• Article VI: Standing Committees
    A. Types of Committees, At UMW, there are a number of committees that provide assistance to campus operations and provide input on campus policies and procedures. They are described as follows: Informal or ad hoc committees as may be constituted by the Chancellor, Provost and/or Deans, usually for a particular purpose and may be for a limited time-frame. Due to the nature and number of these committees, they are not…, B. Standing Committees, Committee on Scientific and Research Affairs Duties The Committee on Scientific Research and Affairs (CSRA) provides faculty input for considering and evaluating activities relating to research conducted in or administered through UMW. The Committee shall review the annual budget for the Office of Research and make recommendations to the Chancellor, Provost, Deans and the Executive Vice…
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  • Article VII: Amendment
    The Faculty Council and Executive Council shall periodically review the Governance Document at a minimum of every five years. Amendments to this document shall require approval by two-thirds vote of both the Faculty Council and the Executive Council. If approved by both Councils, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Faculty-at-large for a simple majority vote for or against its…, Doc. T03-035, as amended | University of Massachusetts Worcester Governance Document, Passed by the Board of Trustees on August 6, 2003 Revised: August 23, 2006 September 18, 2013
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  • UMass Amherst Graduate Student Government Constitution (T12-001)
    Doc. T12-001, as amended, Passed by the Board of Trustees on February 7, 2012 Latest revision: September 19, 2024, Preamble, We, the Graduate Students of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in order to establish a democratic system for Graduate Students in University governance, and recognizing the necessity of organizing in order to attain a just, cooperative society which serves the interests of graduate students, and further recognizing the necessity for immediate and ongoing action to effectuate cooperation…, Article I. Name, Section 1: ,    The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Student Government of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, herein referred to as the GSG., Article II. Authority, Section 1:,  This constitution shall supersede any other previously existing system of campus wide governance for the University graduate student population., Section 2:,  The GSG derives its authority from the graduate students of the University, through election, and by actions of the Board of Trustees approving this Constitution, as provided in Section 3, Chapter 75 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts., Section 3: , The GSG, in its responsibilities and relationships with other governing components of the University, shall be governed by the Board of Trustees’ Statement on University Governance (Trustee Document T73-098, as amended)., Section 4:,   All bylaws, acts, procedures and all other actions of the GSG, shall be consistent with this Constitution and Trustee Document T73-098, as amended., Article III. Purpose, Section 1: ,    The purpose of the GSG shall be: To ensure the representation of all degree seeking graduate students, herein referred to as graduate students, of the University of Massachusetts Amherst; To discuss and recommend policies affecting the campus and the University as a whole; To promote graduate student participation in the development of policies and procedures within all aspects of the…, Article IV. Membership, Section 1: , All graduate students of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, herein denoted the University, that meet the qualifications for GSG membership as defined in Article IV Section 2 shall be entitled to be members of the GSG, and shall have an equal voice and, Section 2:,  “Graduate Student Government member”, shall hereby be defined as any graduate student of the University of Massachusetts Amherst who is subject to and has paid, the Graduate Student Government Fee for the calendar time to which it is applicable., Section 3:,  “Graduate Student Government membership”, shall hereby be defined as all GSG members., Section 4:,  “Graduate Student Government officer”, shall hereby be defined as any GSG member who holds an elected or appointed position within the Graduate Student Government., Section 5:,  “Membership in attendance”, shall hereby be defined as the total count of the votes in the affirmative and in the negative but excluding any