Sustainability Action Plan - Wesleyan University

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Sustainability Action Plan2016–2021

Sustainability Action PlanTable of Contents1Table of ContentsTable of Contents1A Letter from the President2Acknowledgments3Executive Summary5Introduction7Creating the Sustainability Action Plan7SAP th and Well-Being20Academics23Curriculum23Academic 57

Sustainability Action PlanA Letter from the President2A Letter from the PresidentWesleyan’s mission emphasizes practical idealism and the good of the world. Global climate change posesenormous challenges, and higher education should do what it can to help shape a sustainable society. AtWesleyan we built upon our strong program in Environmental Studies and our interdisciplinary ethos inlaunching the College of the Environment, whose research, teaching, and practice shape informed graduatesbetter able to contribute to a positive and sustainable future. But Wesleyan as a whole can contribute to asustainable world not just by doing what it does so well – teaching and research – but also by being a model ofsustainability itself.In 2007 I signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (now the ClimateLeadership Campus Carbon Commitment), which committed the Wesleyan campus to carbon neutrality by2050. How does Wesleyan get there? Thanks to the efforts of Wesleyan’s Sustainability Advisory Group forEnvironmental Stewardship, the Sustainability Office, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion, we now have acomprehensive plan. This Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) includes strategies to move Wesleyan towardneutrality and create a more environmentally and socially sustainable campus.Of course we’ve been doing a great many things in campus operations already, and two years ago Wesleyanreceived a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System) Silver rating. But, as the SAP makesclear, much more needs to be done, and we all need to do our part in the following areas: Administration(with respect to planning, engagement, health and well-being), Academics (curriculum and academicoperations), and Operations (buildings, grounds, dining, energy, purchasing, transportation, waste, andwater).The Sustainability Action Plan is the result of two years of effort from over 130 students, faculty, and staff, andit demonstrates a broad commitment to sustainability at Wesleyan. It calls for a community effort to integratesustainability into all that we do. The effort must be inclusive, and in that spirit, I invite you to review the planand send in your comments to sustainability@wesleyan.edu.We are moving into a new, even more active phase in our sustainability efforts, and that is both exciting andrewarding.Sincerely,Michael S. Roth

Sustainability Action PlanAcknowledgementsAcknowledgmentsOver 130 staff, faculty, and students deserve recognition for contributing to the development of Wesleyan’s firstSustainability Action Plan (SAP). Through workshops, brainstorming, participation in working groups, revisions, andother contributions, these individuals have made the SAP possible and have helped to make Wesleyan a sustainableplace to live and work.Jennifer Kleindienst, Sustainability OfficeBarbara Ally, Center for the ArtsAllen Alonzo, Information Technology ServicesDave Baird, Information Technology ServicesStacy Baldwin, Physical Plant/FacilitiesCourtney Becher, GrantsOlga Bookas, PurchasingRob Borman, Physical Plant/FacilitiesClaire Brady ’15Zacko Brint ’16Zach Burns ’14Marianne Calnen, University RelationsRosy Capron ’14Erin Carey, AthleticsRos Carrier-Brault, ChemistryCesar Chavez ’15Barry Chernoff, College of the EnvironmentIsmael Coleman ’15Debbie Colucci, Equity & InclusionSherri Condon, FinanceMike Conte, Physical Plant/FacilitiesDeNeile Cooper ’15Kate Cullen ’16Sheryl Culotta, Academic AffairsAbby Cunniff ’17Anita Deeg-Carlin, PhysicsArian Dehnow ’16Steve Devoto, BiologyRachel Eisman ’16Scott Elias ’14John Elmore, Center for the ArtsAntonio Farias, Equity & InclusionAlex Fireman ’16Michaela Fisher ’17Claudia Flores ’16Jacqueline Friedman ’15Nina Gerona ’15Kate Gibbel ’15Justin Gitlin ’15Zia Grossman-Vendrillo ’15Rommel Guadalupe, Institutional ResearchRachel Guetta ’17Mary Alice Haddad, GovernmentJames Hall ’15Jessica Hanway ’15Kyle Hardy ’18Julia Hicks, Human ResourcesShawn Hill, Information Technology ServicesJoli Holmes ’17Maureen Isleib, Residential LifeJoyce Jacobsen, Academic AffairsOliver James ’14Leith Johnson, Olin LibraryBill Johnston, HistoryRenee Johnson-Thornton, Student AffairsJen Jurgen, University RelationsSewon Kang ’14Carolyn Kaufman, GrantsZack Kaufman ’16Mary Kelly, Graduate Liberal StudiesKiley Kennedy ’16Mira Klein ’17Fran Koerting, Residential LifeJosh Krugman ’14Ruby Lang ’17Manon Lefevre ’14Ari Lewenstein ’16Sara MacSorley, Green Street Teaching and LearningCenterCatherine Marquez ’16Claire Marshall ’17Anne Martin, InvestmentsJoe Martocci, TransportationGenna Mastellone ’17Dena Matthews, University CommunicationsMaya McDonnell ’16Angus McLean ’16John Meerts, Finance and AdministrationNancy Meislahn, Admission and Financial AidPat Melley, Human ResourcesRachael Metz ’16Joel Michaels ’18Don Moon, GovernmentFrancesca Moree ‘14Jeff Murphy, Physical Plant/FacilitiesMichelle Myers-Brown, Usdan Administration3

