The American College of Greece
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Committee for Sustainable Development
Established in January 2015, the Committee for Sustainable Development aims at coordinating and monitoring strategic decisions and plans related to ACG sustainable development practices. The committee, which meets on a regular basis, comprises of representatives of all three ACG divisions. Fellow faculty, administration or staff members and students are used as resource persons at select meetings, as needed.

2.C.E.RE.S
Established in 2013, the ALBA’s hub for Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Sustainability (C.E.RE.S) visions to be a national and international actor, point of reference and think tank for issues relating to Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Sustainability. Mission

· To engage in activities independently or in cooperation with key stakeholders aiming to enhance knowledge and awareness on relevant topics.

· To further enhance and report the ALBA Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Sustainability Initiatives, as outlined by our five (5) pillars

· To enhance and promote Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Sustainability to the Business Community and Society at large, by organizing events and activities

· To further engage with other key stakeholders and key organizations for the enhancement of Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Sustainability, nationally and internationally

· To provide the platform for the creation and utilization of active, national and international networks of key stakeholders

· To further develop training platforms, educational programs and modules on Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Sustainability

· To undertake and contribute to theoretical and applied research on Business Ethics, Social Responsibility and Sustainability related topics

· The regular members of the CSD are:

Claudia Carydis, VP Public Affairs, chair Iliana Lazana, VP for Human Resources and Campus Services, Stella Mariou, Quality & Accreditations Director – ALBA at ACG, Michael T. Valahas, Director, Center of Excellence for Sustainability & Adjunct Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Science and Mathematics Pavlos A. Vlachos, Associate Professor of Marketing, Academic Director of MBA Program, Associate Editor, Frontiers in Organizational Psychology, ALBA at The American College of Greece, Rania Assariotaki, Sustainability Manager, Office of Public Affairs

The regular members of the C.E.R.E.S are:

Pavlos A. Vlachos, Associate Professor of Marketing, Academic Director of MBA Program, Associate Editor, Frontiers in Organizational Psychology, ALBA at The American College of Greece, Stella Mariou, Quality & Accreditations Director, Zoe Kourounakou, International Affairs Director, Maria Doukaki, Marketing & Communications Director, Antonina Kalkavoura, Corporate Affairs Director, Marina Gryllaki, Executive Development Director

The Center aims to:

Scientifically support and coordinate sustainability initiatives on campus;
build bridges between educational activities on the one hand and sustainable operation initiatives on campus on the other, promoting experiential learning;
facilitate collaboration between disciplines and between faculty, staff and students;
promote environmental awareness on campus; promote sustainability research;
connect and collaborate with other social actors – universities, local community, Non-Governmental Organizations, etc. – in order to promote sustainable practices.

Office of Public Affairs, Sustainability Management
The office of Public Affairs leads all sustainability-related activity and oversees the operation of the Committee for Sustainable Development (CSD) as well as the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development.

WORK DONE & ACHIEVEMENTS BY ASPECT OF WORK

Policy
- Committee for Sustainable Development – Work continued for determining the future sustainability direction of ACG as a whole, including Alba. ). Involvement in preparation of STARS application and later in the guidance / supervision of the sustainability work on campus. The Committee met regularly throughout this period to discuss progress and actions to be done.
- Sustainability strategy and action plan: A sustainability strategy for ACG (see annex 1) was developed by the external consultant (Mr. Stelios Vogiatzis) in close collaboration with the Committee for Sustainable Development in spring 2016. An action plan for 2016-17 (see annex 2) was drafted on the basis of the sustainability strategy. The action plan was implemented in the 2016-17 academic year as foreseen.