abstentions. Abstentions shall not be counted towards the overall vote count., Section 6:,  Any GSG member receiving any form of compensation for services carried out in the name of, and for the express purpose of furthering the mission of the Graduate Student Government, shall be treated as an Officer of the Graduate Student Government., Article V. Composition of Government, Section 1:,  The GSG shall be composed of three branches of Government: the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. All elected and appointed officers of the GSG shall be members of the GSG, as defined in Article IV of this Constitution. No GSG member shall hold elected or appointed office in more than one branch of the government, except as provided for by the General Bylaws of the GSG. No GSG member…, Section 2:,  The University Student Trustee as defined by the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, shall be an ex-officio officer of the GSG., Article VI. Graduate Student Government Fee, Section 1:,  The GSG shall levy a fee to fund the operations of governmental procedure and disperse its funds in the interest of graduate students and as prescribed in the General Bylaws of the GSG., Section 2: , Any recommended increase in the GSG Fee of over 7.5% shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting, and an affirmative vote of the GSG membership through an Action Referendum., Article VII. The Legislative, Section 1:,  The legislative authority of the GSG shall be vested in the Senate., Section 2:,  The membership of the Senate shall be composed of representatives, herein denoted as Senators, apportioned by the Senate to Electoral Districts, as defined by the General Bylaws of the GSG., Section 3:,  Senators shall be elected in a manner prescribed by the General Bylaws of the GSG and shall serve for a term prescribed therein., Section 4:,  The Speaker of the Senate: The Senate shall provide for the election of, from its voting membership, a Speaker of the Senate, herein denoted the Speaker, who shall serve as the chief presiding officer and the chief clerk and parliamentarian of the Senate. The Speaker may only be a sworn-in Senator, in good standing, according to the General Bylaws of the GSG. The Speaker shall be responsible for…, Section 5:, The Associate Speaker of the Senate: The Senate shall provide for the election of, from its voting membership, an Associate Speaker of the Senate, herein denoted the Associate Speaker, who shall serve as the chief historian and chief coordination officer of the Senate. The Associate Speaker may only be a sworn-in Senator, in good standing, according to the General Bylaws of the GSG. If a vacancy…, Section 6:,  The Senate shall have the power to: Review and make recommendations regarding the Graduate Student Government Fee. Determine and provide for its rules and procedures, elect its officers, and fix the time and place of its meetings, provided that there be a regular meeting with fixed time and place at least once every month of the regular academic calendar of the University. This shall not…, Section 7:,  The Senate shall not: Take an action abridging any of the powers delegated to it by this Constitution. Deny the rights and privileges of Senate membership to any duly elected or appointed Senator, except as provided for by this Constitution or the General Bylaws of the GSG. Recommend the appropriation of monies for a period of more than one (1) fiscal year. Recommend the increase or decrease in…, Section 8:, The procedures of the Senate shall be as follows: No bill, unless otherwise provided for by the General Bylaws of the GSG, shall become an Act of the GSG unless it shall have been introduced to the Senate, read, and passed by a majority vote of its membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting. No bill, unless otherwise provided for by this Constitution or the General Bylaws of the GSG, shall…, Section 9:,  Special Senate Meetings may be called by: The Speaker of the Senate, at the request of any member of the graduate student body or any representative of the University Administration. The Speaker shall be empowered to deny this request. