Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 70.01
Liaison Rebecca Walker
Submission Date April 13, 2022

STARS v2.2

Southern Oregon University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete N/A Rebecca Walker
Sustainability Manager
Facilities, Management, Sustainability and Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
SOU's Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Plan

A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Sustainability is at the core of the curriculum, operations and SOU community by being represented in the University's vision, mission, core values as well as its Strategic Plan that is reported on to the Board of Trustees. Having Sustainability represented here at the highest level, demonstrates SOU's commitment and ambition around sustainability.
https://sou.edu/strategic-planning/the-sou-plan/

Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Campus Engagement
Coordination & Planning

Optional Fields

Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
https://sou.edu/strategic-planning/the-sou-plan/

STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
Coordination and Planning - Sustainability Planning

A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
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Second Point of Distinction

Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
Sustainability Major

A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
From Fall Term 2021, a Sustainability Major is now offered at SOU along with a Sustainability Minor demonstrating commitment to sustainability in the curriculum. As well as seeing an increase in courses that are both sustainability focused and sustainability inclusive, this is demonstrating the value that the institution is placing on teaching programs and curriculum to prepare students for the future and to increase their understanding of the current world and how to address the challenges and seize opportunities.

Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Curriculum
Campus Engagement
Public Engagement

Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
https://sou.edu/academics/environmental-science/programs/sustainability-bs/

STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
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A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Third Point of Distinction

Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
Generation of on site renewable energy

A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Solar arrays continue to increase at SOU and are being funded innovatively. The Rogue Valley is an ideal place to generate solar energy and SOU is seeing that it has a role in increasing the capacity of solar energy in Southern Oregon. These are student projects as well as campus administration projects.

Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Air & Climate
Buildings
Energy

Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
https://news.sou.edu/2021/09/solar-arrays-pop-up-at-the-farm-at-sou/

STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
Clean and Renewable Energy

A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://sustainability.sou.edu/new-sou-storage-facility-is-doubly-green/

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.