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For those of you unable to attend yesterday's Convocation, I'm posting here the text of the document I distributed regarding my desire to enter into a campus-wide conversation on becoming an environmentally sustainable campus.
Therefore, I will be formally asking College Council, as our primary participatory governance entity, to consider this issue and to convene a campus-wide ad hoc committee to address the challenges and opportunities in becoming a sustainable* institution that reflects our commitment to the environment through academics, operations, student/faculty/staff engagement, community outreach, and our overall campus culture. The formal charge of this committee will include the submittal of a series of action-oriented recommendations.
A sample of topics that can be considered by an ad hoc committee are delineated below.
Curriculum
• Number of courses taught that include sustainability
• Opportunities for immersive experiences
• Cross-disciplinary educational opportunities
• The campus as “living laboratory”
• Faculty research
Campus Engagement
• Introduction to sustainability through student orientation
• Student life (e.g., a student sustainability initiative through ASO)
• Faculty/Staff programs and projects
• Recycling, composting
Community Outreach
• Community partnerships
• Continuing education
• Inter-campus collaboration
Air and Climate
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Air quality
Buildings and Grounds
• Building operations and maintenance
• Building design and construction
• Building energy consumption
• Renewable energy options
• Landscape management
• Biodiversity
Purchasing
• Food and beverage purchasing leading to sustainable dining
• Sustainable procurement of electronics, cleaning supplies, office paper
Transportation
• Sustainable transportation modes
• Bicycle-friendly campus
Waste Management
• Waste minimization and diversion
• Construction and demolition waste diversion
• Hazardous waste management
Water
• Water use
• Rainwater management
* For purposes of this discussion, a sustainable institution is best described as one which “reduces the environmental impact both within and outside the [organization}, as well as raising awareness of the environment in the communities of higher education” (“What does environmentally sustainable higher education institution mean?” Freidenfelds, D.; Kalnins, S.; Gusca, J. Paper presented at the International Scientific Conference “Environment and Climate Technologies,“ CONECT 2018).
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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the R20 World Summit in May 2018, has called climate change and global warming an “existential threat to humanity.” As educators, we have a moral imperative to help our students understand the immediacy of this challenge and how they can contribute to solving this world-wide problem. Additionally, we should become an institution that models sensitivity to and actions in response to climate change. Through the leadership of our faculty, we have taken a first step with the introduction of our Climate Change Studies curriculum—the only such program in the country—but we must do more.Therefore, I will be formally asking College Council, as our primary participatory governance entity, to consider this issue and to convene a campus-wide ad hoc committee to address the challenges and opportunities in becoming a sustainable* institution that reflects our commitment to the environment through academics, operations, student/faculty/staff engagement, community outreach, and our overall campus culture. The formal charge of this committee will include the submittal of a series of action-oriented recommendations.
A sample of topics that can be considered by an ad hoc committee are delineated below.
Curriculum
• Number of courses taught that include sustainability
• Opportunities for immersive experiences
• Cross-disciplinary educational opportunities
• The campus as “living laboratory”
• Faculty research
Campus Engagement
• Introduction to sustainability through student orientation
• Student life (e.g., a student sustainability initiative through ASO)
• Faculty/Staff programs and projects
• Recycling, composting
Community Outreach
• Community partnerships
• Continuing education
• Inter-campus collaboration
Air and Climate
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Air quality
Buildings and Grounds
• Building operations and maintenance
• Building design and construction
• Building energy consumption
• Renewable energy options
• Landscape management
• Biodiversity
Purchasing
• Food and beverage purchasing leading to sustainable dining
• Sustainable procurement of electronics, cleaning supplies, office paper
Transportation
• Sustainable transportation modes
• Bicycle-friendly campus
Waste Management
• Waste minimization and diversion
• Construction and demolition waste diversion
• Hazardous waste management
Water
• Water use
• Rainwater management
* For purposes of this discussion, a sustainable institution is best described as one which “reduces the environmental impact both within and outside the [organization}, as well as raising awareness of the environment in the communities of higher education” (“What does environmentally sustainable higher education institution mean?” Freidenfelds, D.; Kalnins, S.; Gusca, J. Paper presented at the International Scientific Conference “Environment and Climate Technologies,“ CONECT 2018).
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