Aquinas College
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Through collaborative efforts of the Center for Sustainability and supporting sustainability committees and departments, we have experienced many successes over the past three years. We established a more aggressive Zero Waste goal, moving it from 2020 to 2014. We have encouraged recycling and composting throughout the campus by distributing composting crocs, setting up special collections for paper towels/Styrofoam/Terracycle/E-Waste/batteries/ink cartridges/Goodwill, phasing out non-compostable containers, hosting large zero waste events, and expanding our Zero-Waste education. Through these programs, we have improved our diversion rate from 45% to 75% in just two years. We made the Sierra Club’s Cool Schools list and the Princeton Review’s Green Schools list every year. Currently, we are piloting a new, cross functional structure for our campus sustainability committees, which encompasses three overarching themes of infrastructure, community, and learning. Our hope is to create transformational change at Aquinas through diverse discussions among students, staff, and faculty. In 2011, the Michigan Green Chemistry Clearinghouse was established through the collaborative efforts of Blue Sphere, Inc., GVSU, Sustainable Research Group, the Ecology Center, and the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College. The college has successfully decreased our carbon footprint by 10% through a variety of energy efficiency measures. In the fall of 2013, we launched a new program called “AQ Bikes,” a bike rental program for the Aquinas Community. To further encourage alternative transportation, we increased the public bus subsidy to $0.25 per ride, a savings of $1.25 for faculty, staff, and students.

Each of the three committees have the following mission and charges. The LEARNING COMMITTEE deals with curriculum, interpretation, and campus aesthetic. Vision: Aquinas College is an intellectual incubator integrating the Catholic Dominican tradition and the Economicology framework. Their first year tasks include: 1. Assist in the development of the Economicology component of the First Year Experience for first year students. 2. Identify and develop educational signage opportunities across campus, marketing sustainability attributes of campus. 3. Help organize the Spring educational workshop for sustainability 4. Be available to advise the Academic Master planning process. The COMMUNITY COMMITTEE deals with governance, investment, and wellness. Vision: Demonstrating the relevancy and currency of the liberal arts, Aquinas students and faculty lead change to address contemporary human and ecological issues. Their first year tasks include: 1. Incorporate sustainability into the job descriptions of all staff. 2. Incorporate sustainability into the college’s investment strategy 3. Establish a green revolving fund The INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE deals with energy, food, and materials. Vision: Aquinas College is a living lab of sustainable practices. Their first year tasks include: 1. Establish a Sustainable Food Purchasing Policy 2. Find a new location and help re-establish the community garden 3. Advise the college on a real time energy monitoring system.

Infrastructure: Dr. Len Kogut (Co-Chair, Cabinet Member) Kaitlyn Aholt (Co-Chair- Elected from Committee, Student) Jessica Eimer (ex-officio, Director of Sustainability, Staff) Doug Greenslate (ex-officio, Director of Housekeeping, Staff) Julie Blaszak (ex-officio, Director of Residence Life, Staff) Dr. Rob Peters (faculty) Dr. Paul Brewer (faculty) Cindy Dorman (staff) Anne Marie Ferratt (staff) Emily Elias (student) Community: Paula Meehan (Co-chair, Cabinet Member) Dr. Todd Yarbrough (Co-Chair- Elected from Committee, Faculty) Jessica Eimer (ex-officio, Director of Sustainability, Staff) Veronica Beitner (ex-officio, Director of Wellness, Staff) Sarah Johnson (ex-officio, Staff) Kristina Raiz (Student) Dr. Duane Ambrose (Faculty) Cecilia Cunningham (Staff) Jessica Vaglica (Staff) Blake Bensman (Student) Learning: Dr. Chad Gunnoe (Co-Chair, Cabinet Member) Stéphane Bédère (Co-Chair- Elected from Committee, Faculty) Jessica Eimer (ex-officio, Director of Sustainability, Staff) Kathy Kremer (ex-officio, Dean of Curriculum, Faculty) Dr. Rebecca Coogan (Faculty) Philip Mitri (Staff) Brigid Avery (Staff) Emily Cook (Student) Gus Wasinski (Student)

The Center for Sustainability (C4S) at Aquinas College promotes principles and practices that restore our environment, foster economic prosperity, and build vibrant and healthy communities. Established in 2005 as a community resource, C4S has been building networks and partnerships between local businesses, students and faculty to support learning for sustainability. Among its activities, the Center for Sustainability: • Links the community to sustainability resources and regional and local activities through an extensive website (www.centerforsustainability.org). The website provides a gateway to sustainable business practices and education that will help individuals to begin or further their journey toward sustainability. • Sponsors lectures, workshops, and non-credit educational programs for organizations and individuals interested in sustainable business practices. • Connects students and faculty of the Aquinas Sustainable Business program with area businesses seeking to launch or further their efforts toward sustainability. • Serves as a central node for the networked activities of the Aquinas Campus Sustainability Initiative. The Center for Sustainability heads the AQ Sustainability Initiative which provides an on-going process to assure that Aquinas College is the kind of place where people love to work and learn. The initiative involves protecting the natural beauty of the Aquinas College campus while restoring the natural environment, improving financial stability and strengthening social relationships. Presently, the Center for Sustainability is focused on the implementation of the Zero-Waste Initiative.

The Campus Sustainability Director serves as the lead facilitator for campus sustainability efforts and the lead program staff for the Center for Sustainability. This person maintains, develops, and expands programs and projects to advance the triple bottom line performance of Aquinas College. This position works with all campus constituencies including faculty, staff, students, contractors, and vendors to meet the institutions sustainability goals and vision. The Campus Sustainability Director assists multiple committees in securing the adoption and implementation of college policies and educational efforts for sustainability.