Chatham University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

From the Strategic Plan 2017: "Chatham's vision is to be recognized as an outstanding private university whose graduates are sought-after leaders and professionals committed to building a more equitable, healthy, and sustainable global future. Since the founding of the Rachel Carson Institute in 1997 Chatham has been building upon on the legacy of Rachel Carson ’29. Chatham once again expanded our educational mission with a University-wide commitment to sustainability and improving the health of the planet through the founding of the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment and the creation of Eden Hall Campus. Chatham has also built upon its mission of creating educational opportunities and transforming lives through access, equity, health, and sustainability by enhancing academic excellence and the student experience, expanding leadership in sustainability and health, improving access and affordability through innovation, deepening of partnerships for student and alumni success, and building university capacity and capabilities. "

Chatham is in the final stages of approving an Institutional Master Plan (Nov 2018) to be submitted to the City of Pittsburgh for establishing an EMI Zoning District. This master plan aligns with the goals of other relevant plans and programs, both internal and external to the University, including the "Chatham University Strategic Plan" (October 2017), Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), City of Pittsburgh 2030 Challenge, P4 Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority's "Green First Plan." In addition, there is a master plan specifically for Eden Hall. The Eden Hall Campus Master Plan is available at http://www.chatham.edu/edenhall/documents/EdenHallMasterPlan_Rev082113.pdf

The 2017 Strategic Plan specifically calls for growing the Falk School of Sustainability and the Environment through creating new degrees and expanding existing offerings. This includes a Bachelor degree in Sustainability, Master degrees in Food Studies, Sustainability, and dual Masters degrees in Sustainability and Business Administration and Food Studies and Business Administration. In addition, the Strategic Plan also calls for exploring the intersection of sustainability and health. e.g., building healthier and more sustainable communities; protecting water resources; creative re-use; reducing pollution that endangers health; supporting thriving local food systems, and bolstering resiliency to help minimize the negative impacts of climate change on local food and the environment. Chatham University plans to increase the number of programs offered by the Falk School of Sustainability & Environment. The FSSE is expected to launch at least two more programs related to sustainability and community development in the next coming years. As the school grows, new programs will include one-off workshops to Ph.D. programs.

The Strategic Plan 2017: - Over the next 5 years the university will provide more opportunities for the broader community to actively participate in the living-learning sustainability laboratory at the Eden Hall Campus, raising the campus’s profile, contributing to the vibrancy of campus life, thus helping it to become a dynamic, self-sustaining community. - The Eden Hall Campus also allows research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate level students through courses, independent studies, assistantships, and internships. The Falk School of Sustainability & Environment is dedicated to creating professional sustainability leaders that can apply principles of the field across a variety of areas today and tomorrow. All students, faculty, and staff engage in interdisciplinary work that gives students experiences that drive real-world progress. The Eden Hall Campus is used itself to conduct research on a number of areas central to sustainability. - The Center for Regional Agriculture Food and Transformation (CRAFT) is a founding member of the Western Pennsylvania Research Collaborative and works with over forty organizations and. CRAFT serves as a home for food systems information and data at the regional level, creating a network for research, education, and outreach on sustainable food. In this way, CRAFT supports academic programs in food, agriculture, and sustainability by providing resources, learning opportunities, and technical assistance on food systems, regional food cultures, and sustainable economies to individuals, organizations, and businesses. - The Center for Sustainable Leadership (CSL) activities and research will help organizations to enhance and maintain employee engagement with sustainability at work to boost organizational performance. Eden Hall Strategic Plan: - Chatham University is looking at adding a Ph.D. program in sustainability that will increase the sustainability research. • Our interdisciplinary research is deliberately part of the student learning experience. • Partnering with businesses, organizations, and the community to identify and help address real-world sustainability problems is the norm for the school, its teaching, and research. - The Chatham University Farm at Eden Hall and the Breakneck and Glade Run Forests provide a significant opportunity for scholarship and research, public outreach and education, recreation and community building as well as income generation. Using the forests as learning sites, Chatham University is willing to create opportunities for community engagement and educational opportunities.

