Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 59.95
Liaison Mari Acob-Nash
Submission Date Dec. 14, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

North Seattle College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.50 / 4.00 Tim Albertson
Sustainability Coordinator
Student Development Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Published Plans That Address Sustainability 

Strategic Plan

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
NSC adopted a new strategic plan for 2016-2023. It has three core themes, and the third core theme is entitled "building a sustainable community." Before the college engages in an internal or external community program or service, NSC determines the social, fiscal, and environmental impact of the college's actions. One of its objectives is to increase the development of the college's sustainability efforts in resource utilization, curriculum and campus culture. Another objective includes to increase engagement of strategic partnerships that support "the triple bottom line."

A copy of the strategic plan:
Strategic Plan 2017-23 & metrics.pdf

The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
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Sustainability Plan 

Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the sustainability plan:
SeattleCollegeDistrictSustainabilityPlan_2015-2017-1(1).pdf

The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
http://sustainability.seattlecolleges.edu/committees-councils/district/

Climate Action Plan 

Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the climate action plan:
SCCD GHG Strategy June 30, 2011, Revised Oct 2013.pdf

The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Other Published Plans 

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):
NSC also has a diversity action plan.

Measurable Sustainability Objectives 

Curriculum

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:
District Sustainability Plan Goal 1: Identify sustainability related and focused courses in course catalogs and listing. Goal 2: Increase number of sustainability focused courses 20% by 2020 compared to 2013 baseline. Goal 3: All sustainability projects have a student learning component

Research 

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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Campus Engagement 

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:
District Sustainability Plan Goal 1: Maintain an active college-level Sustainability Committee on each campus to help enact the District Sustainability Plan. Goal 2: Include a sustainability component into new student and new staff orientation. Goal 3: Produce regular sustainability communications to the campus at large

Public Engagement 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
North Seattle College Strategic Plan Core Theme Three: Building a Sustainable Community. "At North Seattle College, we see Building a Sustainable Community as an important ethical standard driven by the “triple bottom line.” Thus, before the college engages in an internal or external community program or service, we will determine the social, fiscal and environmental impact of the college’s actions." Measurable Objective 3.02- Increase engagement of strategic partnerships that support “the triple bottom line.”

Air & Climate 

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:
District Sustainability Plan Goal: Surpass greenhouse gas reduction targets provided by the State Agency Climate Leadership Act. The State Agency Climate Leadership Act was passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2008 and called for annual tracking of greenhouse gas emissions by all state agencies, as well as a commitment to hit specific reduction targets compared to the 2005 baseline year. District Sustainability Action Plan Goal to align with 2030 District Goals: CO2 emissions of Auto and Freight: A minimum of 20% reduction below the current District average by 2020 with incremental targets, reaching a 50% reduction by 2030.

Buildings 

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:
District Sustainability Plan Goal: All new buildings will be constructed to at least a LEED Silver standard. Since 2005, the Washington State Legislature requires all new state agency buildings to be constructed to a LEED Silver standard.

Energy 

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:
District Sustainability Action Plan goal to align with 2030 District Goals:Energy Use-A minimum of 20% reduction below the National median by 2020 with incremental targets, reaching a 50% reduction by 2030.

Food & Dining 

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

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

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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Purchasing 

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:
District Sustainability Plan Goal: Develop a District Purchasing Policy to purchase, when available, GreenSeal or EcoLogo brand products and EPEAT Silver or higher certified electronics.

Transportation 

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:
North Seattle College Transportation Management Plan for employees: In 1991 the Washington State Legislature passed the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law requiring the City of Seattle to adopt a plan to reduce employer based drive-alone trips. Consistent with the state's requirements, the City of Seattle adopted and maintains a commute trip reduction plan requiring large employers to develop, implement and promote programs that help employees choose travel options that reduce the number of drive-alone trips made to their worksite. North Seattle College must; 1) appoint an employee transportation coordinator (ETC), 2) prominently post the ETC's name, location, and phone number for employees, 3) distribute information at least once a year to employees regarding alternatives to single-occupant-vehicle commuting, 4) implement a set of measures designed to achieve Commute Trip Reduction goals. One goal being to have an annual drive alone rate at or below 44% for employees District Sustainability Plan: Goal 4: a minimum of 20% reduction in CO2e from auto and freight below the current District average by 2020 with incremental targets, reaching 50% reduction by 2030

Waste 

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:
District Sustainability Plan Goal: Compared to 2015, reduce landfill waste 50% by weight by 2030. The 2020 goal is a 16.6% reduction in landfill waste by weight.

Water 

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:
District Sustainability Plan goal to align with 2030 District Goals: Water Use-Manage stormwater peak discharge and potable water use within the District by 50% below the District baseline by 2030, with incremental targets of 20% by 2020, 35% by 2025, reaching 50% by 2030.

Diversity & Affordability 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
North Seattle College Strategic Plan: 1.06 Increase the equity of academic success among all student groups. 3.01 Increase the development of an equitable and inclusive college campus.

Investment & Finance 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
District Sustainability Plan Goal: Establish a Sustainability Fund that will redirect 25% of all utility savings to future resource conservation activities.

Wellbeing & Work 

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
North Seattle Institutional Effectiveness Plan: Goal 2.05 Increase percent of employees who report applying new knowledge to their work derived from professional development activities. District Strategic Plan: Goal 2 Organizational Excellence-"We seek to achieve continuous improvement in excellence in teaching and learning, operational efficiency, fiscal sustainability,strategic innovation, employee growth and engagement, and diversity and inclusion.

Other Impact Areas 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
North Seattle College Strategic Plan Objective 3.04-Increase the development of the college’s sustainability efforts in resource utilization, curriculum, and campus culture.

Optional Fields 

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)? :
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The formal statement in support of sustainability:
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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 ---
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) ---
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter ---
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
The Talloires Declaration (TD) ---
UN Global Compact ---
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) Yes

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above: On December 19, 2016, North Seattle College and a diverse group of Higher Education Institutions and Second Nature released a letter they collaboratively developed. This letter was sent to the new Congressional delegation and incoming Presidential transition team on January 17, 2017, and urges them to accelerate progress towards a clean energy future. The Higher Education sector is aligning with business leaders in calling on elected officials to support participation in the Paris Agreement, climate research, and investment in the low carbon economy.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://lowcarbonusa.org/highered

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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