Universities are major players in the global environmental playing field because they account for hundreds of billions of dollars in circulation in the international economy. As such, how they choose to spend their money can have many impacts, such as supporting or weakening the foundation of various fossil fuel companies through their financial benefit, or by implementing sustainable initiatives on their very own campuses.

Many universities are not transparent when it comes to environmental impact, whether it be through money spent on or off campus. This can be seen by the widespread lack of understanding of sustainable initiative implementation or environmental impact reports on campuses around the world. Because of this, universities do not allow students to hold them accountable environmentally.

Transparency is the first step to accountability, which is expressed through commitment and leads to action. This is how we drive change.

How can universities be more TRANSPARENT?

SUSTAINABILITY LITERACY ASSESSMENT

CONDUCT ANNUAL LITERACY ASSESSMENTS

Sustainability literacy assessments serve faculty and staff in the development of new sustainability curriculum, events, and opportunities by effectively analyzing students knowledge of and beliefs/values surrounding sustainability topics. Assessments completed annually allow personnel to determine if knowledge improves over time in connection with increased educational offerings.

For example, a school might determine that the average freshman got 47% of questions right on the assessment in fall 2019, but the average sophomore in fall 2020 might get 60% of questions right. If this were to follow a year of educational events that specifically targeted the topics most students knew the least about in the 2019 assessment, it can be assumed that these events helped effectively educate students. In this way, annual assessments and accompanying data can support sustainability staff in proposing the allotment of more funds to support these efforts.

SUSTAINABILITY CULTURAL INDICATORS PROGRAM (University of Michigan)

The Sustainability Cultural Indicators Program (SCIP) is a groundbreaking effort designed to inform educational programs and campus operations at the University of Michigan. Two questionnaires (one for faculty and staff and another for students) have been administered to the U-M campus community on a regular basis since Fall 2012. The surveys yield responses from more than 3,500 students and 1,500 faculty and staff members each cycle.

Questions cover carbon neutrality, travel and transportation, waste prevention and conservation, the natural environment, climate change, food, and engagement, awareness, and ratings of campus sustainability initiatives. Outcomes from past surveys are available to the public..

SCIP allots approximately $100,000 every two years for the administration and analysis of these surveys.

STARS

SUBMIT TO THE SUSTAINABILITY TRACKING, ASSESSMENT, AND RATING SYSTEM (STARS)

 

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS) is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.

STARS® is intended to engage and recognize the full spectrum of higher education institutions, from community colleges to research universities. It encompasses long-term sustainability goals for already high-achieving institutions, as well as entry points of recognition for institutions that are taking first steps toward sustainability. STARS is designed to:

  • Provide a framework for understanding sustainability in all sectors of higher education.
  • Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the international campus sustainability community.
  • Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.
  • Facilitate information sharing about higher education sustainability practices and performance.
  • Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.

Out of 1,000+ participating institutions, only 12 universities have earned the highest STARS rating, Platinum.

 

These 12 universities, and their ratings, are:

 

  • Arizona State University: 87.10
  • University of New Hampshire: 86.09
  • UC Merced: 85.50
  • SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry: 85.66
  • Thompson Rivers University: 86.17
  • Cornell University: 86.35
  • Stanford University: 85.88
  • Colorado State University: 88.13
  • UC Berkeley: 85.39
  • UC Irvine: 88.59
  • University of Connecticut: 86.01
  • University of Sherbrooke: 92.73

When most of these top 12 universities have a score that is the equivalent of a “B,” it demonstrates that even the institutions making the biggest sustainability strides have work to do.

ENVIRONMENTAL STAFF

STAFF

Hire one environmental expert, at minimum, to serve as a Sustainability Director in every department on campus. Let them apply their environmental skills to the department’s focus. Allow them to collect data on waste, publish this data, and work to implement sustainable solutions.

ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENTS

Release statements on your commitment to implement sustainable initiatives. Reflect on where you’ve determined there is room to do this and where mistakes have been made. Discuss what the road forward looks like, and what specific steps you will take to meet your goals.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTS

Environmental impact reports serve both members of the public and policymakers on the potential environmental impacts of different physical projects, including new housing or dining complexes or parking lots on university campuses. Many colleges have decade-long Master Plans that cover all potential new buildings or physical changes that are proposed to be made for years to come, after which these plans undergo environmental review and EIRs are produced discussing the results predicted by the research. In the US, this process is outlined by the National Environmental Policy Act.

However, we are asking colleges to release quarterly or semester environmental reports to review the real-time impacts of ongoing projects as they are undergoing construction and utilization. This will allow for real-time analysis of the environmental impacts of university planning projects on all of the key resources outlined in NEPA, including but not limited to noise, aesthetics, air pollution, water pollution, and biological resources.

SUSTAINABILITY WEBSITE

University of British Columbia uses a Website to keep students up to date on Environmental Progress.

Not only does this website share what steps the university is taking to be more sustainable, it also offers students tips on how to be more sustainable themselves, as well as resources, upcoming events, and student groups on climate action in the surrounding area. The website is regularly updated with annual sustainability reports, Climate change accountability reports, courses and certificates offered in sustainability, and so much more. It even highlights paid research opportunities related to sustainability around campus.

PUBLIC WATER BALANCE

Universities must publicize their water balance so students and stakeholders can analyze efficiency in comparison with the local water budget, which includes inputs from rain/snow, potential evapotranspiration, and evaluation of watershed area.

Resources for water balance calculation:

CAMPUS PLANS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

PUBLISH CAMPUS PLANS FOR PUBLIC VIEWING

It is important for students and other campus members to be able to easily access information about a university’s sustainability plan, if they have one. For university ambassadors, this makes it easier for us to know what progress our campus is making and what work still needs to be done.

California State University, Northridge Campus Plan

In 2012, the president of California State University, Northridge requested that a sustainability plan was created for the campus. The plan was first published for the 2012-2013 school year, with annual updates for each school year. This plan consist of ten focus areas and highlights the goals and current progress for each goal of the ten focus areas. CSUN has a website where the plan and its updates can be accessed by anyone.
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