Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 47.23
Liaison Keaton Schrank
Submission Date Aug. 15, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Westminster University - Utah
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.04 / 2.00 Kerry Case
Environmental Director
Environmental Center
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
12.10 Hectares

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach 8.98 Hectares
Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials 0.40 Hectares
Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) 0 Hectares
Total area of managed grounds 9.39 Hectares

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds (e.g. the footprint of buildings and impervious surfaces, experimental agricultural land, areas that are not regularly managed or maintained):
The area excluded includes all hardscape (Parking lots, patios, roofs, sidewalks, etc.) as well as our campus sports field which is carpeted with synthetic grass.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
95.69

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
Westminster IPMplan_1.pdf

A brief description of the IPM program:
The Westminster College Grounds and Landscape Management Group strives to minimize the use of chemicals, insecticides and other invasive procedures in the control of pests, and employs this Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan to that end. Core principles of the Westminster IPM Plan are: • Managing to acceptable pest levels (control not eradication of pests) • Monitoring of pest populations • Employing biological and mechanical controls on pest populations responsibly • Using the least-toxic chemical pesticides • Minimum use of chemicals – used only as needed • Plans to assist and educate students in the event of a pest issue • Use of chemicals only in specified locations and only for the targeted species

Organic Program

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an organic program:
4.31

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic land standard or landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials:
We have a campus Organic Garden managed without any synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, but it is not certified organic.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
We have numerous demonstration gardens including a xeriscape garden, pollinator garden, organic garden, and a native "mountain desert garden." Additionally, the Emigration Creek Natural Area is a National Wildlife Federation certified wildlife habitat.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Westminster has employed permeable paving in the commons, and has storm water capturing abilities near the soccer field that capture from the field. The capturing system mediates the flow of water back into the natural environment. Additionally the college has worked to restore the natural area around Emigration Creek which flows through campus.

A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
Nearly all green waste from campus landscaping is composted at the county green waste facility, including grass clippings and leaves.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
None

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
The college covered the creek bridge to reduce the runoff of ice melt into the creek.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.