1.0 Environmental Policy

An environmental policy does not exist.

An environmental policy has been developed, but top management did not write the policy. (e.g., the policy was written and communicated by EH&S or Facilities department)

An environmental policy has been delivered to top management, but it has not been endorsed or approved through appropriate institutional policy channels.

Top management has defined and endorsed an environmental policy.

The environmental policy does not consider environmental impacts³ associated with its activities andservices

The environmental policy reflects the notion that an element of the mission of the educational institution is to minimize environmental impacts, but provides no specific language to suggest that any such impacts are effectively considered.

The environmental policy either

a) reflects broadly the nature, scale and environmental impacts of the institution’s activities and services or

b) reflects a partial consideration of targeted environmental impacts associated with its activities and services.

The policy reflects the institution’s commitment to the conscious examination of the actual and potential environmental impacts associated with its activities and services.

The policy is periodically reviewed and revised to reflect changing conditions and information.

The environmental policy does not include a clear commitment to improved environmental behavior.

The environmental policy contains indirect or generic commitments to the continual improvement of its environmental behavior.

The environmental policy contains direct commitments to continual improvement of its environmental behavior, including prevention of pollution and conservation of resources.

The environmental policy also contains clear commitments to the environmental education of faculty, staff and students. and to a role beyond the college/university in protecting the environment.

The environmental policy does not include a commitment to comply with relevant environmental laws and regulations.

The environmental policy includes an aspirational statement that it will strive to comply with relevant environmental laws and regulations

The environmental policy includes a commitment to comply with environmental laws and regulations, but does not address other environmental commitments (e.g., CDC, NIH, JCAHO, voluntary principles)

The environmental policy includes a clear commitment to comply with environmental laws and regulations as well as to all other requirements to which the organization subscribes or has made commitments

The environmental policy does not describe environmental management nor express a commitment to monitoring environmental performance through objectives and targets.

The environmental policy commits the institution to monitoring environmental performance through objectives and targets, but does not provide sufficient guidance as to the foundation of that process.

The environmental policy is specific enough to guide the setting of environmental objectives and targets.

The policy does not, however, clearly describe the use of objectives, or the environmental performance review and reporting framework.

The environmental policy is clear and specific enough to guide the setting of environmental objectives and targets and to understand the organizational process for doing so.

The policy establishes guidance for the use of objectives, and the environmental performance review and reporting framework.

The environmental policy is not documented (in written or electronic form) and is not communicated.

No provisions have been made by top management for the implementation of the environmental policy (e.g., designation of specific management representative)

The environmental policy is communicated to faculty, staff and students in specific training interactions with environmental staff.

There is no process to ensure that the environmental policy is regularly reviewed and adapted to changed circumstances or perceptions.

The environmental policy is widely communicated to faculty, staff and students in varied contexts.

There is an informal process to review the environmental policy in response to specific comments.

The environmental policy is communicated to all faculty, staff and students in varied contexts.

The environmental policy is regularly reviewed and the policy (or affiliated guidance) adapted to the changed perceptions and circumstances.

The environmental policy is not accessible to the public.

The environmental policy is made available, upon request.

The environmental policy is generally available, but difficult to access. The policy has been communicated to various student and community groups.

The environmental policy is readily available and it is a visible document that is easily obtained via the web or through student or community environmental groups.

Any amendments or modifications to the policy are made available to the public in a timely manner.