Sustainability Action PlanZander Nassikas ’14Bill Nelligan, Physical Plant/FacilitiesKathleen Norris, AdmissionCaitlin O’Keeffe ’17Ellen Paik ’16Cassia Patel ’17Peter Patton, Earth and Environmental SciencesDavid Phillips, Deans’ OfficeJen Platt, Print ShopCathy Race, PsychologyKathleen Roberts, Events and SchedulingScott Rohde, Public SafetyErinn Roos-Brown, Center for the ArtsDana Royer, Earth and Environmental SciencesAlan Rubacha, Physical Plant/FacilitiesCharles Salas, Strategic InitiativesWill Sawyer ’16Jenna Shapiro ’17Jason Shatz ’14Anna Shusterman, PsychologyRoseann Sillasen, Physical Plant/FacilitiesDenise Skura, Human ResourcesRebecca Sokol ’15Elise Springer, PhilosophyLeslie Starr, Wesleyan University PressAcknowledgementsPeter Staye, Physical Plant/FacilitiesEva Steinberg ’17Isabel Stern ’14Brian Stewart, PhysicsMichael Strumpf, DiningSonia Sultan, BiologySara Swaminathan ’17Jeff Sweet, Physical Plant/FacilitiesJames Taft, Information Technology ServicesAnjali Tamhankar, Human ResourcesAndy Tanaka, President’s OfficeKate TenEyck, Center for the ArtsMagda Teter, HistoryDavid Teva, Religious and Spiritual LifeLiz Tinker, EnglishJoyce Topshe, FacilitiesAndrew Trexler ’14Tavo True-Alcala ’15John Wareham, Information Technology ServicesKaren Warren, Information Technology ServicesKate Weiner ’15Mike Whaley, Student AffairsBarbara-Jan Wilson, University RelationsKrishna Winston, GermanGary Yohe, Economics4

Sustainability Action PlanExecutive Summary5Executive SummaryClimate change and a rapidly changing world provide Wesleyan with the impetus to take greater steps toward asustainable future. We seek to be an institution on the forefront of sustainable change, one that promotesenvironmental, social, and financial sustainability in everything we do. Sustainability is an ongoing process, not an endgoal.This, Wesleyan’s first Sustainability Action Plan (SAP), builds a framework toward a sustainable future by guiding ouractions over the next five years. It establishes goals, objectives, strategies, timelines, metrics, and responsible parties intopic areas. Each of its sections is summarized below.AdministrationThis category is the most overarching within the SAP, focusing on projects and programming that affect broad campusconstituencies, as well as those related to the Sustainability Office, Sustainability Advisory Group for EnvironmentalStewardship (SAGES), and other sustainability-related groups.PlanningGoal 1: Environmental and social sustainability are promoted through institutional decision-makingGoal 2: Sustainability resources are robustGoal 3: Sustainability efforts are systematically evaluated, monitored, and publicizedEngagementGoal 1: Sustainability is a core value and part of campus cultureGoal 2: Sustainability is part of the fabric of the living and learning communityHealth and Well-BeingGoal 1: Increased health awareness and healthier lifestyles at WesleyanAcademicsThis category focuses on integrating sustainability into the curriculum and operations of academic departments.CurriculumGoal 1: Sustainability is integrated into the curriculumAcademic OperationsGoal 1: Academic departments are environmentally responsible

