Ithaca College has made a number of commitments at the institution level to ensure that our graduates are prepared with the persistence, knowledge, and innovation required to deal with today's climate and social challenges.
Campus Commitments
AMERICAN COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS' CLIMATE COMMITMENT
In 2007, then-President Peggy R. Williams signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) on behalf of Ithaca College. The ACUPCC is a joint effort between the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), ecoAmerica, Second Nature, and presidents in higher education to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions. When signing the commitment, President Williams pledged Ithaca College would initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve complete greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, create institutional structures that will help guide the development of that plan, and complete a comprehensive inventory of all GHG emissions.
CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
In the fall of 2009, the Board of Trustees approved the Ithaca College Climate Action Plan - a comprehensive proposal for the College to reach climate neutrality. It established our goal of 2050 and serves as a framework for organization and benchmarking tools today. The Plan calls for transparency in development and implementation and requires frequent progress reports. In 2017, a Climate Action Plan Reassessment Team was formed to evaluate progress made from 2009 to present. In 2019, the Team completed the new Energy Roadmap to help accelerate campus carbon reductions.
Climate Action Plan -
Climate Action Plan (pdf)
Ithaca College NYSERDA REV Campus Challenge Energy Roadmap (2019) -
Energy Roadmap Final _ 20190715_combined (pdf)
Building off of the 2009 Climate Action Plan, the Energy Roadmap helps to provide an updated guide of potential actions to guide energy and greenhouse gas reduction actions.
2015 IC Campus Master Plan -
2015 Campus Master Plan (pdf)
The 2015 Master Plan represents an outline to the next chapter to be written in the story of Ithaca College. This Plan supported by Perkins Eastman Architects engaged a Master Planning Committee consisting of faculty, students and staff from IC in this planning process.
NYSERDA Clean Green Campuses Initiative
Ithaca College is committed to participation with the New York State Energy Research & Development Agency's (NYSERDA) Clean Green Campuses initiative. This initiative is a membership network of two- and four-year, public and private colleges and universities in New York State exploring ways to lower carbon emissions and contribute to a just energy transition on their campuses and surrounding communities.
NYSERDA
NYSERDA
SECOND NATURE CARBON COMMITMENT
Ithaca College has been a member of Second Nature since 2007. Colleges that sign the Commitment recognize the speed with which impacts of climate change are being experienced, and have committed their institutions to climate neutrality.
Ithaca College Affiliations
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Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
AASHE is the leading association for the advancement of sustainability in higher education. We serve a full range of higher education faculty, administrators, staff and students who are change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. Established in 2005, AASHE is comprised of over 900 members across 48 U.S. states, 1 U.S. Territory, 9 Canadian provinces and 20 countries.
Ithaca College is a proud member of AASHE and an accomplished reporter to the STARS benchmarking tool. Most recently, IC has received a GOLD rating from STARS.
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Second Nature is committed to accelerating climate action in, and through, higher education. They do this by mobilizing a diverse array of higher education education institutions to act on bold climate commitments, to scale campus climate initiatives, and to create innovative climate solutions.
Ithaca College has been a member of Second Nature since 2007 and reports carbon emissions data annually.
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The overall vision of the Green Power Partnership is to protect human health and the environment by expanding U.S. renewable energy markets through the voluntary use of green power.
Ithaca College has been a Green Power Partner and has purchased certified green power for its electric energy since 2017.
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New York State's REV Campus Challenge
The REV Campus Challenge promotes clean energy efforts by recognizing and supporting colleges and universities in New York State that implement clean energy projects and principles on campus, in the classroom, and in surrounding communities. The Challenge recognizes colleges and universities that strive to meet their financial, environmental, academic, and community goals through clean energy solutions.
Ithaca College has been recognized as a Leader in the REV Campus Challenge by investing in clean energy projects across the campus, embracing clean energy curricula, research and development, and engaging with our community.
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Each year, Sierra magazine, the official publication of the Sierra Club, ranks eligible colleges and universities based on their sustainability efforts. Ranking methodology is based on 11 categories, including: energy, food, innovation, academics, waste, and water.
Ithaca College was again listed as a "Cool School" in 2021.
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New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education (NYCSHE)
NYCSHE unites representatives of higher education and supporting organizations with a common interest to promote and support environmental, fiscal and social responsibility. The goals of NYCSHE include: to build relationships between members of higher education who share an interest and knowledge in sustainability; to inform and advise members on "best practices"; to be a conduit for policy and practice information, while making them more affordable and available to institutions in New York State; to be a voice for sustainability stakeholders within the New York State Legislature and the Federal Government; to coordinate activities and events with coalitions who share similar visions.
Ithaca College has been an active participant in NYCSHE.