Technical work
- STARS – Bronze medal: The Office of Public Affairs decided to submit an application to STARS – a system for the assessment of the sustainability work done at universities – in 2014, after many discussions with the Director of the CES. The task was coordinated by Mr. Stelios Vogiatzis (external consultant) and Ms Rania Assariotaki. CES closely collaborated with the Office of Public Affairs, collected and provided all the information about the academic aspects, provided information regarding also technical works that contributed to sustainability on campus (as the CES had been collecting such information in the past), and contributed to the whole task. ACG was awarded the Bronze medal, to a large extent, due to the existence and work done by the Center of Excellence for Sustainability.
- Green roofs on campus: 1 more piece of the green roof opposite the President’s office installed in spring 2016. Total: 9 green roofs; area: ~ 150m2.
In 2016-17: effort to install a green roof on a school in Ag. Paraskevi. After extensive discussions, visits etc. (from October 2016 – March 2017), the effort proved impossible due to technical reasons on the part of the Municipality. Instead, the green roof opposite the President’s office was completed in May 2017 with the financial support of GREEN.
- Monitoring:
o Monitoring of recovered recyclables at Deree continued on a weekly basis by CES student assistants. Technical / organization problems (regarding the collection of recyclables) were addressed by the CES Director with the Technical Services (agreed: collection done every Thursday). Since the installation of the Recycling points and up to the end of 2016, more than 20,000lt of paper and 15,000lt of other recyclables have been recovered and sent for recycling (via the blue bins).
o The CES personnel proposed a set of monitoring indicators (see annex 3) to be used for monitoring every year. The indicators have been presented by STARS categories (academics, operations, engagement, planning and administration) and people using the campus and they focus on the environmental aspects. Social responsibility aspects should be added. They have been presented in a tabular form. The list indicates the indicators, the units of measurement, along with which office the information should come from and when data should be collected.
- Gamification: The Technical Services initiated an effort to generate a gamification application regarding energy issues with the opportunity of a collaboration with an external assistant. In this context, Mr. Vogiatzis undertook the responsibility to coordinate the completion of this task and the CES the responsibility of preparing the questions and answers that would be included in the game. Those were provided in March 2017. (see annex 10)
- CO2 emissions reduction – transportation survey: CES drafted a short survey regarding transportation methods used by ACG community members. CES student assistants administered it on ….. June 2017 and collected 54 responses. (see Annex 11 and https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/
1FAIpQLSfg1m5Y76_l1ZF5lr1khAQhDBox-MTrO3CV7symRqmehefHVg/
viewform?usp=sf_link) This is not considered an adequate sample; follow up is needed.

Awareness raising & scientific events

Campus Sustainability Day October 2015:
October 2015
At the Deree Main Corridor, we informed the ACG community about initiatives implemented @ Deree aiming to a greener campus, like recycling points, green roofs, collecting bottle cups, energy efficient hand dryers, a weather station installed in campus and more via informative boards and a leaflet. The
Environmental Studies Society also participated at the exhibition with screening of various environmental concerned videos and informing the community.
October 2016
On October 22, 2016, we were privileged to host Dr. Robert Gottlieb, a research professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Founder & Director of the Urban and Environmental
Policy Institute at Occidental College. He gave two lectures on the Right to Water, explained through examples of Los Angeles and California and challenged us to consider action research practices in higher education by Connecting the Campus to the Community and to a Social Justice and Social Change Agenda.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