Sustainability Action PlanExecutive SummaryOperationsThis category focuses on increasing sustainability with respect to buildings, dining, energy, grounds, purchasing,transportation, waste, and water.BuildingsGoal 1: Reduced environmental impact of buildingsDiningGoal 1: Less dining-related wasteGoal 2: All food waste divertedGoal 3: Purchase sustainable foodsEnergyGoal 1: Campus engaged in energy conservationGoal 2: Increased energy reduction initiativesGoal 3: Increased renewable energy capacity on campusGroundsGoal 1: Grounds are maintained sustainablyPurchasingGoal 1: Purchases are environmentally and financially sustainableGoal 2: Wesleyan uses vendors that promote environmental, financial, and social sustainabilityGoal 3: Wesleyan has a culture of sustainable purchasingTransportationGoal 1: A 25 percent reduction in (Scope 3) transportation emissions by 2020Goal 2: Reduced student single-occupancy vehicle travelWasteGoal 1: Reduced waste and increased reuseGoal 2: Increased recycling ratesWaterGoal 1: Improved access to drinking waterGoal 2: Reduced water waste6

Sustainability Action PlanIntroduction7IntroductionToday, our world is in a precarious state. Climate change presents enormous challenges. A warmer climate, combinedwith natural resource degradation and species extinctions, poses many serious threats to humans, animals, and theplanet. Over the next century, we expect to continue to see rising sea levels; increased incidence of flooding, droughts,and severe weather events; health risks from hotter temperatures; increased extinctions; and resource competitionamong the poorest and least-advantaged inhabitants.Sustainability has emerged to address these challenges in a way that acknowledges the needs of all life on the planet.Sustainability is often defined as meeting “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of futuregenerations to meet their own needs.” 1 Holistic sustainability is about building equitable economic and social systemsand fostering health, happiness, and well-being for all humans and life on earth. To achieve a sustainable future, wemust recognize the interconnectedness of all people and the entire planet and that protecting air, water, and naturalresources is essential to our future.Higher education has a critical role to play in creating a healthy, just, and sustainable future. 2 Wesleyan’s commitmentto sustainability began in the 1980s with the creation of a recycling program. This commitment expanded over the yearsto include not only waste diversion, but also energy reduction; water conservation; integrating sustainability into thecurriculum; promoting sustainability in co-curricular activities; and changing purchasing, building construction, andgrounds practices with the aim of combatting climate change and resource depletion. In 2012, Wesleyan established aSustainability Coordinator position (now Sustainability Director) and Sustainability Office to promote these efforts.Wesleyan has also taken great strides to promote social and financial sustainability through the creation of an Office ofEquity & Inclusion, programs to support students of color and those from low-income backgrounds, a sustainablecompensation policy, employee wellness programs, a Committee on Investor Responsibility, and communitysustainability partnerships.Creating the Sustainability Action PlanWesleyan University’s first Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) has been created to not only increase the sustainability ofcampus operations and management, but also to create a culture of sustainability within the campus community. TheSAP is a five-year plan that expands on the existing campus Climate Action Plan (CAP), which was completed in 2010.The Sustainability Action Plan mirrors the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), whichWesleyan completed in October 2013. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework developed by the Associationfor the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for colleges and universities to measure theirsustainability performance. STARS evaluates sustainability in three categories: Education and Research, Operations, andPlanning, Administration, and Engagement. STARS goes beyond carbon footprint metrics to measure multipledimensions of social, financial, and environmental sustainability. Wesleyan’s first STARS report revealed that thecampus is making significant progress toward a more sustainable future, but had many opportunities for improvement.In early 2014 the Sustainability Office and Sustainability Advisory Group for Environmental Stewardship (SAGES)organized a campus-wide workshop to brainstorm ideas for the Sustainability Action Plan. Over 50 students, faculty,and staff members participated. Following the workshop, working groups and the Sustainability Office developed goals,objectives, and strategies in topic areas. The plan was reviewed by the Cabinet in summer 2015 and approved by theCabinet and President Michael Roth in spring 2016.1World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. Retrieved on 19 August 2015 ese, Anthony. (2010). The Urgent and Critical Role of Higher Education in Creating a Just and Sustainable Society. Presentationat the 2010 Presidents’ Forum Southeast and South Asia and Taiwan Universities. October 2, 2010.

