Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.49
Liaison Caitlin McLennan
Submission Date Nov. 1, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Utah State University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 4.00 Alexi Lamm
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
No

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
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A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
Yes

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):

Open Space and Recreation Plan
Transportation master plan: http://www.usu.edu/facilities/planning/
Performance Objective
1: Reduce commuters’ carbon footprint and improve air quality
by promoting alternative travel modes and lowering vehicle miles traveled
(VMT) in and around campus from the current 39 percent (Source: 2012 GHG Inventory baseline) to:
• 30 percent by 2020,
• 25 percent by 2025, and
• 20 percent by 2030.
Performance Objective 2: Reduce the percentage of driving alone trips by
encouraging carpooling and promoting alternative modes of travel to shift short
car trips from the current 37 percent (source: 2014 Transportation Survey) to:
• 31 percent by 2020,
• 24 percent by 2025, and
• 18 percent by 2030.
Performance Objective 3: Increase the percentage of walk and bike trips by
installing pedestrian and bike facilities such as pedestrian and bicyclist crossings,
bike lanes, and bike parking from 30 percent (source: 2014 Transportation Survey):
• 35 percent by 2020,
• 40 percent by 2025, and
• 45 percent by 2030, as well as
Providing incentives and designating programs to reduce the percentage of
students who currently do not have access to a bicycle from 35 percent (source:
College Survey Results) to. :
• 29 percent by 2020,
• 23 percent by 2025, and
• 15 percent by 2030.
Performance Objective 4: Increase transit ridership by improving shuttle service and stop locations from 22 percent (source: 2014 Transportation Survey) to :
• 23 percent by 2020,
• 24 percent by 2025,
• 25 percent by 2030.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability plan:
Goals
Short-term goals
1. Promote ecological literacy and innovation by highlighting university
accomplishments and investments as well as implementation of sustainable
practices by USU Facilities as a “role model” for the students,
faculty, and society.
a. Inform students of ways they could engage in environmentally
responsible behaviors as part of the campus community through
collaboration with the marketing work group.
b. Establish a list of sustainability-related field trips, guest speakers,
and research opportunities available on campus by FY 2015.
2. Develop and publicize USU’s Ecological Footprint Barometer to
measure and monitor the accomplishment of the University community
towards becoming an environmental university and reducing our
ecological footprint by 2015.
Mid- to long-term goals
1. Meet or exceed National Wildlife Foundation Criteria for Exemplary
Schools and sustainability education characteristics by expanding the
undergraduate environmental or sustainability related major and minor
degree offerings throughout the University by 2020.
2. Reach 75% of all students with at least one sustainability-focused or
related course by 2018.
a. Work within the General Education Committee of the University to
incorporate sustainability principles into the criteria for all Breadth
designated general education courses.
b. Work within the General Education Committee to develop requirements
for all students at USU to complete a sustainability-focused
or sustainability-related course as a requirement for the completion
of their undergraduate degrees as a way of introducing all USU
students to the concepts and principles of sustainability.
Develop an in-house faculty training program on environmental and
sustainability literacy to support the development of these principles in
curricula throughout the University by 2018.
4. Develop a program to support faculty professional development on
environmental and sustainability topics and formally recognize faculty
integration of sustainability principles into their courses by 2018.
5. Support and expedite the creation of an environmental institute on
campus. Such an institute would coordinate and increase University
environmental research and course offerings and create opportunities
for undergraduate and graduate students to participate in environmental
research.
6. Ensure that sustainability ignorance is NOT an option for anyone
leaving USU.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability Plan:
1. Engage 10% of the USU FTE student enrollment in
sustainability events or activities by FY 2016
a. Have a sustainability represented in all the major campus marketing
events, e.g. Day on the Quad, SOAR, and Cardopoly.
b. Co-sponsor an event with at least one other campus organization
each year.
c. Send materials for all sustainability events to USU PR and SC
marketing work group
d. Add sustainability video to Connections.
e. Collaborate with the waste and recycle work group to make at
least one Student Involvement event no waste.
2. Engage 10% of students in on-campus housing in sustainability events
or activities by FY 2016
a. Explore the possibility of sustainability themed housing.
b. Continue and expand the Eco-reps program.
c. Continue and expand the Energy Challenge. Consider competition
between academic buildings in addition to housing.
d. Continue and expand Recyclemania.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:

