| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.75 |
| Liaison | Dan DeZarn |
| Submission Date | March 31, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York at Geneseo
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Dan
Dezarn Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
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 | Yes |
| Research (or other scholarship) | Yes | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Air and Climate | Yes | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | Yes |
| Energy | Yes | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes | Yes |
| Purchasing | --- | --- |
| Transportation | Yes | Yes |
| Waste | Yes | Yes |
| Water | Yes | No |
| Diversity and Affordability | --- | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | Yes | Yes |
| Investment | Yes | Yes |
| Other | --- | --- |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
The Presidential Commission on Sustainability is currently working to identify sustainability contacts in each academic department. These contacts will keep the commission abreast of all courses that focus on sustainability issues. This relationship will help to promote sustainability related courses.
In addition we are working on establishing a general education core learning requirement for sustainability, so that every student that passes through Geneseo will have a high level of sustainability literacy.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
Starting this year, an annual survey is sent out to quantify the number of courses that focus on sustainability or feature sections or projects that deal with sustainability.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
The Presidential Commission on Sustainability and The Office of Sustainability.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
The Presidential Commission on Sustainability is currently working to identify sustainability contacts in each academic department. These contacts will keep the commission abreast of all faculty and student research that focus on sustainability issues. This relationship will help to promote sustainability projects.
In addition, SUNY Geneseo is in the process of building our eGarden. It is a one acre research and educational space for projects that deal with renewable energy, sustainable waste management and agriculture.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Starting this year, an annual survey is sent out to quantify the number of research projects that focus on sustainability.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
The Presidential Commission on Sustainability and The Office of Sustainability.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
The Office of Sustainability is working with a number of campus entities to increase the visibility of sustainability projects on campus. We are hosting a booth at this summer's new student orientation, that will let incoming students know how to get involved and to inform new students of our basic recycling and composting practices. We are increasing the number of events for Earth Week and moving Live Green Day to the fall semester to create more days throughout the academic year that bring visibility to campus sustainability.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
We will monitor the number of students in attendance at these events. In addition, we will have a sign up sheet for those who wish to get involved. We will use the contact information from the sign up sheet to add to our sustainability list-serve.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
The Office of Sustainability.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
We will continue to work with groups in the community that are focused on sustainability. These groups include the county Environmental Management Council as well as grass roots organizations such as Frack Free Genesee and The Little Lakes Sustainability Network. We plan to continue hosting events such as sustainability lectures and tours, that are in collaboration with these groups to help bring people in from the off campus community.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
We keep track of the number of people in attendance at these events.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
The Office of Sustainability.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
We are regularly applying for grants and pursuing projects that can help us reach our climate goals. We are currently working on a Power Purchase Agreement that would supply the campus with up to 2MW of solar generated electricity. In addition we have commissioned a feasibility study to determine if it makes sense to build a campus/community micro-grid that would be based in renewable and co-generated electricity.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
At a minimum, and as mandated by NY state, we will reduce our 2012 carbon footprint by 20% by 2020. We hope to far exceed those goals.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
Campus Facilities and the Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
All new construction and renovations must meet a minimum of LEED silver. We strive to make buildings as sustainable and efficient as possible within budget constraints. When we can achieve better than LEED silver, we have our buildings LEED certified.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
LEED standards is our measurable strategy and the timeframe is on going as we build
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
Facilities Planning and the Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Each year we try to source additional local foods that are served in our dinning halls. We have events that focus on sustainability issues in food. We are trying to increase the amount of organic waste that is composted on campus.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
While the sourcing of local foods is measurable, we do not have a specific percentage goal by a specific date. We do have professionals that a regularly trying to source additional local food, as well as policies regarding specific foods that are always locally sourced, such as apples.
