Credit Language
EN 9: Inter-Campus Collaboration – version 3.0
Indicators
- 9.1. Inter-campus collaboration for sustainability
Questions & Answers
How has this credit changed between STARS Version 2 and Version 3?
- Includes a new criterion on sustainability-focused articulation/transfer agreements, e.g., between community colleges and four-year institutions.
- Expanded recognition for presenting on sustainability experiences and lessons learned (e.g., presenting at a sustainability conference/webinar/workshop).
- A comprehensive list of differences can be found in the STARS 3.0 Summary of changes.
What qualifies as a sustainability-focused articulation/transfer agreement (Indicator 9.1.C.)?
There must be evidence of a sustainability-focused articulation/transfer agreement that provides students who are studying sustainability at one institution with a formal pathway to another institution. Such agreements typically reference the conditions for the completion of a sustainability-focused degree (as reported under AC 2 or 3) for students that completed academic course offerings at two or more institutions. A general agreement that students studying sustainability could potentially avail of would not be sufficient in the absence of a sustainability-focused agreement.
Examples include:
- Ferris State University Architecture and Sustainability Articulation Agreement and Transfer Guide for Lansing Community College
- SUNY Oneonta – Environmental Sustainability Articulation Agreement – SUNY Delhi
- Environmental & Sustainability Studies Articulation Agreement: Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Quinsigamond Community College
- Articulation Agreement between North Central Michigan College A.A. Degree with a concentration in Environmental and Sustainability Studies; and Northern Michigan University B.S. Degree in Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Can informal one-off support through listservs or a regional network count as mentorship (Indicator 9.1.D.)?
To count, at least one individual with formal sustainability responsibilities has served as a mentor or been mentored by a colleague with sustainability responsibilities at another institution in the previous three years. Providing informal one-off support through listservs or regional networks is not sufficient (but may qualify under one of the other criteria).
Suggestions for Institutions
- Consider presenting on your campus STARS experience to your networks and peers to earn points for Indicator 9.1.B.
- Consider becoming a peer reviewer for another institution’s STARS report to earn points for Indicator 9.1.F.
Potential Data Quality Issues
- Intent of this credit is to recognize institutions that “collaborate with other educational institutions to help build campus sustainability broadly.” Therefore, ALL responses should focus on collaboration with other education-focused groups/initiatives (or list one valid example for each Yes response).
- Sustainability-focused articulation/transfer agreement – Such agreements typically reference the conditions for the completion of a sustainability-focused degree (as reported under AC 2 or 3) for students that completed academic course offerings at two or more institutions.
- Has served as a mentor or been mentored – Response must reference an ongoing mentorship relationship with another sustainability officer at another institution. Providing informal one-off support through listservs or regional networks is not sufficient.