Strategic Plan 2017: educational reach of and more fully activate the Eden Hall Campus (especially through the Falk School expansion). We will provide more opportunities for the broader community to actively participate in the living-learning sustainability laboratory at the Eden Hall Campus, raising the campus’s profile, contributing to the vibrancy of campus life, thus helping it to become a dynamic, self-sustaining community. Eden Hall Strategic Plan: 3.2 Building the community The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, in cooperation with the American Council on Education, published Campus Life: In Search of Community (Boyer, 1990) which provides a framework for creating a community including six characteristics that target the social and academic sides of campus life. We will use these criteria to build our Eden Hall community: • Educationally purposeful – where students, faculty and staff share the academic mission. Often, the community begins in the classroom but should trickle into all other aspects including the residence hall and student activities. • Open – In the ideal, a community with openness is honest, protects freedom of expression, and affirms civility. • Just - a place where the sacredness of each person is honored and where diversity is aggressively pursued. The world at large may be unjust, but the university should be dedicated to social justice. • Disciplined – where members accept their responsibilities and where a well-defined governance structure guides procedure for a common good. • Caring - a place where the well-being of each member is supported and service to others is encouraged. Students need to feel that they belong. The university must take the initiative for community building, and provide more interactions between students, faculty and staff. • Celebrative - a place where the heritage of the institution is remembered and where rituals affirming tradition and change are shared. Celebrations unite the campus and give students a sense of belonging to something worthwhile and enduring. It is through these lenses that we will nurture the community at Eden Hall.

Institutional Master Plan - Eden Hall Master plan: - Chatham University plans to offer higher education opportunities for senior citizens. - The Chatham University Farm at Eden Hall and the Breakneck and Glade Run Forests provide a significant opportunity for scholarship and research, public outreach and education, recreation and community building as well as income generation. Using the forests as learning sites, Chatham University is willing to create opportunities for community engagement and educational opportunities. Strategic Plan 2017: To reinvigorate the Rachel Carson Institute to become a leader in environmental and sustainability education; to promote public awareness and understanding of environmental issues, and to bring together organizations and individuals to collaborate with colleagues in the Falk School and across Chatham on key issues affecting the future of the planet. Expand educational reach of and more fully activate the Eden Hall Campus (especially through the Falk School expansion). We will provide more opportunities for the broader community to actively participate in the living-learning sustainability laboratory at the Eden Hall Campus, raising the campus’s profile, contributing to the vibrancy of campus life, thus helping it to become a dynamic, self-sustaining community. Eden Hall Strategic plan: - K-12 program that gives students the ability to engage in a hands-on, community-oriented exploration of sustainability throughout the entire year. Each season the K-12 Office will offer a broad range of activities, focusing on ecology, sustainable agriculture, the built environment, social responsibility, and more.

To reach carbon neutrality by 2025, we have developed a Climate Action Plan, conduct annual audits of our greenhouse gas emissions, and continue our programs of reduction initiatives including LED lighting retrofit of all buildings on our three campuses, energy efficiency upgrades, etc. Link to our 2009 Climate Action Plan: http://reporting.secondnature.org/cap/cap-public!248

From the Eden Hall Master Plan: Eden Hall, the home of Chatham’s School of Sustainability and the Environment, and in support of the university’s environmental commitment, all new development will meet the highest levels of sustainable design. Net zero energy, water and waste are goals for the campus. Two buildings (Dairy Barn and Orchard Hall) on Eden Hall's campus are certified as LEED Platinum and the university is working on finalizing the EBC's (classrooms, dining facilities, and communal space) status as LEED Platinum as well. Goals are set in accordance with our commitments to climate neutrality by 2025 through the ACUPCC, and our commitment to the various building challenges for the Eden Hall Campus. Building design aspects: Green building policy - - Green building standard targets: Chatham University will minimize its campuses footprint by strategically making efficient use of the existing spaces. Sustainability must be incorporated into the comprehensive master plans and designs of new high-performance buildings and installations. All the new constructed or renovated building spaces should meet at least LEED silver certification standards and new campus constructions must meet LEED Platinum requirements.

Climate Action Plan: - By 2020, an additional 20% reduction relative to the 2007 baseline in Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions - By 2025, Chatham will reach carbon neutrality 2030 challenge: By 2030, Chatham will reduce energy emissions by The Pittsburgh 2030 District's standards - 50% reductions in water, waste and energy use from baseline. Institutional Master Plan: references 2030 and Climate Action plan, and re-commits to improving infrastructure to promote sustainability. Section 7 lists the environmental and sustainability goals, including energy planning.

