Cal Poly Humboldt
PAE-4: Sustainability Plan

The plan was developed and written by an undergraduate Natural Resources Planning Senior Practicum course, in consultation with the campus Sustainability Coordinator, and various staff with responsibilities in the referenced areas. The plan was then adopted as the campus working plan by the President’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS). The PACS is comprised of twelve representatives from all major areas of campus, including two student representatives from different areas of campus.

The plan is divided into nine elements comprising various functional or activity areas of the campus (water, campus landscape, built environment, energy, waste, education, procurement, food services, and transportation) and each element discusses related vision, mission, and goals accompanied by at least two sections outlining objectives with associated timelines - short-term (0-1 yr.), intermediate (1-5 yr.), and/or long-term (5-10 yr.)

Progress toward fulfilling the plans goals is measured in several ways, as appropriate for the given goal and the mechanism for indicating progress. Most of the goals in the plan are action or process oriented. Using tools that create baseline conditions, then re-evaluating those same measures at set intervals, such as the AASHE STARS provide the most comprehensive way to measure progress. Another, more direct measure, is formally establishment of a program or process, where none existed before (e.g., food-waste diversion program under Waste). Starting in 2013 all functions of the university will also be evaluated using a Program review, Evaluation, and Planning (PREP) process to strengthen the quality of programs through evidence-based decision-making and reflective planning. All the goals of the sustainability plan will fall under one of the three responsibility areas of the university (academic programs, student affairs, administrative affairs), so will be inherently entered into the PREP process.

The plan is considered a working draft for the Office of Sustainability to use in planning efforts for the nine element areas covered. Once the AASHE STARS process is completed, it is anticipated that the plan will be updated and revised to reflect current direction, progress, and ongoing evaluation efforts (mentioned above in how progress is measured).