Timeline
Over the years, VCU has made tremendous improvements in how we address sustainability challenges at both the university and health system. This includes decreased energy, waste and potable water usage as well as sustainable improvements in building design and renovation. Through the development of the ONE VCU Sustainability Plan, we will analyze our current state and engage with the VCU community to gather feedback to guide the development of the plan that will be carried out in four phases.
Phase 1 - Planning
May - August 2022
- Seek feedback from the VCU and VCU Health System communities through surveys and engagement
- Benchmark VCU against peer institutions
- Draft guiding principles and determine focus areas based on community input
- Develop project plan
- Develop communications and engagement plan
- Establish working group governance (chairs and members); gather materials needed to support working groups
Phase 2 - Research and engagement
September 2022 - November 2023
- Interviews and meetings with subject matter experts and key stakeholders
- Research on current state at VCU and best practices
- Working groups meet and develop goals, targets and strategies
- Engagement to build interest, create awareness and receive on-going feedback from the VCU and VCU Health System communities
Phase 3 - Draft plan
November 2023 - April 2024
- Working groups submit recommendations in November 2023
- Cost and savings assessments begin based on goals, targets and strategies
- Write the first draft of the ONE VCU Sustainability Plan (November 2023 - January 2024)
- Engagement to gather feedback on the draft plan (February 2024 - April 2024)
- Begin building a sustainability plan dashboard to measure the success of the plan
Phase 4 - Final plan
May 2024 - August 2024
- Seek feedback from the VCU and VCU Health System communities about the draft plan
- Write and design final plan based on input from the community
- Present final plan to VCU Board of Visitors and VCU Health Board of Directors in June
- Plan dashboard and website go live
- Communications and engagement activities to market and begin implementation of the final plan
