University of Vermont
IN-24: Innovation A

UVM created a tool to make the STARS data collection and submission process much easier. Up to 150 individuals at institutions of higher education are now using this tool. This is not only a shell of a file structure for the STARS credits, but also includes a “mission control” sheet tracking progress by credit, data contact and section. This sheet also features a formula that calculates current STARS rating level and potential rating to help institutions see what needs to be achieved to keep them on track with their goal. This STARS data collection tool allowed the UVM Office of Sustainability to better engage senior leaders and other campus stakeholders in the data collection and review process. The ability to simply click on a link, start typing, and not even have to worry about saving (because everything automatically saves in Google Drive) was one of the biggest advantages to using this system. With this system we could also send individual credits to specific people, so that they did not get overwhelmed with the complexity of the whole report or access documents that are not relevant to them. In addition to sharing the organizational structure of the data collection system with other institutions, we shared best practices in communication and approach for some of the more time-intensive credits. We shared four letter templates for the various stages of data collection that could be customized for another institution. We also shared our course inventory methods, communication examples and organizational tool for AC1. A testament to the effectiveness of our use of this tool at UVM is its use within the STARS community. Individuals at more than fifteen institutions have requested and received the Google Drive file system directly, including: UMass Amherst, Green Mountain College, Skidmore, Soka University of America, UMass Lowell, University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of Central Florida, Humber College, Naropa University, Johnson County Community College, Towson University, University of Louisville, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Miami, and The University of Mississippi. This is not a complete list of institutions who have benefitted from the Google Drive structure we created. Here is a link to the email that was sent to the individuals listed and also shared more widely on various listservs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1utfvENsrHjxDMSJG-stwk_dYLs0CJERnLfKMSWGGXHs/edit?usp=sharing This innovation exceeds the expectations of various standard credits in the following areas: EN-11 Intercampus Collaboration: This innovation was presented several times, including at the 2016 AASHE conference, on an AASHE webinar, at NECSC, and at Smart & Sustainable. This is a link to the Powerpoint that was presented: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18goVuK1GY945B9OOOC4AVXRkKIDlPpuBual_VPYExTo/edit?usp=sharing Our office has an ongoing mentoring relationship with more than 15 institutions who have adopted this platform. Others were influenced but are not necessarily using our exact templates. The total influence of our resource sharing (through a combination of direct share, presentations and listservs) has likely exceeded 150 individuals. PA-2 Sustainability Planning: Our STARS process in 2016 began a new kind of sustainability planning and communications effort on campus by having communications flow both top-down and bottom-up. UVM’s program goes beyond having central plans by putting direct ownership of sustainability goal-setting, achievements, and work plans put into the hands of individual departments led by individual senior leaders across the institution. The overarching university goal to achieve STARS Gold provided the incentive.

Contact sustain@uvm.edu for more information