University of Connecticut
PAE-1: Sustainability Coordination

Environmental Policy Advisory Council (EPAC) is advisory to the President, Provost and other senior administrators about strategies for enhancing the University's environmental performance in:

• Fostering environmentally sustainable development and mitigating the environmental impacts of our construction activities
• Improving environmental compliance in our operations
• Distinguishing our academic, operational and community outreach reputation by promoting environmental leadership initiatives.
• Better integrating environmental principles into the University's governance by ensuring coordination with administrative advisory committees and task forces.

Functions:

The EPAC meets once per semester, or as needed, and may appoint committees and task forces in order to:

• Develop and revise UConn’s environmental policy statement.
• Identify environmental risks and recommend goals, policies and procedures to address risks and improve environmental performance.
• Identify opportunities and sponsor initiatives designed to advance and achieve environmental sustainability.
• Develop strategies for building environmental awareness and engaging students, staff and faculty in environmental initiatives.
• Advise the University about conservation and development plans and activities.
• Formulate strategies for dealing with stakeholder groups on environmental issues.
• Monitor the University’s environmental performance and sponsor periodic environmental reports.
• Help organize and promote outreach events and partnerships that showcase the University’s environmental leadership.

Additionally, workgroups associated with EPAC have over 250 members of the University and surrounding community involved in individual incentives and targeted goals.

The list of members is found here: http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/about/members.html

Alumni Representative: Robert Melvin, Partner, Robinson & Cole LLP
Undergraduate Student Representatives: Sienna Valente-Blough, Natural Resources and the Environment
Graduate Student Representatives: Colin Carlson, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Dean Gregory Weidemann, College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (CANR)
John Volin, Department Head, Natural Resources & the Environment (NRE)
Dean Mun Choi, School of Engineering (SOE)
Ross Bagtzoglou, Department Head, Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE)
Dean Jeremy Teitelbaum, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS)
Kathy Segerson, Philip E. Austin Chair in Economics
Joseph MacDougald, Executive Director, Center for Energy & Environmental Law
Marine Sciences/Geoscience: Tim Byrne, Associate Professor & Co-Chair, Environmental Sciences Program
Civil and Environmental Engineering: Allison MacKay, Associate Professor
Agriculture & Resource Economics: Farhed Shah, Associate Professor
Political Science :Mark Boyer, Professor & Department Head
Center for Environmental Science & Engineering:Mike Willig, Professor & Director
Geography :Anji Seth, Assistant Professor & Climatologist
EcoHouse, Faculty Director :Mark Westa, Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture
Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence (C2E2):Prabhakar Singh, Professor & Director
University Communications Dave Martel, Associate Vice President
(Delegate) Sheila Foran, News and Information Associate
Community Relations Michael Kirk, Deputy Chief of Staff
University Operations Rich Gray, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Athletics Department Evan Feinglass, Assistant Director, Athletic Operations
Senior Operational Staff Standing Member
Architectural Engineering & Building Services Ken Egeberg, Associate Vice President
Office of University Planning Alexandria Roe, Director
Facilities Ronald Gaudet, Director of Utilities
Environmental Health & Safety Terence Monahan, Director
(Delegate) Stefan Wawzyniecki, Chemical Safety Manager

The sustainability office is one half of the Office of Environmental Policy's responsibilities. The OEP director devotes 1/2 of his time to sustainability, as does one administrative assistant. There are also three compliance staff members who devote approximately 15% of their time to the Sustainability office.

Typically, one graduate student (1/2 time) sustainability coordinator is employed, as well as an undergraduate student intern staff of 5-7 students/ semester. Eight students were employed in the most recent semester. Recently we have employed a second part-time sustainability coordinator.

Rich Miller, the Director of the OEP, is UConn’s sustainability officer. The two graduate student sustainability coordinators report to him, and are front-line supervisors for undergraduate sustainability interns.

