Compact for Sustainability at WWU

A University-Wide Initiative

George Pierce

September 10, 2009

Highlights

• Sustainability• Evolution at Western• The Sustainability Initiative• The Sustainability Institute• Internal Environmental Scan• External Environmental Scan• Approach to establishing the Institute• Tangible Benefits of the Institute• Ways Ahead for Success• Challenges • Timeline

Sustainability

• “Sustainability is a way to grow and prosper while reducing the stress on the planet” (Brundtland Report)

• “Sustainability promotes the inherent need to find a long-term balance between economic development, environmental conservation and the advancement of social and cultural ideals” (J. Buizer, ASU)

• “A sustainable WWU: Protects local and global ecology; Upholds social equity; Creates economic vitality; and Maintains human health” (Sustainability Committee)

Evolution of Sustainability at WWU

• 1962 – Inst. for Freshwater Studies & Inst. for Watershed Studies

• 1969 – Huxley College of the Environment• 1972 – Dept. of Engr. Tech. Vehicle Res. Inst.• 1972 – AS Recycle Center• 1983 – Outback Farm• 1992 – Res. Hall EcoReps• 1993 – LEAD• 1995 – Transp. Management Program

Evolution of Sustainability at WWU

• 1998 – Custodial Environ. Practices

• 1999 - Campus Planning Studio (IMP)

• 2000 - Green Landscaping Practices

• 2001 – Energy Conservation Task Force

• 2004 – Sustainable Design Minor

• 2005 – 100% Renewable Energy Fee

• 2005 – Sustainability Committee

Evolution of Sustainability at WWU

• 2006 – Teaching for a Positive Future• 2006 – Office of Sustainability• 2007 – President’s Climate Commitment• 2007 – Alternative Transportation Fee• 2008 – Res Hall Energy Program• 2008 – Woodring Sustainability Literacy• 2008 – Faculty Sustainability Academy• 2009 – Sustainability Initiative

Sustainability Initiative

• Plan and develop an Institute of Sustainability

• Collaboration of colleges, deans, faculty, staff, and students

• Involving curriculum, research, operations, and community service

• Promote University’s Mission and Strategic Plan

Sustainability Institute

• Vision Statement:• “To foster the collaborative, interdisciplinary

education of critical thinkers who will lead, inspire and engage their communities toward sustainability” (Initiative Vision Working Group)

• Mission Statement:• “The Institute will work across boundaries to

promote efforts that lead to better understanding of the concepts and importance of sustainability today and in the future” (Working Group)

Internal Scan

• Hydrofoil• Sust. Design Minor• Sea Anemone• Innovation Center• Green Energy• Planning Studio• Cascadia Center• Alt. Transportation• Student Bus Pass• Sustainable Investing• Waterfront• Western Reads

• Greenhouse Gas Inventory

• Climate Action Plan• Faculty Academy• Environ./Bus. Degree• Food Systems• ResRAP• SEEDS• Sust. Internships• Health Studies• 10X10• Sust. Agriculture

Internal Environmental Scan

• Green Buildings• Leadership• Campus Coalition• Oil Purification• Trust Lands• Hybrid Shuttle Bus

• Farm Resiliency• “The Planet”• Energy Risk Mgt.• Sehome Arboretum• Associated Students• Biomethane

External Scan

• Whatcom Creek• Sust.Connections• Bellingham Food Coop• NW Hi. Ed. Consortium• St. Joseph Hosp.• Brenthaven• Seattle Port• Cntr. Service Learning• Old Town/Sehome• EPA Partnership• U.S. Green Bldg. Coun.• Facing the Future

• Sust. Council• Community to Community• Green Jobs• Resources for Sust. Com.• E3• OSPI• Transition Whatcom• LEED• Cloud Mountain Farm• AASHE• ACORE

Approach to Sustainability Institute

• Guiding Principle:– Comprehensive in Scope

• Provide new pathways into the curriculum• Create new knowledge and technologies• Actively engage with the community• Reduce environmental footprint of campus

Approach to Sustainability Initiative

• Principle:– Focus on the place where we live – the Pacific

Northwest• Natural place for concept of diverse sustainability• Visually diverse, water, forest, farmland, mountains• History of resource extraction economy• Mutually beneficial relationships with community

Approach to Sustainability Institute

• Principle:– Initially organize toward inclusion and support

of existing programs and opportunities– Focus on 4 Efforts

• Bellingham Innovation Center (CST)• Cascadia Center for Sustainability Education

(Woodring)• Faculty Sustainability Academy (Cross Collegiate)• Sustainability Internship Program (Cross

Collegiate)

Tangible Benefits

• What services do the students, campus, and community get?– Access to courses and applied research – Venue for collaboration– Innovative structure– Using campus and facilities as classroom– Real tangible projects with solutions to

sustainability issues and problems

Tangible Benefits

• What benefits do faculty receive?– Support for faculty scholarship and

involvement– Curricular innovation– Innovative project incentives for faculty– Clearinghouse for scholarship– Connections for applied research– Reward system

Tangible Benefits

• What benefits does the University receive?– Organizing element for existing and to be developed

sustainability efforts– Efficient means to provide academic and operational

support for sustainability– Boundary-spanning entity that reaches out into local

governments and businesses– Addresses Mission of “Engaged Excellence”– Provides focus for fund-raising– Places Western in the forefront of emerging

movement

Ways Ahead

• Leadership – continued support of executive administrators

• Big Thinkers – who can see and articulate grand challenges and opportunities

• Managers – who can coordinate people with diverse backgrounds & expertise

• Partnerships – purposeful relationship with others who hold complementary ideals

• Buy-In – from faculty, students, and staff• Trust – as we push comfort zones need to continually

nurture and reinforce opportunities• Funding – pursue funding from private sources as well

as Federal and State entities

Challenges

• Traditional University Culture – changing from individual focus to team effort

• Engaging with the Community – need to consider part of the larger community

• Cost of Transdisciplinary Teaching – beyond multi-disciplinary to fusion of disciplines

• Boundary Spanning – demonstrating the value of linking with the outside community

Tentative Timeline

• Spring Quarter – Summer, 2009– Secure initial funding and resources– Finalize Initiative’s Draft Business Plan– Establish assessment/steering committee– Conduct environmental scans – Craft Case Statement for fund-raising – Beta Test Communication Tool/Website

Tentative Timeline

• Fall Quarter, 2009 – Spring Quarter, 2010– Begin pilot Sustainability Internship Program– Promote cross-campus conversation about

curriculum – Involve campus in visioning and

conceptualization– Prepare “White Paper”

Tentative Timeline

• Summer, 2010 – Spring Quarter, 2011– Prepare final business plan for

implementation of Institute– Implement curricular changes as approved– Final review and assessment by Sustainability

Committee and University governance– Issue final report of the Initiative to develop

the Institute of Sustainability