ACUPCC:
Carbon Neutrality 2015

Sustainability Plan:
1. Energy
a. 5% Energy Reduction in FY2014
b. 10% Energy Reduction in FY2015
i. Retrocommission the entire campus every 5 years.
ii. Evaluate LEED Gold versus LEED Silver with additional
energy measures.
iii. Evaluate LEED Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance.
c. Increase renewable energy as opportunities arise– Hydro,
Solar, Wind.
d. Establish a process to base capital investment on life cycle costs
by FY 2016.
e. Work with Marketing Committee to promote energy Initiatives.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability Plan:
i. Retrocommission the entire campus every 5 years.
ii. Evaluate LEED Gold versus LEED Silver with additional
energy measures.
iii. Evaluate LEED Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability Plan:
Goals
1. Energy
a. 5% Energy Reduction in FY2014
b. 10% Energy Reduction in FY2015
c. Increase renewable energy as opportunities arise– Hydro,
Solar, Wind.
d. Establish a process to base capital investment on life cycle costs
by FY 2016.
e. Work with Marketing Committee to promote energy Initiatives.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability Plan
1. Purchase 30% of food served in university-owned facilities that is
grown or produced or both within 250 miles of Logan by FY 2016.
2. Implement a pre-consumer waste compost program by FY 2016


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability Plan:
1. Increase percentage of recycled office paper by cost from 43% to 60%
by FY 2016
2. Meet LEED Existing Building requirements for green cleaning by FY
2015, including maintaining 30% Ecologo, Green Seal, or EPA qualified
purchases as measured by expenditure.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability Plan:
1. Increase fuel efficiency average from 18.25 MPG in 2013 to 20 MPG
for university-owned vehicles by 2020.
a. Investigate strategies to encourage departments to
choose fuel efficient, right-sized vehicles when replacing
old vehicles.
2. Maintain 2013 adjusted total miles for university-owned vehicles.
a. Adopt strategies to encourage employees to use conference
call technologies


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Sustainability Plan:
1. Gather data on the waste stream by FY 2016.
a. Conduct a waste audit in housing.
b. Conduct a waste audit on a non-laboratory building.
c. Conduct a waste audit on an athletic event.
2. Reduce waste by 3% by FY2016 from a FY 2012 baseline.
a. Encourage reusable water bottles and mugs.
b. Pilot reusable to-go containers in Dining Services.
c. Investigate double-sided printing default settings on
campus printers.
d. Work with purchasing on order consolidation.
e. Expand True Blue Reuse Sale.
3. Increase waste diversion to 35% by FY 2016 from 25% in FY 2012
a. Evaluate locations and appearance of bins to maximize
effectiveness, and train maintenance staff to manage
these placements.
b. Add new construction specifications for recycle bins.
c. Create a plan for replacing current mismatched and poorly
labeled bins.
1(on campus residents x 1) + (non-residential full-time students and employees x 0.75) + (non-residential, part-time students and employees x 0.5)= weighted campus user


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Open Space and Recreation Plan:
Recommendations from the report include: incorporating more water-wise landscaping, use more weather stations, monitor water usage and improve training for summer help.

Sustainability Plan:
2. Water
a. Set goals for water reduction.
b. Work with Marketing Committee to promote water Initiatives


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:

Subject: Sustainability Policy
Effective Date: April 20, 2007
106.1 PURPOSE
Utah State University (USU) is one of the
nation’s premier, student
-centered, land-grant,
and space-grant universities. The University is
committed to enhancing the quality of life
for individuals and communities by promoting
sustainability in its operations and
academic and service missions.
USU will develop appropriate systems for ma
naging environmental, social, and economic
sustainability programs with specific goals
and objectives. This policy supports the goal
of the USU statewide system to prepare st
udents, faculty, and staff to proactively
contribute to a high quality of life fo
r present and future generations.


The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter No
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) No
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter No
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
The Talloires Declaration (TD) Yes
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) No

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
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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.