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Senate, by petition to the Steering Committee. The petition shall be verified and approved for accuracy by the Steering Committee…, Article VIII. The Executive, Section 1:,  The executive authority of the GSG shall be vested in the GSG President, herein denoted the President, and other lesser executive officers recognized by this Constitution or the General Bylaws of the GSG., Section 2:,  The President and Vice President shall run on a joint-ticket and the Treasurer on a separate ticket. The aforementioned positions shall be popularly elected by a majority or plurality of the GSG membership voting, on or before March 31st of each calendar year and shall serve for a term of one (1) year, here defined as June 1st to May 31st. Elections shall be held in a manner prescribed by the…, Section 3:,  In the event of the vacancy of the President, the Vice President shall assume the Office of the President. The vacancy of the Vice President shall be filled by appointment from the President in accordance with the General Bylaws of the GSG. Should the Office of President and Vice President become vacant at the same time, the Treasurer shall assume the Office of the President. The vacancy of the…, Section 4:,  The President shall have the power to: Act as the chief executive of the GSG. Take care that all the provisions of this Constitution, the General Bylaws of the GSG, and Acts of the GSG are faithfully executed. Appoint, upon a majority vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting, the Executive Cabinet. Appoint, upon a majority vote of the Senate membership in attendance at…, Section 5:, The Vice President shall have the power to: Act as the head of the Executive Branch when the President is not in attendance. Act for the President as their official representative in all capacities with the exception of signing or vetoing legislation, so long as the President has given prior consent to their actions. At such times as the President deems necessary, become Acting President and to…, Section 6:,  The Treasurer shall have the power to: Act as the chief financial officer of the GSG. Take care that all the financial provisions of this Constitution, the General Bylaws of the GSG, and Acts of the GSG are faithfully executed. Manage the Graduate Student Government Trust Fund in conjunction with the Senate, as prescribed in the General Bylaws of the Graduate Student Government. Control…, Article IX. Judicial, Section 1:, The Judicial authority of the GSG shall be vested in a Judiciary., Section 2:,  The Judiciary shall have original jurisdiction over any controversy arising under this Constitution, the General Bylaws of the GSG, or any Act of the GSG., Section 3: , The Judiciary shall be composed of five (5) Justices appointed by the GSG President and confirmed by a majority vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting. The Justices shall serve from the date of their swearing-in until they resign or graduate from the University. The Chief Justice and Associate Chief Justice shall be elected at the start of every academic year, as…, Section 4:,  The Judiciary may hold, by declaratory judgment, any act by any agent of the Executive or Legislative Branches of the GSG, or of any agency directly associated with the GSG, or of any candidate for GSG office, to be unconstitutional, or in violation of any Bylaw or Act of the GSG, and therefore, invalid, provided said action is not a governance item approved by the Board of Trustees., Section 5:,  Any person(s), with the exception of serving Justices of the Judiciary, may file with the Judiciary a Petition for a Ruling on the constitutionality or validity of any act by any agent of the Executive or Legislative Branches of the GSG, or of any agency directly associated with the GSG, or of any candidate for GSG office, within sixty (60) calendar days of said action. The Judiciary shall issue…, Section 6:,  The Quorum for the conduct of business for the Judiciary shall be four (4) Justices. No business shall be conducted by the Judiciary without quorum., Section 7:,  Chief Justice & Associate Chief Justice: The Judiciary shall provide for the election of, from its voting membership, a Chief Justice of the Judiciary, herein denoted the Chief Justice, who shall serve as the chief presiding officer of the Judiciary. The Judiciary shall provide for the election of, from its voting membership, an Associate Chief Justice of the Judiciary, herein denoted the…, Article X. The Steering Committee, Section 1:,  The Steering Committee shall serve as an intermediary body, consisting of GSG leadership, in order to promote and strategize a plan for, and the direction of, the GSG. The purpose of the Steering Committee is to ensure cooperation and coordination between the branches of the GSG Government, and ensure necessary functions of government are carried out. The task and charges of the committee shall…, Section 2:,  The President shall be the Chair of the Steering Committee, with the Speaker as the Vice Chair. The membership of the Steering Committee in its entirety is as follows: President Vice