University of Cincinnati
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

UC's 2019 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan included a number of measurable objectives related to academics. Among them:
- Work with every college across the institution to host a co-curricular sustainability lecture or presentation, highlighting esteemed work and perspectives from their respective field annually
- Increase participation in the Office of Sustainability's Environmental Literacy Certificate of Achievement.
- Increase the number of research based projects or competitions that requires students and faculty from different departments and colleges to collaborate.
- Get a mandatory Open Access policy passed through the Faculty Senate.
See more at: https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/climate_action.html

UC's 2019 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan included a number of measurable objectives related to enaggement. Among them:
- Create a green office program where various administrative offices can champion sustainability efforts.
- Create a Green Event checklist and undertake an outreach campaign to promote its usage by UC departments.
- Continue to host the Living in the Neighborhood Series, providing multiple annual opportunities for students to learn about
what it truly means to be a good neighborhood and member of the community.
https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/climate_action.html

UC's 2019 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan included a number of measurable objectives related to operations. Among them:
- Work with Cincinnati 2030 District to reduce building energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions by 50% by the year 2030.
- Establish and herbicide reduction policy.
- Transition 100% of current grab and go program disposable containers to biodegradable (compostable) corn-based plastic containers
https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/climate_action.html

Next Lives Here, UC's strategic plan, rests on multiple objectives related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Among them:
- Increase the diversity and size of faculty to enhance the student experience.
- Instill in our community a sense of belonging, a sense of agency, enhanced cultural competency, and a culture of accountability [as measured by responses to ongoing Community Experience assessments.]
For more, see https://www.uc.edu/about/strategic-direction/innovation-agenda/inclusive-excellence.html and https://www.uc.edu/about/strategic-direction/academic-excellence/faculty-investment.html

Recognizing its environmental stewardship role, the University of Cincinnati seeks to incorporate the concept of sustainability into its academic and research programs; the design, operation, and maintenance of its buildings and landscapes; and its organizational structure and management; while preserving safety and comfort.

Sustainability can be described as each of us doing our part to build the kind of world—economically, environmentally and socially—that we want to live in, and one that we want our children and grandchildren to inherit. It means becoming aware of all interconnections—visible and invisible—in which our day-to-day choices affect the intricate balance of social, economic and ecological systems. https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/about.html

The University of Cincinnati is a member of AASHE and conducts STARS reports every three years, additionally, UC is a member of Second Nature, and submits carbon footprint reports to the organization. UC is also a member of the Cincinnati 2030 District, and has committed to reducing emissions from energy usage, water usage, and transportation by 50% from a 2010 baseline by the year 2030.

Next Lives Here is UC’s highest guiding document and our strategic direction plan and includes multiple objectives that include diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Next Lives Here web page is currently being reformatted. Unfortunately the language specific to sustainability that was part of UC's original submittal has been temporarily removed. Sustainability is going to get its own page on the Next Lives website and is considered a pillar of the Urban Impact section of the plan. The following sustainability content has been approved and will be published very soon.

Sustainability at UC

As a leading public urban university, The University of Cincinnati recognizes its role in sustainable practice, research, and education. UC seeks to consider the environmental, social, and economic impacts of its decisions and commits to incorporating the concept of sustainability into its academic and research programs; the design, operation, and maintenance of its buildings and landscapes; and its organizational structure and management.

The University of Cincinnati is a STARS Gold rated campus as recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), is recognized as a “Cool School” by the Sierra Club, is a designated as a Bike Friendly University by the League of American Cyclists, and is a member of the Cincinnati 2030 District.

The UC 2019 Sustainability + Climate Action Plan, in support of Next Lives Here, provides a guiding framework for how the institution will create and enhance its culture of sustainability while working towards climate action.