Virginia Commonwealth University
OP-16: Commute Modal Split

Part 1. Student commute modal split

Institution's students commute to and from campus using more sustainable commuting options such as walking, cycling, vanpooling or carpooling, taking public transportation or a campus shuttle, riding motorcycles or scooters, using a zero-emissions vehicle, availing of distance education, or a combination of these options.

Students who live on campus should be included in the calculation based on how they get to and from their classes.

Part 2. Employee commute modal split

Institution's employees commute to and from campus using more sustainable commuting options such as walking, cycling, vanpooling or carpooling, taking public transportation or a campus shuttle, riding motorcycles or scooters, using a zero-emissions vehicle, telecommuting, or a combination of these options.

Employees who live on campus should be included in the calculation based on how they get to and from their worksites.

This credit applies to all institutions. 

Each part is scored independently. The number of points available for each part of this credit varies based on the ratio of the full-time equivalent of students to the full-time equivalent of employees, as follows:

Points available for Part 1 = 5 × [ ( A  / ( A + B ) ]

Points available for Part 2 = 5 × [ ( B  / ( A + B ) ]

A = Total full-time equivalent student enrollment

B = Full-time equivalent of employees

Part 1

An institution earns the maximum points available for Part 1 when all students use more sustainable modes of transportation (i.e., alternatives to conventional single-occupancy vehicles) as their primary mode of transportation for getting to and from campus. Incremental points are awarded based on the percentage of students that use more sustainable modes as their primary means of transportation. For example, an institution for which 50 percent of students use more sustainable modes and the other 50 percent drive alone would earn half of the available points for Part 1.

Points earned for Part 1 are calculated automatically in the STARS Reporting Tool as follows:

Points earned = A × ( B / 100 )

A = Total percentage of students that use a more sustainable commuting option (0-100)

B = Points available for Part 1

Part 2

An institution earns the maximum points available for Part 2 when all employees use more sustainable modes of transportation as their primary means of transportation for getting to and from campus. Incremental points are awarded based on the percentage of employees that use more sustainable modes as their primary means of transportation. For example, an institution for which 50 percent of employees use more sustainable modes and the other 50 percent drive alone would earn half of the available points for Part 2.

Points earned for Part 2 are calculated automatically in the STARS Reporting Tool as follows:

Points earned = A × ( B / 100 )

A = Total percentage of employees that use a more sustainable commuting option (0-100)

B = Points available for Part 2

Timeframe

Report the most recent data available from within the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission.  

Sampling and Data Standards

Institutions may use representative samples to gather data about commuting behavior. For information about how to measure commuting behavior, see the guidance provided by the Massachusetts Rideshare Program and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.