President Treasurer Chief Justice Speaker Two (2) Chairs of a GSG Standing Committee, as provided in the General Bylaws of the GSG, with appointment to the Steering Committee via a majority vote of the Senate., Article XI. Referenda, Section 1:,  There shall be two primary types of referenda: Action - An Action Referendum, if approved, shall become an Act of the GSG, shall not be subject to presidential veto, and when such an action is intended as a formal recommendation from the GSG, as a governance body, it shall be submitted in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Trustee Document T73-098, as amended. Advisory - An Advisory…, Section 2:,  All referenda shall be clearly labeled and understood by the GSG membership to be either an Action or Advisory Referendum., Section 3:,  Referenda shall be initiated by any one of the following: The Senate The GSG President The signatures, on a petition, of not less than five percent (5%) of the GSG membership., Section 4:,  No referenda shall be considered valid unless approved by no less than five percent (5%) of the GSG membership., Article XII. Amendments to the General Bylaws of the GSG, Section 1:,  The General Bylaws of the GSG may be amended in accordance with the General Bylaws of the GSG and by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting., Article XIII. Amendments to the Constitution of the GSG, Section 1:,  An amendment to this Constitution shall be passed upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a Regular or Special meeting of the GSG, provided that the proposed change shall have been presented at a previous Regular or Special Meeting of the GSG, and with a majority vote of the GSG membership voting on the amendment through an Action Referendum., Section 2:,  Amendments to this Constitution shall be effective only after approval by the Board of Trustees., Section 3:,  If the amendment process of this Constitution shall have been invoked, then, following an amendment's passage in the Senate, the amendment shall appear as an Action Referendum before the GSG membership, no more than thirty (30) calendar days from the calendar date of the amendment's passage in the Senate., Article XIV. Ratification, Section 1:,  This Constitution shall be ratified upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Senate membership in attendance at a scheduled meeting, a majority vote of the voting GSG membership on an Action Referendum, and the approval of the Board of Trustees.  , Doc. T12-001, as amended | Graduate Student Government Constitution, Amherst, Passed by the Board of Trustees on February 7, 2012 Revised: September 19, 2012 September 19, 2024
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  • Policy on Student Accounts Receivable & Administrative Standards (T13-091)
    Doc. T13-091, Passed by the Board of Trustees on September 18, 2013, I. Introduction, This policy will assist the individual student account holder in meeting his or her financial obligation to the University and will also assist the President and the Chancellors in carrying out their fiduciary responsibility to the citizens of the Commonwealth. This policy and its related standards establish guidelines for the timely collection of past due and delinquent student accounts. This…, II. Policy Statement, A. Principles of Receivables Management, Student accounts shall be administered by each campus according to the following principles of financial management: Each campus shall have written policies and procedures for the administration of student accounts. Each campus shall have a system of internal controls for managing the accounts receivable process. Each campus shall perform a periodic review of past due accounts and prepare an…, B. Financial Reporting, Each campus shall prepare financial reports on student accounts receivable at the end of fall and spring semesters. The specific reports are defined in the Student Accounts Standards., C. Roles and Responsibilities, President The President working in concert with the Campus Chancellors have the fiduciary responsibility for the collection of all funds due the University of Massachusetts. The President hereby assigns to the Chancellor or their designee general responsibility for collection of all amounts owed to the University. Responsibility for accounts receivable due the President's Office or University…, III. Standards, The President, in consultation with the Chancellors shall formulate, and may amend from time to time, Standards to implement this policy. At their discretion, University campuses and departments may impose more restrictive guidelines for budgetary or control reasons.
