ACUPCC
RMUSC
Announcement to RMU community regarding ACUPCC
The Robert Morris University Sustainability Council
February, 2010
(RMUSC)
On January 15, 2010, Michael Viollt and Robert Morris University signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment . In signing this commitment, President Viollt and RMU stand at the forefront of higher education’s growing movement to combat climate change by reducing the institution’s greenhouse gas emissions and implementing a comprehensive focus on sustainability.
Was established in December 2009 as Robert Morris’s institutional structure to implement the goals of the ACUPCC and to support and promote sustainability at RMU. The council’s goals are to:
Robert Morris University has a long history of sustainability, which involves making decisions that support, develop, and promote the institution without damaging the ability of other communities or generations to thrive. President Viollt has ensured the continuation of this history by setting RMU on a course toward climate neutrality through converging technologies and experiential teaching that draws connections between our classrooms and our world.
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www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org
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interpret, implement, and report RMU’s measures toward the commitment goals operate as a resource for RMU’s sustainability efforts, recognize accomplishments, and compel action create programs to help students, faculty, and staff participate in RMU’s sustainability efforts
As an institutional structure, the RMUSC operates as an institutional committee with full support of The Office of the Provost’s Leadership Academy with representatives from all of the university’s departments, disciplines, and campuses, as well as from the student body. Council. This SIG should operate as a bridge between the student body and the council, and should act as a facilitator of student participation in sustainable actions, as well as communicators of student expectations to the university.
SIG The council meets regularly (about once a month) on the Chicago campus and carries on projects and discussions via email, Google Document sharing, and Special Interest Group (SIG) subcommittees. The SIG’s are: SIG 1: ACUPCC and Sustainability at RMU This SIG is responsible for interpretation and implementation of the commitment, as well as maintaining a timeline for report submission, direct contact with the Provost’s and Executive Offices for approval of reports, and a relationship with the external reporting agencies: ACUPCC, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Rating System (STARS). This SIG is also responsible for determining what sustainability means for RMU as far as the mission, Universal Competencies, Long-Range Plan, and the inception and development of programs and recommendations from the committee. SIG 2: Sustainable Operations and Programs This SIG is responsible for sustainability at the operations level, including communication with the operations department, building owners, and outside venders, as well as the conception, discussion, and development of sustainability programs that achieve the goals of the ACUPCC (for example: a comprehensive recycling
program; a rooftop floating garden, “No, thank you” mailbox notes, etc.) SIG 3: Sustainability in Curriculum This SIG is responsible for generating and piloting ideas for sustainability in curriculum, both at the program/ subject level and at the cross curricular level. This SIG should focus on sustainability as a potential bridge to draw connections for students between disciplines and individual classes. SIG 4: Communicating Sustainability This SIG is responsible for communicating sustainability, accomplishments, plans, programs, and iniatives to the RMU community. This SIG should focus on student benefit, budget benefit, environmental benefit, faculty/ staff benefit, etc. all to the aim of helping the RMU community understand sustainability at RMU and how each member of the community can participate and enjoy those benefits. Current communication venues are: The Eagle Newspaper; Radius; Inside RMU; Smorgasbord, the RMU Website; and Blackboard. SIG 5: Student Representative This SIG is responsible for determining, discussing, and representing student opinions, ideas, and recommendations for the Sustainability.
Rationale Rationale for Sustainability at RMU Student Interest:
To make decisions that support, develop, and promote the institution without damaging the ability of other communities or generations to thrive.
The Princeton Review Reports that 66% of potential students and 59% of parents who responded to a survey stated that they would value information about a college’s commitment to the environment. Among them, 26% of potential students and 18% of parents said that such information would “very much” impact their decision to attend a school.
RMU’s history of sustainability:
RMU’s student opportunities:
RMU’s commitment to sustainability:
RMU has established the Robert Morris Sustainability Council, which has student representation, a student Special Interest Group, and is sponsoring the new student sustainability club. Students also have the opportunity to participate in events like Earth Week Celebration. Through their experience in general education courses, students enhance their career-focused education through curriculum and pedagogy that prepares them to become the foundations of their families, their communities, and their world. While general education and liberal arts departments at many universities remain stagnant, ours is always evolving, and this is evident in DiSH’s commitment to sustainability through critical thinking and social and cultural awareness. Sustainability at RMU:
On January 15, 2010, Michael Viollt and Robert Morris University signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. In signing this commitment, President Viollt and RMU stand at the forefront of higher education’s growing movement to combat climate change by reducing the institution’s greenhouse gas emissions and implementing a comprehensive focus on sustainability.
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Use of existing structures for university buildings (large-scale re-use/recycling) Urban campus locations (encourages use of public transportation) Year-round operations (efficiency)
Commitment The Presidents Climate Commitment: is the first such effort by any major sector of society to set climate neutrality – not just reduction – as its target. This undertaking by America’s colleges and universities is inspired by efforts like the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. “Colleges and universities must lead the effort to reverse global warming for the health and well-being of current and future generations,” said Michael Crow, President of Arizona State University and a founding member of the ACUPCC Leadership Circle.” On behalf of all the signatories, I welcome President Viollt to the commitment, we are honored and pleased to have him join us.”
The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment: is a high-visibility effort to address global warming and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. Under the guidance and direction of the Leadership Circle of presidents, the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is being supported and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, and ecoAmerica. Learn more at: www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org
Definitions Student Interest: According to current pedagogical research, our leadership on issues of sustainability in higher education will help us establish an important foundation for students’ learning of critical thinking and serve as a successful draw for potential students. In fact, The Princeton Review Reports that 66% of potential students and 59% of parents who responded to a survey stated that they would value information about a college’s commitment to the environment. Among them, 26% of potential students and 18% of parents said that such information would “very much” impact their decision to attend a school. Sustainability in higher education: To make decisions that support, develop, and promote the institution without damaging the ability of other communities or generations to thrive.
Carbon Neutral: (2006 Oxford American Dictionary’s word of the year) Involves calculating your total climatedamaging carbon emissions, reducing them where possible, and then balancing your remaining emissions, often by purchasing a carbon offset: paying to plant new trees or investing in ‘green’ technologies such as solar and wind power. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory: Within one year of signing the ACUPCC, complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas emissions (including emissions from electricity, heating, commuting, and air travel) and update the inventory every other year thereafter. Climate Action Plan: Within 2 years of signing the ACUPCC, create an institutional action plan for becoming climate neutral, which will include:
1. A target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible. 2. Interim targets for goals and actions that will lead to climate neutrality. 3. Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students. 4. Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality. 5. Mechanisms for tracking progress on goals and actions. 6. Tangible Actions: tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases while the more comprehensive plan is being developed. 7. Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent. 8. Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.
9. Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution. 10. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution. 11. Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources. 12. Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution’s endowment is invested. 13. Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste.
The Pledge The pledge came with President Viollt’s signing of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, joining the leaders of 600 other universities across the country.
“Global warming is a defining challenge of our time,” said President Viollt. “Human activities are responsible for the problem, and working together humans have the capacity to solve the problem.”
President Viollt will move toward climate neutrality undertaking the following concrete actions. • Adopting green standards for new building construction; • Encouraging public transportation; • Opening a new interactive technology library; • Supporting climate and sustainability shareholder proposals through their endowment; • Moving to electronic books; • Providing all students with access to converging technologies • Using energy efficient heating and cooling systems. These efforts build on Robert Morris University’s longterm strategy, including: 1. Converting existing underutilized buildings into university facilities; 2. Utilizing all buildings on a year-round basis; and 3. Locating near abundant public transportation.