| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.83 |
| Liaison | Andrew Porter |
| Submission Date | March 10, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Cincinnati
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.25 / 4.00 |
Daniel
Hart Sustainability Coordinator Planning + Design + Construction |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Published Plans That Address Sustainability
Strategic Plan
Yes
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
See upload file.
A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Sustainability Plan
No
A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Climate Action Plan
Yes
A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
Other Published Plans
Yes
A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
Diversity Plan (ttp://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/diversity/docs/5787-Diversity-Report-2011-2016.pdf.), Landscape Plan ( https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/af/pdc/planning_sustainability/Landscape_FINAL%20%7Bweb%7D.pdf)
Measurable Sustainability Objectives
Curriculum
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Strategic Plan: 1. Charge Presidents Advisory Council on Environment and Sustainability (PACES) to implement education programs and advance state-of-the-art methods and practices to sustainability, based on survey results. 2. Pilot multi-/inter-disciplinary global courses with a sustainability focus in UHP.
3. Create courses in the study of “sustainability,” using various models and within multiple disciplines.
4. Develop minors across the university in sustainability to include input and pedagogy from the US EPA.
Research
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
From the Strategic Plan: 1. Foster and track sustainability-related research.
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:
1. Increase attendance at sustainability programming and outreach. 2. Assess awareness of and commitment to sustainability issues by administering a benchmark survey to campus community.
3. Advance educational outreach and programming (e.g., the Climate 101 Lecture Series, student groups in sustainability,
environmental literacy program, etc.).
Public Engagement
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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:
The University of Cincinnati completed its first Climate Action Plan on September 15, 2009 and is updating it for spring 2017. The comprehensive document includes an in-depth study of the University's carbon inventory and existing practices in categories such as transporation, buildings, energy, education, outreach, etc. The Climate Action Plan then outlines a long-term objective of climate neutrality, and a short-term objective for reducing UC's relative carbon footprint (in Metric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalent per square foot) from the 2009 baseline. It also details possible solutions for making the University more sustainable and reaching its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. See more at https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/climate_action.html.
Buildings
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
UC created the Sustainable Design Policy in 2001, committing the institution to build all new construction and major renovations, whenever possible, to LEED Silver standards or higher.
Energy
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The University of Cincinnati completed its first Climate Action Plan on September 15, 2009 and is updating it for spring 2017. The comprehensive document includes an in-depth study of the University's carbon inventory and existing practices in several categories, including energy. The Climate Action Plan then outlines a long-term objective of increasing energy effieicincy and the use of renewables on campus, including a short-term objective for reducing UC's relative energy consumption (in MMBTU per square foot) from the 2009 baseline. It also details possible ways of reaching those goals. See more at https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/climate_action.html.
Food & Dining
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The University of Cincinnati completed its first Climate Action Plan on September 15, 2009 and is updating it for spring 2017. The comprehensive document includes an in-depth study of the University's carbon inventory and existing practices in several categories, including food and dining--with the recognition that agricultural, food choices and food waste are both significant contributor to global warming. The Climate Action Plan then outlines a long-term objective of reducing food waste, promoting and purchasing lower-carbon-intensity food choices (e.g. fewer meat products, especially red meat) and more local food. It also details possible ways of reaching those goals. See more at https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/climate_action.html.
Grounds
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
See our Sustainable Landscape Plan:: https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/af/pdc/planning_sustainability/Landscape_FINAL%20%7Bweb%7D.pdf A few examples: Reduce the number of high maintenance lawn areas; Increase reliance on integrated pest management (I.P.M.) to maintain undesirable pest species; Reduce use of toxic and/or hazardous materials, and lower use of chemicals, petroleum
products, and fuels in general; Reduce use of rock salt and related deleterious chemicals for snow and ice removal operations
Purchasing
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Transportation
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Transportation accounts for about 18% of the University of Cincinnati's carbon footprint; therefore, it is an important focus of our Climate Action Plan and sustainability goals. Below are some of the transportation goals codified in the CAP (all are based on a 2009 baseline): - Increase bicycle use and pedestrian ism.
- Decrease commuting by automobile/increase ride-share and public transportation. Increase percentage of students, faculty and staff living within walking distance of UC.
- Educate UC community about the negative impacts of automobile and air travel and the positive impacts on health, society and environment of more active commuting methods and public transportation. - Create "no idling" policy.
- Create guidelines and recommendations for distance traveled, trips, etc. to reduce automobiles usage.
- As vehicles are retired, replace them with hybrid, electric, alternative fuel, and high efficiency vehicles.
- Make the fleet as small and as efficient as possible.
- Create better system of tracking air travel for official UC business, as well as voluntary tracking of personal travel to and from school.
Waste
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Increase annual recycling and composting as a percentage of waste stream to 70%.
Water
Yes
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The University of Cincinnati is in the process of creating a comprehensive stormwater management master plan. Completion of a stormwater management planning was a "first step" and a measurable objective included in UC's original Climate Action Plan, completed in 2009. The new Stormwater Management Master Plan will identify ways to reduce UC stormwater runoff which contributes millions of gallons of water per year into Cincinnati's combined sewer system, and will set targets for reducing such run-off. Several stormwater runoff mitigation projects are already underway.
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:
See our Diversity Plan: http://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/diversity/docs/5787-Diversity-Report-2011-2016.pdf. Two examples of the dozen-plus measurable objectives in the plan are the following: - Goal I, Objective C: Undergraduate Retention & Graduation - UC will develop and implement a plan to move all undergraduates to retention and graduation targets stated in UC2019 resulting in no performance gaps between underrepresented students and majority students. - Goal II, Objective A: In five years, every college will increase the percentage of African American, women and other traditionally
unrepresented faculty of color in tenure-track positions consistent with college goals established as part of the implementation of the UC Affirmative Action Plan.
Investment & Finance
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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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:
UC's BeWell imitative has a 3 Year Plan. During Year 2 (AY16-17), the goals are the following:
- Provide support/resource group opportunities
- First incentive premium reduction to reach employees January 2017
- Focus Areas: behavioral health (mental wellness/stress management) To learn more, see http://www.uc.edu/hr/bewelluc/about.html
Other Impact Areas
No
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Optional Fields
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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) | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
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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:
http://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/climate_action.html
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.