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  • Standards for the Policy on Student Accounts Receivable
    (Doc. T13-091), I. Introduction, Student Accounts Receivable Standards apply to the administration of student accounts. Campuses may establish campus policies and guidelines within the scope of University policy regarding the development of student accounts receivable policy. Campus policies and guidelines may be more, but not less, restrictive than the President’s Administrative Standards. This Standard applies to all…, II. Policy for Student Accounts, The Policy for Student Accounts Receivables (T13-091) and these standards establishes general documentation and reporting requirements. Section II defines the standard for satisfying the requirements of the following policy:, A. Principles of Receivables Management, Student accounts shall be administered by each campus according to the following principles of financial management: Each campus shall have written policies and procedures for the administration of student accounts. Each campus shall have a system of internal controls for managing the accounts receivable process. Each campus shall perform a periodic review of past due accounts and prepare an…, B. Past Due or Delinquent Student Accounts, When a student account is past due or delinquent as defined by these Standards, the campus shall place the student account on financial hold status. The Standards to the Accounts Receivable Policy (detailed below) list the administrative actions that will be initiated by each campus. Chief among them is the denial of registration for future semesters. If the account is not paid in full after…, C. Financial Reporting, Each campus shall prepare financial reports on student accounts receivable at the end of fall and spring semesters. The specific reports are defined in the II.C below., D. Roles and Responsibilities, President The President working in concert with the Campus Chancellors have the fiduciary responsibility for the collection of all funds due the University of Massachusetts. The President hereby assigns to the Chancellor or their designee general responsibility for collection of all amounts owed to the University. Responsibility for accounts receivable due the President's Office or University…, II. Standards Statement, A. Management of Receivables, The University campuses must have written policies and procedures, and a system of internal controls for managing the accounts receivable process. Written procedures should include at a minimum: Requirements for establishing and recording a receivable. Collection actions and timeline for the collection process. Requirements for placing holds on student records. Approvals for adjustments to…, B. Past Due Receivables, The student account is considered past due if payment is not made by the payment deadline. A student account is considered delinquent when a balance greater than $1000 is outstanding for more than two consecutive semesters. Past due accounts should be reviewed at appropriate intervals including at the end of the add/drop period and prior to the start of the registration period for the next…, C. Financial Reporting Requirement, On a regular basis but no less than at the end of the fall and spring semesters, the campus Controller or their designee will: Age all accounts receivable amounts. Review all accounts receivable that are one year or more past due for write-off. Calculate an estimate of uncollectable accounts receivable amounts. For debts older than four years and inactive, authorize a mandatory write-off of the…, D. Campus Student Account Policies and Guidelines, Any campus within the University may issue student account policies or guidelines that relate to matters of interest predominantly within that particular campus as long as those policies do not conflict with University of Massachusetts Board of Trustee Student Account Policies and University Standards and are consistent with applicable law. These policies or guidelines are to be referred to as…
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  • Policy for Creating and Establishing Board Policy & Standards (T13-093)
    Doc. T13-093, as amended, Passed by the Board of Trustees on September 18, 2013 Latest revision: September 16, 2015, I. Introduction, In addition to state and federal laws and regulations, the University of Massachusetts is managed in part through a series of University of Massachusetts Board Policies. This Board Policy and related Standards outline the protocol for issuing, revising and rescinding University of Massachusetts Board Policies. Board Policies are policies that affect the entire University and require Board of…, II. Policy Statement, A Board Policy is defined by all of the following criteria: It has broad application throughout the University; It contains specific procedures for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, promotes operational efficiencies, supports the University’s mission; The subject matter requires approval by the Board of Trustees. Board Policies will be kept current and made readily available…, III. Responsibilities for Issuing, Revising or Rescinding a Policy, Policy Review President’s Council The President’s Council (President, Executive & Senior Vice Presidents, and Chancellors) shall be responsible for the review of new or revised Board Policies and for the review of Board Policies to be rescinded. The President’s Council will recommend policies for approval by the Board. University Councils The University Councils (e.g. Academic Affairs,…, IV. Standards, The President, in consultation with the Vice President(s) and Chancellors, will issue Standards to implement this Board Policy. Campuses may establish Campus policies, procedures and guidelines within the scope of this Board Policy (and Standards). Campus policies, procedures and guidelines may be more, but not less, restrictive than the standards.  , Doc. T13-093, as amended | Policy for Creating and Establishing Board Policy & Standards, Passed by the Board of Trustees on September 18, 2013 Revised: September 16, 2015
