University of Mount Union
PAE-1: Sustainability Coordination

Sustainability Management Advisory Committee

Background

Over the past three years the Sustainability Task Force developed a sustainability plan for the College that includes all aspects of sustainability on campus: administration, operations, and education. The plan also explicitly includes a climate action plan as required by our commitment to the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The task force believed that in order to be successful, a climate action plan needs to include more than just the energy consumption of the institution; it must also consider the entire institution and its community. Only with this broader approach can we fulfill our mission: “to create a sustainable, efficient, and healthy atmosphere for our students, faculty, and staff”. The sustainability plan was adopted by the Mount Union Board of Trustees in May 2010.

Basic Premises

Adopting a strategic approach to sustainability planning, policy, and implementation is necessary. An essential element in creating a more strategic oversight of sustainability is an effective Sustainability Management Advisory Committee. Since the Sustainability Plan has been developed, the next step is to implement the Plan. The members of the Sustainability Task Force recommended the creation of a Sustainability Management Advisory Committee that would replace the Sustainability Task Force.
The purpose of this committee is to assist the President and President’s Council in executive level strategic sustainability decisions. This committee would also work on the implementation of the short, medium and long term goals of the Sustainability Plan, review and offer comment on the sustainable aspects of campus projects and programs, collect and publicize data on the university’s progress with the plan and recommend directions and priorities for sustainability on our campus.

Goals of the Sustainability Management Advisory Committee (SMAC)

1. Continually review and update the strategic sustainability plan for the implementation of sustainability measures throughout the university.
2. Annually report on progress towards meeting the goals of the sustainability plan, specifically including reports to ACUPCC and AASHE STARS.
3. Review and recommend appropriate changes in the plan in response to new technologies and changing campus needs and abilities.
4. Work with public affairs to promote sustainability on campus and to our off campus constituents.
5. Participate in review of proposed campus projects and programs and provide recommendations relative to sustainability.
6. Recommend priorities for sustainability initiatives.
7. Prepare a formal update to the plan every three years to the President and President’s Council.
8. Cooperate with the Alliance Mayor’s Green Task Force and other community organizations on matters of mutual interest.

Committee Size and Structure (16 persons)
The committee is comprised of the following individuals:
• 2 Representatives from Physical Plant
• 3 Faculty members
• VP Business Affairs
• Director of the Brumbaugh Center for Environmental Science
• 3 Student representatives (including at least one from Student Senate)
• Representative from Information Technology
• Representative from Student Affairs
• Representative from Auxiliary Services
• Representative from Public Affairs
• 2 community members
Ex officio – President, Sustainability coordinator, Sustainabilty/Academic Outreach Coordinator.
Chairperson to be selected by the group on an annual basis.

Organization into three working subcommittees aligned with the sustainability plan and our assessment framework. The assignments to working groups are flexible and will be based on the interest and experience of the members.

Proposed Meetings of Advisory committee – monthly or as needed and open
Proposed meeting of subcommittees - monthly
Reporting – Annually to President’s Council. Periodically to Student Senate and Faculty

STUDENT Babos, Heidi B baboshb@mountunion.edu
STUDENT Collins, Julia T collinju@mountunion.edu
DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICE Cunningham, Danielle L cunnindl@mountunion.edu
FACULTY Draves, Jeffrey A dravesja@mountunion.edu
DEAN OF STUDENTS Frazier, John L fraziejl@mountunion.edu
EXEC DIR OF MARKETING Gardner, Melissa F gardnemf@mountunion.edu
COMMUNITY MEMBER Giese, Sandra L GIESESL@mountunion.edu
FACULTY Gotch, Al GOTCHAJ@mountunion.edu
VP BUSINESS AFFAIRS Heddleston, Patrick D HEDDLEPD@mountunion.edu
FACULTY Horning, Martin HORNINME@mountunion.edu
SUTAINABILITY STAFF Kee, Natalie M keenm@mountunion.edu
SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR Kramer, Stephen KRAMERSR@mountunion.edu
DIRECTOR OF PHYSYIUCAL PLANT Lewis, Blaine LEWISBD@mountunion.edu
DIRECTOR CTR FOR ENVI SCIENCE McClaugherty, Charles MCCLAUCA@mountunion.edu
STUDENT Moore, Amanda R moorear@mountunion.edu
FACULTY Muga, Helen E mugahe@mountunion.edu
DIRECTOR OF AUXILIARY SERVICESPeterson, Rod PETERSRO@mountunion.edu
ASST DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL PLANT - SUSTAINBILITY Rhodes, James R RHODESJR@mountunion.edu
PHYSICAL PLANT STAFF Snyder, Diana SNYDERDL@mountunion.edu
DIRECOTR INFORMATION TECHNOOGY Stuchell, Tina M STUCHETM@mountunion.edu
STUDENT Suhar, Zachary M suharzm@mountunion.edu
FACULTY Tidman, Paul TIDMANPA@mountunion.edu
COMMUNITY MEMBER Tiffany Gravlee stgrav@aol.com

dispersed across campus there are three staff members with sutainbity explicitly in their job description
Steve Kramer - Faculty Emeritus Sustainability coordinator
Natalie Kee - Sustaianbility and Academic Outreach Coordinator
Jim Rhodes - Assistant Director of Physical Plant

The Sustainability Coordinator has the following tasks as they relate to the mission of the Sustainablity Management Advisory Committee:• Work with students and student affairs staff to increase student awareness of and participation in sustainability issues and to gain input from students as one of our primary stakeholders. Work with faculty and academic affairs staff to help faculty integrate and identify, as appropriate, sustainability concepts into the curriculum. • Work with human resources and other administrative staff in helping to develop and provide appropriate training for current and new employees on sustainability. • Assist the Sustainability Task Force in collection, analysis and dissemination of data relating to our sustainability effort including, for example, our STARS data, GHG emissions data, recycling and waste data and data related to our progress toward our climate neutrality commitment. • Serve as a clearinghouse for information and resources related to campus sustainability including participation in conferences and bringing relevant information back to the University of Mount Union on all aspects of sustainability in higher education. • Work with Public Affairs and Marketing in providing current information to all of our stakeholders regarding sustainability at the University of Mount Union.