International Environment Day:
June 2016:
It took place on June 3, 2016 at ACG Campus.
A group of students, faculty and staff got together and created a Zen area, next to the already existing vegetable garden, 50m uphill the chapel. The activity lasted until 12:00 noon. Members of the ACG community expressed their views on the topic “energy, climate and refugees” via art – drawing, painting and writing on a big canvas - at the Deree Main Corridor, embellished with a nice painting of the artist Stella Evgena. Ms Evgena also facilitated the art activity. The day’s activities were co-organized by the Center of Excellence for Sustainability - Office of Public Affairs, Office of Student Affairs, ACG Health & Wellness Center and the Environmental Studies Society and were supported by the Self Awareness & Meditation Club.
June 2017:
It took place on June 2, 2017 at ACG Campus. The day started with the presentation of Anastasia Ioannidis- Educational Consultant Volunteer Work and Actions, who informed us about the importance of volunteering and the difference in can make in a community. The audience was then separated in small groups and were asked to create their very own volunteering action plan, regarding a subject of their interest. Then, WWF Hellas organized an interactive event where Prof. Konstantinos Stergiou, Director of the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Island Waters- Hellenic of Marine Research and George Paximadis, Marine Office- WWF Hellas informed the participants about the importance of fisheries and the problems that arise from their over-exploitation. A subsequent workshop rose awareness on how you should choose fish to eat in order to support sustainable seas. An educational game was played with the use of an interactive WWF mobile-based application on fish consumption. Prizes were given to the winners and gifts to the participants. Approximately 60 people attended the presentations and 40 the workshop.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Other activities:
Mind Body Spirit Fest:
November 2015:
In the context of the “Mind-Body-Spirit Fest” – organized by the ACG Health and Wellness Office in November 2015, we organized a “Gardening without a garden” workshop, facilitated by Robin McGrew. Ms McGrew showed us how to grow our own fresh vegetables on our balconies. During the workshop, we planted lettuce in planters. An informative brochure about Balcony and Rooftop Gardening in Athens was handed out to participants.
October 2016:
In the context of the “Mind, Body, and Spirit Fest” – organized by the ACG Health and Wellness office in October 2016 – Dr. Christina Marouli, director of the Center, in the context of her course Environmental Justice, organized a workshop with title “The Environment & You: An Intimate Relationship” to help everyone realize that we affect the environment and are intimately affected by it. Also, the Center prepared a Board based on that topic “The Environment & You: An Intimate Relationship” projected that the environment affects clothing, housing, societies, spaces (spacing), and accessibility.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Lecture of Tessie Catsambas: Toward the Sustainable Development Goals
Took place in the Art Center Auditorium, on February 9, 2016. Tessie Tzavaras Catsambas - CEO/CFO of EnCompass LLC, presented the 2020 Sustainability Goals of the United Nations, urging us to become “Blue Marble citizens”. During her lecture, she presented the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that were unanimously voted in the UN General Assembly during September 2015 for the Global Agenda 2030. She explored with us the implications of the SDGs for international cooperation and policy making in all countries. A very insightful discussion followed the presentation.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Talking about Addictions
March 21-24, 2016
The Center of Excellence for Sustainability participated in the event that was organized by the ACG Health & Wellness Center, Office of Student Affairs, in cooperation with the ACG Counseling Center and the Institute of Public Health about addictions. The CES participated in the event with 2 interesting board displays, adding the environmental and consumption perspectives of the topic. The 1st board was about wine addiction and how it can impact the environment. The 2nd board was based on the research of Stavros Goulakos – Deree Environmental Studies student - on the environmental impacts of coca cultivation and cocaine production; it was prepared by him, supported by the CES student assistants.

Addictions week was supported by the Center of Excellence for Sustainability, the Deree Biology Club, the Psychology Society, and the DEREE Student Activities Board.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Retaining the Light of Our Future - Photovoltaics
April 6, 2016 - Art Center Auditorium
Mr. George Markogiannakis, a Mechanical Energy Engineer and an Environmental Studies instructor at the Deree Environmental Studies program, talked to us about the market of Photovoltaic Solar Panels here in Greece. Afterwards, Andrew Bettencourt, a study abroad student from Champlain College in Vermont with electrician experience, presented the process of installation of solar panels. The two lectures brought up questions and ideas concerning renewable energy that lead to a great discussion between the lecturers and the audience. This was an event that built on the skills of a Deree student and a Deree faculty member in a collaborative setting.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Sound, Music and Sustainability
March 23, 2016
An interactive discussion with Dr. Jeff Todd Titon talked about the connection of sounds and music with the environment. It challenged participants to consider the relation of sounds with sustainable living. This event was collaboratively organized by the Music Department and the Center of Excellence for Sustainability.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Deree Vegetable Garden
February 2016
On February 26, 2016, we planted our Deree garden just behind the water bore. Planting was done with the participation of students, under the guidance of the Deree gardeners. We planted potatoes, onions, tomatoes and lettuces – which were donated by the ISS company. During the spring semester, we followed the growth of the plants and maintained the garden – always with the guidance of the Deree gardeners. During the celebration of the World Environment Day at Deree in June 2016, lettuce from the vegetable garden was used for the Zen garden picnic.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Collaboration with Shedia
September 2016
On September 29th, 2016 the Deree Men’s soccer team played with the internationally acclaimed Greek National Homeless Soccer Team, sponsored by Shedia, the Greek street paper. The event was organized by the Center of Excellence for Sustainability (CES) at the Office of Public Affairs, and the Office of Athletics, in collaboration with the Ethelon volunteer platform and Shedia. The ACG community reinforced its support of Shedia by buying the magazine’s latest issue as the teams played on.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