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  • Policy for Creating and Establishing Board Policy Standards
    (Doc. T13-093, as amended), I. Introduction, Creating and Establishing Board Policy Standards sets forth the protocol for issuing, revising and rescinding University of Massachusetts Board Policies. Campuses may establish Campus policies, procedures and guidelines within the scope of Board Policy. Campus policies, procedures and guidelines may be more, but not less restrictive than the President’s Administrative Standards. This Standard…, II. Standards Statement, Development of a new or revised Board Policy Development of a new Policy Any campus, the system office or a Trustee can identify a need for a new Board Policy and accordingly request that a new Policy be developed. Proposals for new Policies are to be submitted initially to Secretary to the Board of Trustees. Upon receipt of the proposal, the Board Secretary will provide copies to the pertinent…, III. Responsibilities, President’s Council (President, Executive & Senior Vice Presidents, and Chancellors) The responsibilities of the President’s Council include: Ensuring that all Board Policies are current and compliant with all statutory requirements and law; Approving or rejecting the final draft of a Board Policy before it is submitted to the Board of Trustees for approval, or; Making changes as necessary or…
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  • Sustainability Policy & Administrative Standards (T16-055)
    Doc. T16-055, Passed by the Board of Trustees on December 9, 2016, Purpose, The Sustainability Policy exemplifies the long-term commitment of the five campuses of UMass to be good stewards of fiscal and environmental resources. Our environmental responsibility is rooted in the University’s founding as a land-grant institution, designed to bolster good stewardship of land and industry as well as to serve the greater public good. With stewardship in mind, the efforts and…, I. Introduction, The University of Massachusetts which includes five campuses in Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell and the Medical School in Worcester has made a collective commitment to be “good stewards of resources”. This includes responsibly managing our fiscal resources, investing in our capital assets, continuing our commitment to being environmentally responsible, and, in direct alignment with UMass’ core…, II. Policy Statement, Overarching Principles, The University of Massachusetts is committed to responsible stewardship of resources and to demonstrating leadership in sustainable business practices. The University’s five campuses should be continuously improving our practices for sustainability consistent with available funding. The guiding principles for the University of Massachusetts Sustainability Policy include: Sustainability Strategic…, Principles with Goals, Sustainability Strategic Planning, - Integration of sustainability planning, practices, and strategies into the University’s strategic planning processes. Goal 1.1 – Complete a sustainability plan with a focus on energy projects at each campus, or update any existing plans, to align with the principles and goals outlined in this policy in order to adequately and efficiently understand the energy needs and potential sustainability…, Clean Energy, - Supports the development and use of clean and renewable energy sources. Goal 2.1 – Achieve UMass’ commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 or as specified through the sustainability planning process occurring through the development of campus-specific action plans, as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and meet sustainability objectives, and UMass…, Climate Resilience and Preparedness, - Implementation of strategies to mitigate or reduce environmental impact. Goal 3.1 – Build climate resilience and preparedness standards into the University’s capital planning process, emergency management and business continuity planning., Green Building Design and Sustainable Campus Operations, - Strategies to address emissions associated with designing, building, maintaining, and operating campus buildings and grounds. Goal 4.1 – Any new construction must meet the MA Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Plus green building standards, (LEED most current version) or other standards as identified in Goal 1.1 as being necessary to achieve carbon reduction commitments and…, Sustainable Transportation, - Integrating sustainable best practices for the use and maintenance of campus fleets, student/employee commuters, and public transportation options. Goal 5.1 – Reduce vehicle fuel consumption of the University vehicle fleet through promoting the use of public transportation, reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles and increasing the use of other alternative fuel transportation for…, Waste Reduction and Recycling, - Promote strategies to encourage waste reduction and re-use and acknowledge the importance of preventative measures. Goal 6.1 – Employ strategies around preventative measures in waste diversion to promote source reduction, re-use and recycling of used materials., Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, - Implement a procurement approach to access environmentally-conscious products whenever applicable and available. Goal 7.1 – Establish Environmentally-Preferable Products Procurement