates, building remodel projects and new construction.
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-L) is committed to reducing the amount of total suspended solids (TSS) coming off of campus 20 percent by 2013 (using 2004 baseline data). This target is based on state rules; UW campuses are treated as permitted municipalities under state storm water regulations. In January of 2007, UW-L submitted an application to receive a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit that governs the discharge of storm water from campus into the local storm water sewer system. The need for this permit developed in response to several Federal and State regulations pertaining to protection of clean water, including the Federal Clean Water Act 1972 and Wisconsin DNR Regulations NR 151, NR 216, and NR 116.
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Facilities Planning and Management
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A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
We have several strategies in place to increase diversity and affordability. Strategies we have implemented include establishing key structures and processes as outlined below:
Structures established to support diversity include:
• Positions (e.g., Associate Dean and Assistant Director for Campus Climate and Diversity),
• Several offices, committees and councils (Research & Resource Center for Campus Climate, Joint Minority Affairs Committee, Campus Climate Council, Diversity Organizations Coalition, Pride Center and Rainbow Unity)
Processes to support campus diversity incude:
• Cultural competency trainings
• Diversity Dialoge Series
• Awareness Through Performance
• Campus Climate Survey
Structures to support affordability include:
• UW-L Financial Aid Office
• UW-L Foundation
Processes to support affordability include:
• 2013-2020 UW-L “Share the La Crosse Experience” $15 million scholarship campaign. This is focused around providing three categories of scholarships: need-based, merit-Based, and criterion-restricted scholarships
• Multicultural Scholarship programs
• LGBTIQQAAP scholarships
• "It Make$ Cents!" program for UW-L Students
• UW-L Financial Aid Newsletter for students and parents
Date Revised: June 5, 2015
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Measurable outcomes of diversity plans:
• 2014 Inclusive Excellence Status Report (goals, strategies, results/impacts)
• Documenting timeline of UW-L's benchmarks
• 2014 Affirmative Action Program summary that compares current UW-L employees with the general availability of women and minorities in the US.
Measurable outcomes of affordability plans:
• Tracking status of the "Share the La Crosse Experience" Scholarship campaign ($15 million goal)
• 2014, 2015 Kiplinger's list of 100 "Best Values in Public Colleges
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Office of Campus Climate & Diversity
UW-La Crosse Foundation & Office For University Advanncement
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
UW-L's CARE (Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation) Team responds to students and staff concerns regarding physical and health concerns.
UW-L has established the Wellness Resource Center (WRC) provide students, staff and faculty with health education, health promotion programming, alcohol and other drug education. To accomplish the mission, WRC includes wellness programming and a variety of additional resources, including alcohol awareness resources, for students, faculty, and staff.
Important health indicators are tracked, including:
Number of students in attendance of residence hall programs
Number of student lives touched by campus-wide programming per year
Number of alcohol-related incidences
Number of alcohol and other drug related conduct incidences
"Universal prevention” material results (Think About It Module)
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The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Significant identified program target end points include:
• Reduced new cases of STI/STDs on UWL campus, as measured at the Student Health Center
• Increased participation for alcohol-alternative events as measured by participation
• Increased attendance at campus-wide community health events
• Reduced rates of smoking on campus; moving towards a tobacco-free campus
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Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Wellness Resource Center
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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:
See our Mission and Vision statements:
http://www.uwlax.edu/Sustainability/Mission-and-vision/
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Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
No
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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:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.