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University 2030

Universities are increasingly expected to integrate sustainability best practices throughout their planning, operations, academics and engagement. Universities should also consider their sustainability impact beyond institutional boundaries to advance community and global sustainability goals. What’s needed is a framework for university sustainability planning that aligns established institutional metrics, with the latest community, city and global sustainability metrics. This project presents a replicable framework for universities to integrate campus, community, city and global sustainability metrics. The framework uses the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) as a foundation for university planning and aligns that with the Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Cities and Communities, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The framework integrates the metrics of STARS, LEED, and the UN SDGs to benchmark key performance indicators and advance sustainability goals. This framework will facilitate more efficient data driven decision making and resource allocation, while supporting globally focused sustainability research for universities. A final report will detail the methodology of this framework for universities to use in their sustainability planning.