| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.91 |
| Liaison | Aldo Pierini |
| Submission Date | Nov. 25, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Villanova University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.33 / 4.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
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
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
|
| Research (or other scholarship) |
Yes
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
|
No |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | No | No |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy |
Yes
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
|
Yes
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
|
| Grounds | No | No |
| Purchasing | Yes | No |
| Transportation | Yes | No |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | No | No |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | Yes | Yes |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | No | No |
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
Villanova Center for Energy and Environmental Education under the College of Liberal Arts and Science is charged with "foster interdisciplinary education, research, and partnerships across the university that will enhance the learning opportunities of students in the broadly defined areas of environment, energy, sustainability, and climate." In an effort to increase sustainability in the curriculum the center is organizing the first sustainability faculty workshop to educate interested faculty on how to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum.
For more information on the Center visit their website https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/vce3.html
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
The Villanova Center for Energy and Environmental Education does not have a formalized goal for curriculum, though the Center will be tracking sustainable course development.
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
The College of Arts and Sciences founded and funds the Villanova Center for Energy and Environmental Education. The Center's chairs are reasonable for fulfilling the mission.
https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/vce3/About.html
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
Villanova Center for Energy and Environmental Education under the College of Liberal Arts and Science is charged with "foster interdisciplinary education, research, and partnerships across the university that will enhance the learning opportunities of students in the broadly defined areas of environment, energy, sustainability, and climate." In an effort to increase sustainability in the curriculum the center is organizing the first sustainability faculty workshop to educate interested faculty on how to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum.
The Villanova Center for Energy and Environmental Education is dedicated to "facilitating interdisciplinary teaching and research on environmental, energy, climate, and sustainability issues, integrating scientific, social, economic, and political aspects in meaningful ways."
For more information on the Center visit their website https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/vce3.html
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
The College of Arts and Science founded and funds the the Villanova Center for Energy and Environmental Education. The Center's chairs are responsible for fulfilling the mission.
For more information, visit the Center's website https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/artsci/vce3/About.html
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
Starting in the summer of 2013, Villanova developed a Sustainability Newsletter that is posted on the sustainability website, sent out in the daily email, and to the sustainability email list. The sustainability email list is a compilation of faculty, staff and students interested in learning more about campus sustainability efforts. Anyone can request to be added to the email list and signups are available at any sustainability event.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
We hope to double the email list every year for the next three years, then grow by a quarter every year there after. Through google analytics we can see how many times the sustainability newsletter is viewed. over the next year we would like to see viewership double.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
The sustainability manager is responsible for creating the newsletter and managing the sustainability email list.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
---
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
In 2007, Villanova signed the Presidents Climate Commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. In response to signing the Climate Commitment, Villanova completed a climate action plan in 2010, outlining our path to climate neutrality.To achieve climate neutrality, Villanova has assessed our annual carbon emissions and identified areas for reduction, which are represented in our Climate Action Plan. Areas for emission reduction include our chiller plant, boiler, heating infrastructure, end use energy consumption and more. In addition to reducing campus emissions, Villanova will assess the purchase of offsets.
Review our full climate action plan for more details
http://www1.villanova.edu/content/dam/villanova/sustainability/CAP%202010.pdf
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Villanova has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 24% by 2025, 30% by 2030, and 100% by 2050.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Villanova's sustainability manager is overseeing the Universities progress towards climate neutrality and is responsible for meeting our target goals.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Every new building or major renovation must achieve LEED certification, as stated in the Climate Action Plan. Since 2008 Villanova has lived up to that requirement.