Each of the last three semesters we have increased the amount of food waste that is being composted on site. Our ultimate goals is to have zero organics in the waste stream. Our short term goal is to have all of pre-consumer food waste going to the compost facility by the beginning of next academic year.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Office of Sustainability and Campus Auxiliary Services
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
We are currently working on a Power Purchase Agreement that would supply the campus with up to 2MW of solar generated electricity. In addition we have commissioned a feasibility study to determine if it makes sense to build a campus/community micro-grid that would be based in renewable and co-generated electricity.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Our ultimate goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
Facilities and the Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
We have a plan to greatly reduce the carbon footprint of the Grounds Dept. by working with the Geography Department to create additional no-mow zones. In addition, we are in the process of writing for a grant that would allow us to switch to mostly electric summer grounds equipment (mowers, trimmers, etc). If we receive funding, the fleet's batteries would be charged by photo voltaic panels that would be installed on site.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Our minimum objective is currently to phase out fossil fuel powered zero turn mowers in favor of electric units. That will happen as our current fleet reaches the end of its useful life. In the event that we can acquire funding, the objective is to make a comprehensive shift as soon as possible.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
VP of Admin. and Finance and the Office of Sustainability.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
At this point we have a few policies on place that directly relate to sustainability in purchasing, but to my knowledge, there are not current plans to expand those policies.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
n/a
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
n/a
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
SUNY Geneseo is a rural residential campus, so transportation goals are focused mainly at faculty and staff. Last year we conducted a survey in an attempt to create a baseline for emissions created by commuters. While the survey had poor participation, we found that there are a number of employees that are interested in EVs. We are currently looking into installing permanent EV charging stations to encourage employees to embrace this clean technology.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
We hope to have at least a small number of EV charging stations in the next year.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
Office of Sustainability and Campus Facilities
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
We are currently restructuring the way that we handle waste on campus. At the core of our restructuring is expanding our composting efforts to residence halls and becoming more efficient with our recycling. In addition, we are focusing on the safety of the staff responsible for handling waste.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
We want to have compost pick-up in the residence halls by the end of the spring 2016 semester.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
Office of Sustainability, Campus Auxiliary Services and Housekeeping
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
By increasing our use of onsite processed compost, and by adding no-mow zones we will be reducing our impact on the streams and waterways in our community. Increasing the organic material and biodiversity on our campus will reduce storm water runoff and will ultimately reduce the amount that we must water our landscape features.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
There are currently no metrics in place to measure this.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
Unknown
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Unknown
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Presidential Commission on Diversity
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
We are planning on buying a dedicated garbage truck to handle waste pick-up on campus. This will reduce work related injuries associated with improper lifting of heavy totes, bags and bins.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Our objective is to acquire a safe and workable waste system in the next year.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Campus Auxiliary Services
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
There is a working group consisting of students and staff that are advocating for sustainable investment practices of our foundation's endowment. The students have presented to the board and are working with the student managed investment fund to make comparisons between traditional investments and SRI or ESG investments.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
At this point the objective is to keep advancing the conversation. We have successfully moved beyond the "door in our face" response of two years ago to one of honest listening. We want to push that forward, but it is a slow process.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
Geneseo Environmental Organization (student club) and Office of Sustainability
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The Office of Sustainability is working with students from various fields of study to take on sustainability related projects ranging from, experimental composting of sewage sludge, to waste bio-conversion, to testing of industrial brines that are being sprayed on our roads. We hope to continue and expand this program.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Engage students in diverse fields of study in the sustainability conversation.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
Office of Sustainability
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
SUNY Geneseo calls upon all members of our community to embrace sustainability as a core value, including a commitment to its constitutive principles of ecological, social, and economic justice. We recognize the critical role of higher education in creating a sustainable society.Through teaching, research, service, and institutional conduct we strive to nurture the values, skills and knowledge necessary to sustain and enhance human and non-human life on the planet.
The college understands that sustainability is a process of building support for societal and intergenerational equity and a shared sense of responsibility for the ethical stewardship of our social and natural environment. We endorse the broad scientific consensus that human demands on the planet threaten the ecological, social and economic resources upon which our global society depends.
As a public liberal arts college, we seek solutions to these increasingly complex, interdisciplinary problems that are consistent with our shared values and ideals. Recognizing that the promotion of sustainability is central to the mission of the college, SUNY Geneseo calls upon its faculty, students and staff to foster a culture of sustainable and responsible citizenship on campus. By minimizing the environmental impact of our institutional operations and integrating the principles of sustainability throughout our academic disciplines and co-curricular life we can begin to realize a more profound and enduring form of prosperity for current and future generations.
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:
We are at a point where we have just hired a new college President. There are currently workshops and information sessions that are focused on developing a new five-year strategic plan. There have been a number of voices that, at a high level, are advocating for sustainability to be predominately featured in our strategic plan.
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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