| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.51 |
| Liaison | Mike Evans |
| Submission Date | Feb. 2, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Williams College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.33 / 4.00 |
Amy
Johns Director Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives |
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 | --- |
| Research (or other scholarship) | No | --- |
| Campus Engagement | No | --- |
| Public Engagement | No | --- |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | No | --- |
| Grounds | No | --- |
| Purchasing | No | --- |
| Transportation | No | --- |
| Waste | No | --- |
| Water | No | --- |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | --- |
| Investment | No | --- |
| Other | --- | --- |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
Williams has a formal emissions goal of 10% below 1990 level by 2020.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Williams has a formal emissions goal of 10% below 1990 level by 2020.
This will be achieved through energy conservation and efficiency, burning cleaner fossil fuels, and renewable electricity.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Zilkha Center, Provost's Office
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Williams has adopted a policy of LEED Gold certification for all new construction over $5 million.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
Williams has adopted a policy of LEED Gold certification for all new construction over $5 million.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Facilities, Zilkha Center
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Members of the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives, Williams Dining, and the Center for Environmental Studies meet regularly to discuss sustainability initiatives in dining services. In 2011, Dining Services adopted criteria that we use for vetting food from producers and suppliers. We have recently updated these guidelines and they will be included in our next STARS report.
Date Revised: March 8, 2016
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Williams Dining is committed to achieving 20% sustainable food purchases by 2020, in accordance with Real Food criteria.
-------------
Sustainability Product Analysis:
Six points to YES
If a food product qualifies with two “yes” answers under one of the following six points, it is of interest to Williams Dining in the effort to improve the sustainability of food served at Williams College.
1) Is this product grown or raised within 150 miles (Real Food Criteria) or 250 miles (current Williams Dining criteria) of Williamstown, MA?
2) Is the producer a small-scale independent farmer, or cooperatively owned?
3) Is the product certified organic or in a reliably certified transitional phase?
4) If this is an animal product, is the animal pasture-raised?
5) Does the producer meet all applicable federal and state labor regulations for non-exempt workers at the original source point?
6) List all the sustainability certification programs that the product is certified by (Fair Trade, etc.). If one or more can be named, this is a positive point. Claims will be furthered reviewed by Williams Dining.
Note: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), are Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) where animals are kept confined and fed or maintained for 45 or more days per year, and crops, vegetation, or forage growth are not sustained over a normal growing period (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2009. CAFOs are disqualified from sustainability claims.
Date Revised: March 8, 2016
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Campus Environmental Advisory Committee, with members representing Williams Dining, the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives, The Center for Environmental Studies, and the student body.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
Meet 100% of need for all admitted students who are eligible. For all 4 years that you are here. What makes Williams different is that they don't "gap" students and can assist them for all four year. don't turn anyone away because of a deadline. likelihood about any student having to leave b/c of financial reasons is slim or none.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Williams meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, even for the neediest students. Williams has a zero loan policy for students from families with incomes below $75,000 which enables low-income students to graduate with little if any student loan debt. Though our maximum loan debt is $16,000 after four years, many students are eligible for a reduced loan expectation if their parent contribution is below $20,000. Further, students with parent contributions below $4,000 are eligible for a Health Insurance Grant to cover the cost of state mandated health insurance coverage and lower student summer savings expectations - and all students eligible for aid receive a book grant to cover the full cost of required texts and course reading packets thereby exempting them from any out-of-pocket costs for reading materials.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Financial Aid
Davis Center
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Williams College Sustainability Principles
Williams is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment in which we learn, work, and live, and to supporting the global effort to advance environmental sustainability. These efforts rely on the involvement of all members of the campus community. To succeed, initiatives must be not only environmentally responsible but also socially fair and economically sound.
The College’s greatest contribution is through educating our students, who will go on to become environmental stewards through their many roles as scientists, lawyers, investors, politicians, manufacturers, writers, advocates, artists, teachers, parents, consumers, and citizens. We do this through our teaching, research, and co-curricular offerings, and by demonstrating and embracing sustainable practices in the development and operations of our campus.
As faculty, staff, and students, we educate ourselves about important issues related to sustainability and pass on our learning to the larger communities of which we are all part. We eagerly share ideas with and learn from our neighbors and colleagues and seek consortial arrangements that can develop and broaden such practices. We work to contribute to the development of environmental standards. We report regularly on our progress.
In addition to adhering to all environmental laws and regulations, Williams focuses on the following sustainability issues.
Energy and Emissions:
We reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by increasing energy efficiency and selecting cleaner and renewable energy sources. We reduce energy use by constructing only the facilities we need and by building, renovating, maintaining, and operating them to use energy efficiently throughout their life. As campus community members, we seek to reduce energy use in our daily lives, in our work, and in our travel and to be mindful of the impacts of our choices.
Natural Resources:
We reduce our effects on water systems by minimizing use and by managing storm-water runoff. When materials are required, we select sustainably harvested sources to preserve natural resources. We protect the local habitat by limiting the physical growth of the college. We work to develop built landscapes in ways that support natural ecological functions by protecting existing ecosystems and regenerating ecological capacity where it has been lost. We provide opportunities for members of the community to interact with and appreciate the environment.
Procurement, Consumption, and Waste:
We reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. We work to understand and decrease the environmental impacts of the use, production, transportation and disposal of items we purchase. We select vendors committed to sustainable practices throughout the life cycle of their products, and we prefer to buy locally.
Quality of the Built Environment:
We build and maintain buildings that provide safe, comfortable and healthy environments for students, faculty and staff through effective use of day-lighting, ventilation, and connections with the natural environment. We work to improve our understanding of toxic materials used on campus and to reduce their presence in labs, art studios, and building and maintenance materials as well as in cleaning, landscaping, and pest-control.
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
Williams College does not have a strategic plan.
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.