ACG Community Service Day- (MELLON Refugee shelter)
November 2016
On Thursday November 17, ACG students, faculty, staff and alumni responded to a call by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to offer their services to the refugee reception center MELLON, in Moschato. While some participants painted 14 rooms of the shelter, others engaged in fun activities with hosted mothers and their children. This activity was organized by the Center of Excellence for Sustainability at the Office of Public Affairs, in collaboration with: Deree Student Affairs, Deree Student Government, International Honors Program, and, the NGO NOSTOS.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Athens Science Festival
April 1st, 2017
With the participation of the Department of Science and Mathematics to the annual event “Athens Science Festival” the Center of Excellence for Sustainability also participated with the demonstration of the Green Roofs’ layers and their utility to a sustainable city. Also, the students that represented the center offered further information about the goals and actions that the center has engaged over the years, and its effort to a more sustainable campus.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Recycling Campaign: #ACG_ Recycles
April 3rd – April 7th, 2017
The recycling campaign included a photo contest with selfies of people recycling, an informative board and CES assistants at the Deree Main Corridor informing about recycling at Deree, and screening of awareness raising videos on recycling. The 3 winners of the photo contest received a gift card from Public.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

ACG Community Service Day – (Melina Merkouri Square)
Spring 2017
On 11 April 2017, a Community Service day was organized with the participation of students from both Deree and Pierce, faculty and staff in order to revamp the Melina Merkouri Square in Kontopefko, Ag. Paraskevi. Actions like painting, restoring benches, replacement of wooden boards, planting, and clean up took place. …. Number people participated.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Many informational boards
Informational boards were regularly displayed at the Deree Main Corridor and near the CES office on the diversity of sustainability themes.
Fall 2015: US and Water Waste, Recycling, Addictions (Sniffing the Planet away: Cocaine , Wine: Can too much of a good thing be bad, Sustainable Christmas.
Spring 2016: Tips-Be Efficient with Heating, Climate Change and Migration
Summer 2016: Summer Tips, Sunscreen
Fall 2016: The Environment and You – An intimate relationship, Energy Efficient Winter, Urban Housing and Homelessness, Sustainable Christmas
Spring 2017: Water Management, Recycling at Deree Campus, Composting
Summer 2017: Oceans
In total there are 14 informative boards. Along with them the CES office created for each period boards containing the upcoming events to inform students about the actions that will take place.
(See Annex 4 for supporting documentation)

Sustainability Survey: A survey containing 9 questions regarding sustainability and relevant initiatives on ACG campus was administered three times in this period (see annex 4).
- 1st: electronically administered to all ACG ongoing students in October 2015. 345 people responded.
- 2nd and 3rd: administered in hard copies to all incoming students during the Orientation Day of Fall 2016 (57 responses) and Spring 2017 (131 responses).

Social media: Facebook page and twitter
2011-2017
We have constantly been updating our Facebook page with material about all the environmental (and not only) events that take place in the campus, as well as environmental news and interesting topics from all over the world. Currently, our Facebook profile counts more than 600 friends and our Facebook page almost 500 and has been rated by 5 stars from our followers. All our friends are very active and engaged towards our social media, by regularly commenting on our posts, re-sharing them and even sharing their own related topics on our page.