Resilience Plan: 1. Improve access to healthy, affordable food choices. Continue our work with the Food Policy Council. a. Chatham’s Food Studies students are helping the PFPC plan its initial groundwork for implementation of the Good Food Purchasing Policy (GFPP). 2. Improve access to healthy, affordable food choices for the campus a. Chatham's food service provider provides inclusive menu options for our vegan and vegetarian students, sources locally including our farm, and actively participates in the composting program. The Food Policy Council plans to track not only implemented government policies but access metrics in the coming years. Current examples are the passing of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Farm-A-Lot program to improve access to vacant land for Urban Farming. The Eden Hall Campus plans to continue to expand the farm’s initial focus on growing crops and fish, and offering a laboratory for students to study organic farming, sustainable agriculture practices, and food production and preservation.

Eden Hall campus has USDA Organic Certification for the student garden, Elsama fields, high tunnels, and all other areas of food production. Resilience Plan: 1. Severe weather capabilities and response a. We are developing plans for public safety and disaster response in the event of floods or landslides in particular. 2. Severe Weather Stormwater Management a. We are working to revise building stormwater management, such as gutters, drains, swales, etc. to minimize damage. 3. Wastewater Management a. Chatham currently treats a majority of wastewater on the Eden Hall campus with an on-site treatment system. All treated wastewater is reused on-site creating a closed loop system. We are also collecting water quality data to demonstrate to local governments the efficacy of such a system. 4. High-Performance Buildings a. 2030 District participation Chatham's Institutional Targets directly tie into Pittsburgh's targets and we recently joined a “virtual” 2030 district in the city with commitments to cut energy and water use by 50% by 2030. 5. Campus Microgrid a. Chatham is working with the local utility provider to investigate an Eden Hall microgrid. Research includes reviewing state utility governance structures to support revision in favor of microgrid concepts. Institutional Master Plan (2018) section 7.4 includes green stormwater management plans, including rain gardens, permeable paving, etc.

Some purchasing objectives are in the Climate Action Plan (requiring the purchase of Energy Star-rated appliances if those guidelines exist for a particular type of appliance, also our objective of meeting LEED standards for all retrofits, which includes furnishings, etc. Transportation objectives are in the Climate Action plan, with the objective of transitioning our entire fleet over its replacement life with hybrids or "greenest in its class" replacement. Our Sustainable Procurement Guidelines set manages and minimizes the environmental, social and economic impacts associated with Chatham University’s purchases of goods and services. Chatham University plans to maximize the use of its Sustainable Procurement Guidelines and make them stricter over time, to assure continuous improvement of our operations. The goal of the sustainable procurement policies is to guide the new acquisitions for the replacements. We plan to replace the current existent materials for more sustainable ones, as they reach their end of life (considering the embodied energy of existing products) or if an item is exceptionally inefficient. For example, Chatham vehicles are currently being replaced by hybrids or most fuel-efficient models and the average vehicle life in the university is seven years, therefore, over 15 years, all vehicles will be replaced by hybrids.

Institutional Master Plan Section 6 includes mobility planning. Objectives include reducing cars on campus, enhancing walkability, and enhancing public transportation incentives. From our campus bike plan (from Alternative Transportation Working Group, Climate Action Plan: indoor locked bike parking for commuters, covered outdoor bike parking, and regular opportunities for bicycle classes and maintenance. Chatham University is looking to replace its entire fleet with more efficient models and alternative fuels. The vehicles are being replaced on demand - so every time a vehicle needs to be replaced, it should be replaced by a hybrid or fuel-efficient model. Our objective of offering multi-modal support for faculty, staff, and student commuters includes a coordinated, interlocking program of car sharing, bicycle rental, free bus passes, and free shuttles between campuses. The Institutional Master Plan calls for enhanced incentives beyond these. Resilience Plan: 1. Continue to support bicycle infrastructure and bike commuting a. Chatham is a strong supporter of bike programs in the City and on campus. 2. Public transit a. Working on multi-modal connections with the Port Authority, as well as other university transportation systems, carbon-free options for buses, and virtual attendance options instead of physical transit. 2030 Challenge: 1. Existing buildings targets: 20% reduction below District baseline by 2020, with incremental targets reaching a 50% reduction by 2030. 2. Construction/renovation targets: An immediate 50% reduction below current District baseline.

