Sustainability

President’s Committee

  • The President’s Committee for Sustainability (PCS) was convened in March 2011 to:

    • Implement the Seattle University Climate Action Plan
    • Provide a means of integrating sustainability initiatives across the Seattle University community

    The 25-member committee includes faculty, staff and students from all areas of campus. Contact Karen Price if you would like to be on the committee.

    Subcommittee 2012-2013 Objectives

    Four sub-committees are making progress toward achieving our Climate Action Plan goals:

    Academics

    Goal - Educate all students about climate change and sustainability in the classroom

    Environmental Science Class taking soil core samples
    • Complete the list of sustainability-focused and sustainability-related courses.
    • Complete the list of scholars doing sustainability research.
    • Complete Seattle U’s sustainability definition.
    • Complete the Sustainability Literacy scale and administer it to all students.
    • Establish relationship with Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability.

    Co-Curricular Programs

    Goal  - Educate all students about climate change and sustainability in co-curricular programs

    Co-curricular programs include student activities, housing and residence life, commuter and transfer student services, leadership development and many more. 

    • Develop competencies, developmental experiences and assessment strategies associated with sustainability learning outcomes
    • Develop programs associated with student sustainability to include eco-challenges.
    • Develop an outreach and education campaign for students
    • Send a message to students at the start of the academic year regarding sustainability at SU
    • Regularly update http://www.seattleu.edu/sustainability with opportunities available to students
    • Establish leadership opportunities in each residence hall and collegia associated with sustainability

    Operations

    Goal- Eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from operations and transportation

    • Support incentive programs to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips to campus.
    • Promote OIT supported video and web conferencing services to the SU community
    • Identify and implement paper waste prevention strategies
    • Get a recycled-content paper purchasing policy approved and implemented
    • Pilot a program to remove trash bins from offices and put one trash bin next to the compost bin in office kitchens.

    Marketing & Communications

    Goal - Share our sustainability knowledge and expertise

    • Offer the Northwest Earth Institute Sustainability discussion group to employees all 4 quarters
    • Redesign and rewrite content on www.seattleu.edu/sustainability
    • Pilot a Green Office program

    Progress

    2011-2012 Accomplishments

    Meeting Minutes