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The 2020 AASHE Sustainable Campus Index supplies a comparability of top-performing schools and universities general, and in seventeen campus sustainability impression areas. The index compares colleges in areas like meals, buildings & renewable vitality, sustainability curriculum, public engagement, and variety & affordability.
The comparisons are based mostly on knowledge submitted by establishments to the excellent Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).
The information from 2020 exhibits Cornell main amongst comparable establishments and general in america in campus sustainability. The College was given an ideal rating in 45 reporting areas, and was extremely ranked in a number of bigger class groupings.
General Ranking: Platinum, Highest Obtainable
In early spring of 2020, Cornell turned the first Ivy League institution and the 6th in the world to achieve a STARS Platinum Rating, the very best accessible after Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Participant ranges.
On the time of writing, solely 9 establishments have achieved this accolade.
Cornell beforehand held the honour of longest-running Gold ranked institution in the nation. The College has submitted a sustainability report to STARS every year for the reason that program launched in 2012.
Cornell additionally ranked seventh within the nation amongst all Doctorate granting establishments, trailing after Stanford College, Colorado State, and Arizona State amongst others.
The 2020 Cornell Sustainability Report dives into the small print of how the campus achieved STARS platinum.
Tied for First in Campus Engagement
Cornell tied for first within the nation in sustainability campus engagement.
The establishment scored excellent factors on this class, 100%, with a median nationwide rating of 68.2%. This accolade was achieved alongside Berea College and the University of Connecticut and assessed general campus engagement in creating sustainability tradition and applications. Cornell gained factors for applications just like the assessment of sustainability culture, outreach campaigns, and inexperienced groups and orientation programming, and engagement of each scholar and workers/school communities.
Participating in sustainability by co-curricular actions permits college students, school and workers to deepen and apply their understandings of sustainability rules.
Co-curricular sustainability choices assist combine sustainability into the campus tradition and encourage conduct modifications that promote sustainability.
Try a few of the engagement applications that garnered prime marks for Cornell together with Green Teams, Residential Sustainability Leaders, and more.
Second in Public Engagement
It ought to come as no shock that Cornell carried out nicely within the space of public engagement.
Cornell ranked second on this space with a rating of 97.3%, significantly larger than the nationwide common of 62%.
Public engagment for sustainability charges the College on public service and group volunteering carried out by college students in addition to general campus participation in local weather and sustainability partnerships.
Notably, Cornell college students contributed over 485,000 community service hours final 12 months and the establishment was re-certified with a Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation that signifies an institutional dedication to group engagement.
Study extra about Sustainability Partnerships.
Tied for Third in Coordination & Planning
Cornell was one in all eight Universities to realize an ideal rating for the coordination and planning of sustainability governance on campus.
Cornell has had a participatory sustainability governance committee for the reason that early 2000s, with the latest iteration known as the Sustainable Cornell Council. The establishment additionally receives factors for transparency, having a working Climate Action Plan, and participation from totally different community interest groups in our planning and coordination processes.
Prime Ten in Buildings, Curriculum & Analysis
Cornell is a prime ten performer for the class of sustainable buildings. The common rating on this class for Doctorate-granting establishments is 36.5%, whereas Cornell achieved 59.6% of complete factors.
Cornell carried out equally with Arizona State College and College of California Berkley, whose comparable dimension and campus scope permit for some similarities to be drawn between the 2 campuses.
The establishment misplaced factors on this space for failing to pursue a third-party licensed “current constructing efficiency” program. As of 2020, Cornell has dominated that these applications are pricey and has struggled to justify paying a marketing consultant or program relatively than reintegrating funds again into constructing efficiency instantly.
The College additionally ranked sixth general within the nation for sustainability curriculum improvement, with a rating of 96.1% over the nationwide common of 60.1% on this space, and was tied for second in analysis together with over 15 different establishments with a rating of 100%!
To be taught extra about curriculum & analysis alternatives in sustainability at Cornell, go to our Sustainability Classes page.
Advancing subsequent steps
Though the STARS program is helpful for benchmarking and highlighting areas of success, it additionally permits Cornell and different establishments to hunt areas of continuous enchancment.
Some areas for enchancment in accordance with STARS together with greening College-owned fleet autos, rising buying of native and natural meals, and persevering with to reduce general waste, and enhance composting and recycling on campus.
To be taught extra about Cornell’s 2020 STARS report, Platinum standing, and general metrics, see the 2020 Cornell Annual Sustainability Report produced by the Campus Sustainability Workplace.
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This text was initially revealed on the Cornell University Sustainable Campus website. Subscribe or browse for extra articles on Cornell’s local weather motion and sustainability planning, applications, and progress.
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