Program (EPP) and continue to implement annual procurement goals to move toward alignment with the standards of the Environmental Purchasing Advisory Council wherever appropriate and consistent with available…, Sustainable Food Services, - Supporting sustainable food systems through food and beverage purchases. Goal 8.1 – Strive for each campus food service operation to procure sustainable food products while maintaining accessibility and affordability for all students and campus patrons., Sustainable Water Systems, - Reducing campus water withdrawals can reduce pressures on local aquifers, streams, rivers, lakes, and aquatic wildlife. Goal 9.1 – Reduce potable water usage and determine goals consistent with capital investments and annual programs implemented in support of reducing potable water., Academic and Research Programming and Community Engagement, - Ensuring Sustainability is part of Academic and Research programming and part of community engagement efforts. Goal 10.1 – The UMass Sustainability Council will work with their respective campus curriculum governance units to identify where Academic and Research Programming and Community Engagement involving Sustainability already exists, and to explore more formal incorporation into core…, III. Reporting, The University will measure and track progress on achieving defined goals through the current reporting requirements of the ACUPCC and Leading by Example. With accountability and transparency in mind, the University commits to provide an annual report regarding each campus’ sustainability activities to University Board of Trustees. The University is committed to transparent and consistent…, IV. Delegation, The President and Chancellors may delegate all or any part of their authority set forth in this Policy in accordance with the University’s delegation policy., V. Standards, The President, in consultation with the Vice President(s) and Chancellors, will issue administrative standards to implement this policy.
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  • Administrative Standards for the Sustainability Policy
    (Doc. T16-055), I. Introduction, Sustainability Standards are intended to assist in the implementation of the University’s Sustainability Policy. The policy provides a framework within which the University reviews its progress toward meeting its sustainability goals. The University’s commitment to sustainability practices are not strictly limited to the topics outlined. The University endeavors to demonstrate leadership in…, II. Standards Statement, Principles – Goals – For each of the Principles, goals were established to determine how the principle would be evaluated over time. For background, each of the goals was evaluated to address the following questions: Define the goal issue and provide background information to understand the goal in layperson terms. Why is this goal important to highlight? Where do the University/campuses…, III. Related Procedures, Forms and Other Resources, Follow the links for each principle/goal below:
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  • Principle 1: Goal 1.1
    Item Description Principle 1 Sustainability Strategic Planning – Integration of sustainability planning and strategies into the University’s strategic planning processes. Goal 1.1 Complete a sustainability plan with a focus on energy projects at each campus, or update any existing plans, to align with the principles and goals outlined in this policy in order to adequately and efficiently…, Define the goal issue and provide background info to understand the goal in lay terms., The purpose of an energy master plan and/or sustainability plan centers on the need to evaluate where each campus stands as it relates to energy projects and show how university commitments for carbon emissions reduction, green building designs, and other sustainability objectives will be met, with approximate timelines and costs for meeting those commitments and objectives. To date, each campus…, Why is this goal important to highlight?, When undertaking substantial initiatives or new policies it is important to evaluate the current situation to assist in determining the proper course moving forward. Sustainability planning/energy master planning allows each campus to map out options and prioritize projects dependent on funding sources and their general impact on University operations., Where do the University/campuses currently stand in meeting this goal?, Currently, the Amherst campus has completed an Energy Master Plan and is in the process of implementing the plan. However, the other four campuses have not undergone a formal evaluation and planning session., Are there other groups/departments who will be critical in meeting this goal?, While sustainability/energy master plans transcend all areas of the campuses and potentially spark priority conversations, the crucial departments involved in this process are sustainability and facilities/operations., What has been done in the past to advance towards this goal?, As previously stated, the Amherst campus has recently completed an Energy Master Plan and are utilizing it to determine projects and priorities. The other campuses have not undergone this type of comprehensive planning., What does the University/campus need to do in order to reach this goal?, The University must support these planning processes across all of the campuses for a consistent picture of where campuses currently stand and what can be done in the future to meet their energy needs in a sustainable and affordable manner. Each campus must engage their constituencies to engage in this planning as a way to accomplish many of the goals contained in this policy.
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