Newsletter: A newsletter describing the Center’s activities was drafted in July 2016 for the academic year 2015-16 and in July 2017 for 2016-17 (see annex 12 ). The last newsletter can be used in the upcoming sustainability website and other dissemination activities (maybe with a professional design).

Education for Sustainability
- Deree
o Greening the Campus Course : An Honors course established in 2012 by Dr. Christina Marouli, the Director of the Center of Excellence for Sustainability. An exemplary Education for Sustainability course, based on experiential learning and involving collaborative teaching and learning. A container course which changes topic each year. Offered once per year.
The one in fall 2015 focused on green roofs and was co-taught by Dr. Christian Marouli and Dr. Anastasia Misseyanni.
The last one (spring 2017) focused on water management (instructors: Dr. Stella Apostolaki and Dr. Christina Marouli). The student groups did an updated water audit of the ACG campus in Ag. Paraskevi and a study with suggestions (based on the use of a Decision Support Tool) for stormwater management. The results of these studies were submitted to the Human Resources and Facilities Management Division and the Technical Services in June 2017.
(See annex 5 for students’ papers)
o Recording of academic work on sustainability: Systematic collection of data regarding Deree courses and research done on sustainability issues by Deree faculty. Done twice (2015-16 – for the STARS application; and 2016-17).
o Education for Sustainability workshop: Dr. Marouli planned, organized and guided a workshop on Education for Sustainability (21 June 2017) in the context of a science pedagogy workshop organized by the Global Liberal Arts Alliance that took place on 19-21 June 2017. (see annex 6 for programme)
o LE course on sustainability: Dr. Marouli designed a LE course on “Sustainable Student Living”. To be processed and approved by the Curriculum Committee in fall 2017.
o Minor on Environmental Management / Management for Sustainability: Dr. Marouli initiated contact with Mr. Aldous – Head of the Management Department - for the design of a minor in Environmental Management / Management for Sustainability with courses from Environmental Studies (School of Liberal Arts) and Management (School of Business). Finalized in June 2017 and signatures collected. The proposed minor will go through the Curriculum Committee in fall 2017 for approval.

Research
- Green Roof research (proposal done in 2015 by the Dr. Christina Marouli, Director of the Center, with the support of the Environmental Studies Department; budget approved by the Provost: €5000 in spring 2016; research roof installed in June 2016 with the manual work of the faculty (C. Marouli, A. Misseyanni, P. Papadopoulou) and students and the supervision of Mr. Andrew Clements – Oikosteges; regular measurements done in 2016-17 with the continuous involvement of students and the supervision of the involved faculty; with the involvement of the following faculty: Christina Marouli, Anastasia Misseyanni, Paraskevi Papadopoulou, and Dimitris Georgas. Dr. Christina Marouli supervised this research and will continue being responsible for it in 2017-18 as well.
(see annex 7 for photos)
- Recording of academic work on sustainability: Systematic collection of data regarding research done on sustainability issues by Deree faculty. Done twice (2015-16 – for the STARS application; and 2016-17).
(see annex 7)

Internship – work opportunities for students
- 4 work study positions at the Center of Excellence for Sustainability. 6 students (5 Environmental Studies 1 Visual arts,).
Student Assistants at the CES gain skills in environmental research, communication, team work, organization of events, office organization, among others.
The most important thing for a student working at the CES was the experience, knowledge and practical skills on various different dimensions. Experience that was acquired through research on, participation in and organization of Environmental subjects, as well as Social awareness and responsibility subjects.

Training
- Green Roof Course: Started in 2013, in the context of an EU funded project – the first course on green roofing to be accredited in Europe. The 5th course was organized on 14/11/15 - 24/01/16 and installed 4m2 of green roof on the Art Center green roof and 25m2 of green roof on Upper Level Library level. It was attended by 21 and 10 completed the course and received a certificate of attendance (see annex 8). The 6th course took place on 16-20/5/2017. For this course, we received a sponsorship of 5000 € and the Art Center green roof was completed (16 m2) in the context of the course. It was attended by 18 and 12 completed the course and received a certificate of attendance. (see annex 8)
The course has been offered free of charge (a great example of social responsibility for an academic institution), in collaboration with Oikosteges – Mr. Clements – who has been offering his time for teaching the course on a voluntary basis. Only, during the last course, he was a paid instructor.
NOTE: The plaque for the Green Roof has not been received yet. ISSUE TO BE FOLLOWED UP ON IN FALL 2017

Volunteerism
- Faculty collaborations:
o Collaborations with 4 Environmental Studies or Science professors, 1 Music, and 1 Management professor.

