Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 76.21
Liaison Lindsey Kalkbrenner
Submission Date May 5, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Santa Clara University
OP-18: Support for Sustainable Transportation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Leah Nakasaki-Peterson
Assistant Director, Parking & Transportation Services
Parking & Transportation Services
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Support for Cyclists and Pedestrians 

Does the institution provide secure bicycle storage (not including office space), shower facilities, and lockers for bicycle commuters?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the facilities for bicycle commuters:
In addition to multiple bike racks located throughout campus, there are two enclosed bike-storage areas (in our main parking lot facility and in the Engineering quad). Locker room facilities including showers and lockers/storage areas are located in the Malley Fitness Center building. The University also has four bike repair stations, each with tools and a tire pump.

Does the institution provide short-term bicycle parking for all occupied buildings and makes long-term bicycle storage available for students who live on-site (if applicable)?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the bicycle parking and storage facilities:
Bicycle racks are located outside each campus building.

Does the institution have a bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy (or adhere to a local community plan/policy) that sets standards and practices for campus streets to enable safe access for all users?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle and pedestrian plan or policy:
The University Transportation Plan outlines expectations for bicyclists while riding on and around campus.

Does the institution have a bicycle-sharing program or participate in a local bicycle-sharing program?:
Yes

A brief description of the bicycle sharing program:
SCU debuted Zagster, a bicycle-sharing program, in October 2014. Bikes are designed for usage on and off campus. Users pay a one-time fee, and then an hourly fee after the first 2 hours of use. There are 10 bikes in 3 different parking locations on campus. Helmets are available through Zagster at a discounted price.

Mass Transit Programs 

Does the institution offer free or reduced price transit passes and/or operate a free campus shuttle for commuters?:
Yes

A brief description of the mass transit programs:
Employees can purchase reduced price (50%) Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) Train tickets. Additionally, the Transit Spending Account allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for the purchase of qualified transit expenses incurred while commuting to and from work.

Guaranteed Return Trip Program 

Does the institution offer a guaranteed return trip program to regular users of alternative modes of transportation?:
No

A brief description of the guaranteed return trip program:
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Carpool/Vanpool Programs 

Does the institution participate in a car/vanpool or ride sharing program and/or offer reduced parking fees or preferential parking for car/vanpoolers?:
Yes

A brief description of the carpool/vanpool program:
All SCU community members can use Scoop, a private ride-sharing network to arrange carpools. SCU also has its own registered Carpool Program, which issues the carpool vehicle a daily parking pass to be coupled with the Carpool sticker.

Car Sharing Program 

Does the institution participate in a car sharing program, such as a commercial car-sharing program, one administered by the institution, or one administered by a regional organization?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the car sharing program:
Zipcar, the world's largest 24/7 car-sharing service, provides Santa Clara University students, faculty and staff with a convenient and eco-friendly way to get around – whether it’s running errands, driving around campus or taking a road trip.

EV Recharging Stations 

Does the institution have one or more Level 2 or Level 3 electric vehicle recharging stations that are accessible to student and employee commuters?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the electric vehicle recharging stations:
SCU currently has 17 charging stations with 34 charging ports. 2 of those ports are Level 1, and the remaining 32 ports are Level 2. 8 of the charging stations are available to the public (16 ports total). For non-permit holders, prices are $2 per hour for the first 4 hours, and $3 per hour after 5 hours charging. Permit holders (students, faculty and staff) receive reduced charging rates.

Telecommuting and Condensed Work Week Programs 

Does the institution offer a telecommuting program for employees as a matter of policy or as standard practice?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the telecommuting program:
Santa Clara University considers telecommuting to be a viable work option in certain circumstances which, when properly implemented and administered, benefits both the University and the telecommuter. The University defines telecommuting as the substitution of telecommunication technologies, including, but not limited to, telephones, facsimile machines, computers, electronic mail, and modems for travel to the University’s offices. A telecommuter is an employee who works for the University from a home, or other remote office, for some part of the regularly scheduled workweek.

Does the institution offer a condensed work week option that reduces employee commuting (as a matter of policy or standard practice)?:
Yes

A brief description of the condensed work week option:
Condensed work weeks for full-time staff are not common at Santa Clara University. Employee supervisors have the ability to approve flexible schedules at their discretion.

Other Strategies to Reduce the Impacts of Commuting 

Does the institution have incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus?:
Yes

None
A brief description of the incentives or programs to encourage employees to live close to campus:
Recognizing the importance of affordable housing, the University has established two housing assistance programs for tenure-track faculty: a rental assistance program and a purchase assistance program. The rental assistance program is intended to ease the transition into the local housing market for tenure-track faculty during their probationary period and for newly hired tenured faculty during the first year of their appointment. The program provides monthly rent support based on the local housing market and makes University-owned rental units available. The purchase assistance program is intended to enhance the affordability of a single family residence in the local area; it provides assistance with the down payment and closing costs associated with the purchase of a primary personal residence.

Does the institution employ other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting (e.g. preferred parking for fuel-efficient vehicles, cash-out of parking programs)?:
Yes

A brief description of other strategies to reduce the impact of commuting:
Derozap is a campus bicycle commuter program to encourage individuals that work and attend the University to commute to campus in a more sustainable manner. For each day that a commuter rides their bike he/she will receive a point. These points are then redeemable by the commuter for parking in the future.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.