Please see the Climate Action Plan for more information
http://www1.villanova.edu/content/dam/villanova/sustainability/CAP%202010.pdf
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
We are able to measure our success by the number of LEED buildings on campus, currently we have five LEED buildings on campus for the 5 new buildings and major renovations that have happened since we signed the presidents Climate Commitment.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
The facilities department is responsible for ensuring all new buildings and major renovations apply for and achieve LEED certification.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Dining Services is committed to sustainability in all areas of their operation and have put into place a number of programs, including: purchasing local food; purchasing fair trade coffee, tea, bananas, sugar, agave and chocolate for all dining locations; pre-consumer composting; participate in a local CSA; follow Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch; and participate in the Lean Path waste tracking and reduction system. In the future dining looks to expand these programs and look to new programs to further sustainable operations, including: environmentally friendly disposables for catering; marketing campaigned to reduce plastic bottle usage (this past summer dining installed 6 hydration stations around campus to encourage better behavior); hire a student dining sustainability coordinator; and post consumer composting in one or two locations.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Measurable objectives include:
-local food purchasing, goal is 30% by 2015
- compost vs. waster per location
-reduce back of the house food waste through the LEAN Path program
-reduce bottle water purchases
-bring composting to our catering operations
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Villanova Dining Services is responsible.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
As part of the Presidents Climate Commitment, Villanova has outlined an energy use reduction plan in our Climate Action Plan. Areas Villanova looks to address energy use includes: chiller plant, boiler, heating infrastructure, end use energy consumption and more. By reducing our energy use we in turn reduce our carbon emissions.
Date Revised: Jan. 9, 2015
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Our Climate Action Plan has a timeline for projects and energy savings for the next few years. We have created an energy fund to pay for these projects, all measurable savings will be returned to the fund.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
The facilities department is responsible for this plan, specifically the sustainability manager is in charge of keeping up with the plans progress.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
---
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
With every new RFP Villanova sends out, it includes the following green purchasing guidelines:
Green Purchasing:
The University has adopted a Green Purchasing Policy. The goal of this policy is that Villanova will strive to balance environmental and fiscal responsibilities in making green purchasing decisions. We will purchase products with the highest percentage of recycled content available provided that the products meet acceptable use and performance standards. In addition, Villanova will strive to purchase materials that are:
-Durable
-Non-toxic or minimally toxic, preferably biodegradable
-Highly energy efficient
-Recyclable, but if not recyclable, may be disposed of safely
-Made from raw materials that have been obtained in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner
-Manufactured in an environmentally sound manner
-Causes minimal or no environmental damage during normal use or maintenance
-Shipped with minimal packaging (consistent with care of the product), preferably made of recycled or recyclable materials.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Currently there are no measurable objectives for increasing sustainable purchasing.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
The purchasing department is responsible for including Villanova's Green Purchasing guidelines in all RFPs.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The Presidents Environmental Sustainability Committee has a Transportation subcommittee, who have developed a transportation survey to assess our current transportation habits and the campus communities interest in alternative transportation options. The student survey was sent out in April 2014, and the results are being tabulated. Faculty and staff will be surveyed in the Fall. Through this survey we will be able to better assess where the University stands with current transportation habits and how best to improve those habits in the future.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Over the summer (2014) the Transportation subcommittee will review the results from the student survey and identify areas for improvement.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Presidents Environmental Sustainability Committee: Transportation Subcommittee.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
Recently, the University signed a new contract for construction waste disposal. Previously, our construction waste was being sent to the landfill, but now with our new contract, waste is being diverted to a recycling facility where 85% of the waste is recycled.
Additionally, Villanova is working to expand the composting program to include post consumer composting and event composting.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Villanova hopes to reach 40% diversion rate by 2020, in 2013 we diverted 35% of waste from the landfill.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Villanova's recycling coordinator is responsible for increasing our waste diversion rate.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
---
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
Villanova is currently updating their diversity plan to include more up to date goals. We would like to increase enrollment for students of color, focusing on Black and Latino men who are currently underrepresented in higher education.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
There are not current measurable objectives for this plan, but there will be once the plan has been fully updated.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Villanova's Center for Multicultural Affairs
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
In part because of the new health care law, Villanova has put into place a health and wellness program for all employees. The program encourages employees to complete a health assessment annually, as well as other annual check ups. Additionally personal health advisers are available to all employees for health and wellness questions.
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
The 2012-2013 academic year was the first year of our health and wellness program. Employees were encouraged to participate in an annual screening for a discount on their health care costs. This gave Villanova a good sense of where their employees were on a health scale. Now this year, 2014-2015, employees are encouraged to take the annual screening, as well as participate in other healthy initiatives to improve Villanova's health numbers.
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Human Resources runs the health and wellness program.
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
---
None
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
---
None
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
---
None
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
---
None
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
---
None
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
No
None
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
---
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Villanova has an Environmental Sustainability Policy that was developed in 2004 which states the University’s overarching commitment to sustainability but does not outline clear goals or metrics on how to achieve these commitments.
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.