| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.15 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The original President appointed Sustainability Committee, created in 2008, has been restricted to focus on the creation of a climate action plan. It now exists as the Climate Action Committee.
Additionally, Student Government Association created the SGA Sustainability Committee in 2015. This committee consists of SGA and nonSGA students, as well as several faculty/staff members. The committee focuses on effecting change in policy and practice to improve sustainability at WKU, particularly those deemed important to students.
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role (e.g. staff, student, or faculty):
Climate Action Committee:
Bryan Russell - Chief Facilities Officer
Gary Meszaros - Assistant VP for Auxiliary Services
Christian Ryan- Sustainability Coordinator
Dr. Leslie North - Professor of Geosciences and climate change
Dr. Jason Polk - Professor of Geosciences and climate change
Jason Delambre - external advisor, Midwest Clean Energy Enterprises
two student spots to be filled
SGA Sustainability Committee: (names not included as they are transitional positions)
Student Sustainability Coordinator position
Treasurer
Secretary
Public Relations
approximately 20 members
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) employee?:
A brief description of each sustainability office:
It is the mission of the Office of Sustainability to promote a culture of sustainability at WKU, integrating principles of ecological integrity and social equity into academics, practices, and partnerships. Our goal is to ensure that WKU is an institution that provides innovative solutions to global challenges, prepares students as engaged and responsible citizens, and observes best practices in campus operations and services.
The Office employs two students (20 hours per week) and engages interns and graduate assistants.
Full-time equivalent (FTE) of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution (e.g. a campus-wide committee or an officer/office responsible for the entire campus)?:
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
WKU created a Sustainability Coordinator position and established an Office of Sustainability in 2008. Since then, much has been accomplished. In 2012 the Office of Sustainability acquired a university owned residence as its office space. The house is being developed as a sustainability best practice demonstration home, complete with sustainable landscaping and solar energy, among other things.The Office of Sustainability is home to the Big Red Bikes program and the WKU Food Pantry. In 2014, the Office of Sustainability created Project Grow, a program that engages student Fellows to create and maintain edible landscape and community garden space at the Office of Sustainability, as well as conduct workshops. In 2015 the Office became the first net zero office on campus.
In 2015, WKU was recognized by the US Department of Education as a Green Ribbon School, one of 9 universities and colleges to be recognized with this honor in its inaugural year.
In 2015, WKU was profiled in the first edition of "The Campus Wild: How College and University Green Landscapes Provide Havens for Wildlife and "Lands-on" Experiences for Students".
The Coordinator chairs the Climate Action Committee and advises the SGA Sustainability Committee, advises student research projects, supports faculty and students in sustainability related courses, and develops and teaches graduate level sustainability courses for the Social Responsibility and Sustainable Communities MA program.
Job title of the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job title of the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.