Collaborations with other bodies
- Inside ACG
o Close collaboration with the Environmental Studies Department – both faculty (using their expertise and willingness to promote sustainability on campus) and the Environmental Studies Society (as recipients of and active participants in CES activities). All ES students and faculty know and appreciate the work of the Center.
The Center’s contribution to the enhancement of the students’ learning experience has repeatedly been commended in the Open University external examiners’ reports and in the report for the revalidation of the Environmental Studies program.
o 3 administrators (from the Technical Services) did presentations or led campus tours in the context of the Greening the Campus course
o Collaboration of the CES with the Wellness Center:
 The CES office (Director and student assistants) organized an event in the context of the Mind – Body – Spirit Fest (fall 2016)
 The Wellness Center organized an activity in the International Environment Day 2016 (Zen garden) organized by the CES.
o Collaboration with the Student Affairs office
 in the Addictions Week (2016) - CES personnel organized an activity in this context)
 in the organization of a CSR event (painting of a refugee shelter in N. Faliro) (fall 2016). Organization of the logistics by the Public Affairs Office personnel.
 In the Student Orientation weeks of January 2016, summer 2016 and Fall 2017, with the organization of an activity on sustainability work on campus. In this occasion, a questionnaire regarding respondents’ awareness on sustainability and ACG relevant initiatives was also distributed to incoming students.
o Collaboration of the CES personnel with the School of Fine and Performing Arts for the organization of a presentation / discussion on sustainability and music with Jeff Titon (spring 2016)

- From outside ACG
o Co-organized activities with the following NGOs: WWF, Oikosteges (the Green Roof Course), Archelon (discussion for internship opportunities, initiated by the Environmental Studies Program)
o Municipality of Ag. Paraskevi: Contacts for common environmental activities. Also, 3 people from the Technical Services of the Municipality participated in the first Green Roof Course.

Publicity
- Sustainability web page on ACG website: Restructuring of the website on sustainability. Under the supervision of Mr. Vogiatzis and VP Carydis. Dr. Marouli contributed both comments and content to this restructuring.
- Presentation / activity during the Orientation week: Started in winter/spring 2016 and continued in 2016-17. All incoming students were exposed to ACG sustainability initiatives.
- Athens Science Festival: Participation in the Athens Science Festival with the organization of a demonstration activity on green roofs, as well as a poster on CES and its activities. CES student assistants were there throughout the event on Saturday April 5, 2017. Reached thousands of young people.
- The Center’s contribution to the enhancement of the students’ learning experience has repeatedly (every year) been commended in the Open University external examiners’ reports and the report for the revalidation of the Environmental Studies program (for the Environmental Studies Program).

Funding
- Green Roof Research proposal to ACG: Dr. Christina Marouli drafted a proposal on research on green roofs on campus for 5000 € and submitted it to ACG, in collaboration with the Environmental Studies Program. Approved in spring 2016.
- Green Roof sponsorship: Green Roof sponsorship of €5.000 received in May 2017 from the company GREEN, after the close collaboration between the Development Office and the CES (Dr. Marouli) and VP Carydis and significant work in the period October 2016 – May 2017. (see annex 9)

Use and Value of CES office for DEREE students

CES served as a hotspot for students from all kind of academic fields, who sought information and collaboration regarding subjects that concerned the three elements of Sustainability (Environment, Economy, Society). Throughout all the years of the Centre’s existence, a considerable amount of students have visited the office for their own benefit and kept coming back, knowing that there was always something valuable to learn and make use of in their academic life, whether it was practical information or simply an advise.