Sustainability Coordinator: Job Description

Office of Environmental Policy
Title: Sustainability Coordinator (part-time, 17.5hrs/week)
Reports to: Director, Office of Environmental Policy

POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the guidance of the Director of the Office of Environmental Policy (OEP) develops, plans and administers UConn’s sustainability initiatives and programs that reduce the environmental impacts and costs of the University’s operations, increase environmental awareness, provide students with experiential and co-curricular learning opportunities, and demonstrate research into sustainable technologies and practices.

1. Develops, plans and administers programs, initiatives, and events related to sustainability in coordination with multiple UConn colleges, divisions, departments, and student organizations.

2. Supervises student interns in the OEP's Sustainability Office.
• Coordinates the intern recruiting, search, and hiring process.
• Reviews and edits the interns' draft plans, reports, meeting notes, announcements, and correspondence to ensure accuracy, completeness, professionalism, and consistency with overall objectives and strategies.
• Assigns projects and allocates the workload to ensure productivity, effectiveness, and teamwork.
• Plans and conducts periodic intern meetings and regular one-on-one sessions.

3. Assists the Director as advisor to EcoHusky and works with its members, as well as EcoHouse residents, and other environmental clubs and student organizations, as a liaison to the OEP and appropriate faculty and staff members, in order to ensure effective communication and collaboration on sustainability programs and activities. These duties may require meeting outside of regular business hours.

4. Works with the Director and any applicable workgroup chairs to organize meetings of UConn’s Environmental Policy Advisory Council (EPAC) and its workgroups, by maintaining distribution lists, drafting agendas, preparing presentations, handouts, meeting notes and minutes, and by ensuring follow-up on action items.

5. Chairs the EPAC Recycling Workgroup and is a point-of-contact for all waste reduction and recycling-related outreach materials and programs, such as Give-and-Go, Sneaker Recycling , Green Gamedays and Recyclemania.

6. Works with departments in Student Affairs, such as ResLife, Dining Services, Student Health Services, Community Outreach and Student Activities, as well as operational staff in Facilities, Architectural & Engineering Services, Farm Services and Athletics, among others, on departmental sustainability assessments and goals. May represent the OEP’s Sustainability Office by organizing or participating in periodic meetings with these departments to help them develop and achieve these goals.

7. Coordinates implementation of recommended strategies and action items in UConn's Climate Action Plan (CAP), developed pursuant to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, and works with the OEP Director to oversee any revision of the CAP.

8. Maintains, develops, edits and publishes the OEP’s Sustainability Office (EcoHusky) website, a periodic newsletter and other informational materials with updated campus sustainability progress reports and accomplishments. Oversees the OEP’s sustainability-related filing system and shared drive.

9. Represents the OEP’s Sustainability Office to the public, by participating in events, conferences and meetings hosted by the town, environmental groups, regulatory agencies, community stakeholders and professional associations, including some activities on weekends and evenings, in order to cultivate partnerships, promote the University’s leadership, and advance the principles of UConn’s Environmental Policy statement.

10. Assists the Director in defining goals, performance metrics and a long-term plan for sustainability at UConn. Monitors and evaluates program effectiveness, documents performance trends and recommends and implements programmatic changes and improvements.

11. Prepares grant applications and assists the Director and Administrative Coordinator in developing budgets for the OEP’s Sustainability Office. Monitors and reconciles expenditure of budgeted funds.

12. Works with the Director and the UConn Foundation on an annual appeal mailing and other fundraising activities for UConn’s Campus Sustainability Fund, including meetings with prospective and current donors.

13. Independently researches best practices and compiles data to prepare reports that require thorough knowledge of policies, procedures, and activities. Assists in developing, implementing, and reporting on sustainability assessments and surveys.

14. Performs related duties as required. May be required to work occasional evenings and/or weekends. May be required to travel occasionally to regional campuses.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Master’ degree preferred.
One to three years related experience, including experience implementing sustainability initiatives at a college or university.

Administrative, organizational, and supervisory abilities. Strong writing, communication and presentation skills.
Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with University faculty, staff and students as well as external constituents.

Ability to creatively resolve problems, effectively, efficiently, and independently.
Good computer skills, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and an ability to learn new software as necessary.

An ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Information about Laura Dunn, Sustainability Coordinator: http://ecohusky.uconn.edu/about/staff.html#dunn