Credit Language
EN 11: Inter-Campus Collaboration – version 2.2
Frequently Asked Questions
How has this credit changed from STARS 2.1 to 2.2?
Minor edits were made for clarity and to address common questions from participants, and a definition of employees was added. A comprehensive list of differences can be found in the 2.2 Summary of changes.
What types of initiatives count as inter-campus collaboration?
The intent of this credit is to recognize institutions that “collaborate with other colleges or universities to help build campus sustainability broadly.” Therefore, responses should always focus on collaborations with other higher education institutions.
Can informal one-off support through listservs or a regional network count as mentorship?
The response describing the mentoring relationship with another institution must reference an ongoing mentorship relationship with an individual at another institution. Providing informal one-off support through listservs or regional networks is not sufficient.
Do collaborative efforts have to focus on sustainability to count?
All initiatives must have a clear sustainability focus (e.g. reference ecological and social dimensions of sustainability).
Example Responses
- Connecticut College – Clear and concise responses covering several areas. Good demonstration of peer review of another institution’s sustainability data (STARS external report review). Good reporting example for smaller institutions.
- University of California, Irvine – Good responses throughout; response for case studies and awards programs includes links to the winning projects. Good reporting example for larger institutions.
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst – Thorough responses throughout; great detail and documentation under the Mentorship section, including the names of the institutions being mentored.
Common Issues Identified During Review
- Intent of this credit is to recognize institutions that “collaborate with other colleges or universities to help build campus sustainability broadly.” Therefore, ALL responses should focus on collaboration with other campuses or higher education-focused groups/initiatives, or list one valid example.
- Submitted a case study – In order to count, a case study (or equivalent) must have been submitted to an external higher education sustainability resource center (e.g., AASHE’s Campus Sustainability Hub or EAUC’s Sustainability Exchange) or awards program. Referencing publications or journal articles is not sufficient.
- Has an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution – Response must reference an ongoing mentorship relationship with another sustainability officer at another institution. Providing informal one-off support through listservs or regional networks is not sufficient.