Sustainability Action Plan8SAP StructureSAP StructureThe Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) is organized into three categories, each of which includes a number of topic areas: Administration – Planning, Engagement, and Health and Well-Being Academics – Curriculum and Academic Operations Operations – Buildings, Dining, Energy, Grounds, Purchasing, Transportation, Waste, and WaterWithin each topic area are sets of broad goals, focused objectives, and tangible strategies. Goals are broad and long-term concepts for the topic area. Objectives are focused and action-oriented ways of achieving the stated goal. Strategies are specific actions achievable in the next five years to achieve the objective. For each strategy, theSAP identifies a timeline, desired outcomes, metrics for tracking progress, and an identification of responsibleindividuals or departments.Sample illustration of the structural elements of the Sustainability Action Plan:Topic areaOverarching goal forthis subcategoryFocused objective ofgoalSpecific, actionablestrategy to achieveobjective and goalTimeline for strategycompletionOperationsGroundsGoal 1: Grounds maintained utilizing sustainable practicesObjective 3: Increase the quantity of trees and native landscapedsocial spaces0-2 yearsCategory titleStrategyOutcomesMetricsResponsible PartiesPlant 5–10(3”diameterorgreater)treesannually Increased treecoverage Reducedheating andcooling loads Reduceddroughtimpact Reducedstormwaterrunoff Tree plantingplan established Number oftrees planted Number ofstudents,faculty, andstaff involved inplanning andplanting Director, PhysicalPlant Grounds ManagerDesired outcomesif strategy hasbeen achievedHow to measure ifthis strategy hasbeen achievedWho will lead orbe key supportersfor this strategy

Sustainability Action PlanAdministration: Planning9AdministrationThe Administration category offers a guide to making environmental and social sustainability a part of campus cultureand daily life at Wesleyan. Through thoughtful planning, these environmental and social sustainability elements will alsobecome a part of University decision-making processes. Wesleyan aims for full participation in social and environmentalsustainability efforts by students, faculty, and staff of all social and professional identities. This section also proposesways to recruit diverse Wesleyan stakeholders to participate in engagement efforts around the principles ofenvironmental sustainability, including an attention to health and well-being. Through the efforts of the SustainabilityOffice, Sustainability Advisory Group for Environmental Stewardship (SAGES), campus departments, and other entities oncampus, Wesleyan will move closer to true sustainability.PlanningWesleyan seeks to integrate social and environmental sustainability into its campus planning and decision-makingprocesses, support sustainability efforts, and make sustainability a campus priority. Wesleyan has already made anumber of changes to promote social and environmental sustainability, especially in the areas of climate action,institutional structures, and student leadership. Selected accomplishments include: In 2007 President Michael Roth signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment(now the Climate Leadership Campus Carbon Commitment), committing Wesleyan to carbon neutrality by 2050.Since 2007 the Sustainability Advisory Group for Environmental Stewardship (SAGES) has brought together over50 faculty, staff, and student volunteers to discuss and take action on sustainability issues.In 2008 the Office of Diversity and Institutional Partnerships (now the Office of Equity & Inclusion) wasestablished to focus on resolving systemic inequities on campus.In 2010 SAGES created Wesleyan’s first Climate Action Plan, which outlined measures for Wesleyan to meet itsgreenhouse gas reduction targets.In 2010 the student-managed Green Fund was established through a 15 per semester opt-out fee. Over thepast five years, the Fund has awarded over 365,000 to over 40 different projects.In 2012 Wesleyan established a Sustainability Coordinator (now Sustainability Director) position. The Directorfocuses on catalyzing sustainability projects and tracking Wesleyan’s sustainability progress.In 2013 Wesleyan completed its first Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) report.Since 2015 staff performance reviews have included sustainability as a core competency.In 2015 each Cabinet member appointed a representative to SAGES to increase awareness of and participationin campus sustainability efforts.For more information on the projects above and for additional accomplishments, ng/initiatives.html.

Sustainability Action Plan10Administration: PlanningGoal 1: Environmental and social sustainability are promoted throughinstitutional decision-making2-5 years0–2 years0–2 years0–2 yearsObjective 1: Integrate social and environmental sustainability into top-level planningStrategyOutcomesMetricsResponsible PartiesInvolve theSustainabilityOffice and Officeof Equity &Inclusion in thenext StrategicPlanning process Strategic Planexemplifies Wesleyan’senvironmental andsocial commitments andpromotes ethic ofenvironmental, fiscal,and social responsibility Inclusion of high-leveland measurableenvironmental, social,and economicsustainability goals andobjectives in next plan Director, StrategicInitiatives Sustainability Director VP, Equity & InclusionInvolve theSustainabilityOffice and Officeof Equity &Inclusion in thenext MasterPlanning process Master Plan exemplifiesWesleyan’senvironmental andsocial commitments andpromotes ethic ofenvironmental, fiscal,and social responsibility Inclusion of high-leveland measurableenvironmental, social,and economicsustainability goals andobjectives in next plan AVP for Facilities Sustainability Director VP, Equity & InclusionEvaluateinvestmentmanagercandidates withrespect

The Sustainability Action Plan mirrors the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS), which Wesleyan completed in October 2013. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for colleges and universities to measure their

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