Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 86.33
Liaison Lisa Kilgore
Submission Date March 1, 2024

STARS v2.2

Cornell University
IN-20: Grounds Certification

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 0.50 Leslie Schill
University Planner
Capital Projects and Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution own and/or manage land that is currently certified under the following programs? (at least one positive response required):
Yes or No
ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation No
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP) No
Bee Campus USA No
Demeter Biodynamic ---
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Management standard No
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List Standard ---
National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat Program No
An Organic standard or Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) endorsed by IFOAM No
Salmon-Safe No
Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) Yes
Tree Campus USA (Arbor Day Foundation) Yes
An equivalent program approved by AASHE No

A brief description of the institution’s third party certified land holdings:
Tree Campus: Cornell University, through the Cornell Landscape Improvement Program (CLIPers) committee, has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA university every year since 2009, effectively managing our campus trees to foster healthy urban forests, and engaging our students in service-learning forestry projects. Past service learning projects include the design and planting of the ILR Lower Courtyard, Mann Library entry garden and courtyard, Kennedy-Roberts plaza, Malott terrace, and Plant Science perimeter and courtyards. https://fcs.cornell.edu/content/tree-campus-usa
https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecampususa/campuses.cfm


SITES: In the fall of 2009, Cornell's "Creating the Urban Eden" class, jointly sponsored by the Departments of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, took on the landscape area along the entrance of Mann Library as their year-long project. The class followed the process of site assessment, design, plant selection, soil modification, and installation. Designs created in the fall were evaluated by a team of campus stakeholders, modified as necessary, and then installed during the month of April 2010. Although the class originated before SITES guidelines were established, its principles fell directly in line with creating landscapes that enhanced ecosystem benefits such as increased soil health, social gathering spaces, and healthy plant material. The area was official SITES certified in 2012. http://www.sustainablesites.org/cornell-universitys-mann-library-entrance

Documentation affirming the certification(s):
Website URL where information affirming the certification(s) is available:

Optional Fields 

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Sustainable Sites link:
https://sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/campus-initiatives/land-water/sustainable-landscapes-trail/mann-library-entrance-sites-accredited

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.