Waste objectives are primarily referenced in the climate action plan, in the Waste Minimization section. Our measurable objectives include: -Eliminate packaging or products that would require us to recycle as much as possible, including eliminating bottled water and disposable take out containers in the dining hall -Expand the use of compostable packaging (cups, lids, straws, sandwich packages, and others) to all dining locations. -Addition of Free Store or other reuse center. The objectives above are apart of our ongoing sustainability plan as a university that are aligned with the actions taken in the Sustainable Pittsburgh Challenge, which the university takes part in annually. A list of actions undertaken by Chatham are listed in the pdf under the MM category. Actions Chatham has taken part in are MM1, MM2, MM3, MM14, MM16, MM17, MM19, MM21, MM22, MM25, MM26, MM30, MM31, MM32, MM33. A full list of actions for the Sustainable Pittbsrugh Challenge can be found at https://www.spchallenge.org/images/Printable-Checklist-v3-update.pdf Overall waste reduction objectives are linked to the university's Second Nature Climate Commitment and Second Nature Resiliency Plan. Through this report Chatham is committed to monitoring and reducing waste linked to our scope 3 emissions and overall emissions reductions.

Stormwater is an urgent resiliency problem in Pittsburgh, so many of our goals revolve around it more than water usage. Institutional Master Plan: -To continue installing rain gardens on all campuses; with 6 currently in place and another 6 in planning stages. -Increase the installation of porous pavement whenever possible, including the retrofit of our Eastside parking lot in cooperation with the City of Pittsburgh. -Expand our rainwater capture program, including the underground rainwater storage at Eden Hall and the rain barrel program for smaller buildings. -In cooperation with the City of Pittsburgh, work on the redesign of Fifth Avenue properties' stormwater runoff patterns. Resilience plan: 1. Minimize stormwater, wastewater, and sewer issues to reduce flooding and improve the quality and accessibility of our water resources 2. We are working to revise building stormwater management, such as gutters, drains, swales, etc. to minimize the damage of severe weather. 3. We are part of a city-wide stormwater infrastructure upgrade program, working with PA Water and Sewer, and ALCOSAN, to upgrade runoff management to help eliminate flooding. 4. Chatham is working to increase the amount of stormwater retained on the Shadyside campus and therefore removed from the stressed City system. District 2030: 1. Existing building targets: 20% reduction below District baseline by 2020, with incremental targets reaching a 50% reduction by 2030 2. Construction/renovation targets: An immediate 50% reduction below current District baseline. 2030 District Challenge: A summary description of the 2030 District Challenge that is specific to Pittsburgh is located at http://www.2030districts.org/pittsburgh

Resilience Plan: - In the coming years, Chatham University is planning to offer more online degrees, scholarships, and fellowships. Metrics: Under development. The Diversity Council is currently determining the best method for tracking and improving diversity across the student body, faculty and staff. However, Institutional Research has been tracking information such as "Headcount Enrollment by Country" and "Headcount Enrollment by Ethnicity" for students and "Full-time and Part-time Faculty Headcount by Ethnicity" – retention of the students of color. Resilience Plan: 1. Diversity measures for the student body, faculty, and staff a. Chatham has completed a diversity assessment, and the Diversity Committee is developing a comprehensive action plan 2. Develop, attract, and retain the best and most diverse talent for Pittsburgh’s workforce 3. Invest in and support safe, inclusive, and cohesive neighborhoods for all Pittsburghers Strategic Plan: Improve access and affordability through innovation. Chatham was founded to provide women access to higher education, at a time when such access was rare. Today it is affordability, rather than gender, that poses the greatest obstacle to talented individuals obtaining a degree. Chatham will explore every option to minimize financial obstacles from students fulfilling their personal and professional dreams and to offer individuals opportunities to continue to learn throughout their lives. 1. Improve access and affordability through innovation a. Make scholarships and fellowships a top priority in the comprehensive campaign b. Expand accelerated degree pathways c. Expand online learning and limited residency degrees d. Expand cooperative education and internships e. Make Chatham a preferred transfer destination f. Expand Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and stackable qualifications g. Offer greater lifelong-learning opportunities

From the Charter of the Sustainable Investment Advisory Board: 1. Reduce fossil fuel investments, since fossil fuels are the main contributors to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions 2. Favor and assess investments that have a positive impact on the environment, particularly those that work to alleviate pollution and combat climate change. 3. Favor and assess investments that promote positive sustainability – businesses that exhibit exemplary social and environmental standards and performance. 4. Favor and assess community development investments or other investments that promote sustainable local growth. 5. Advocate against corporations that deny climate change.

Chatham has provided full benefits to same-sex couples since 2002, which is one of our strategies to attract diversity in hiring. In addition, unskilled minority employees can elect to join training and certificate programs as well as receive full access to a Chatham undergraduate education. Strategic Plan 2017: "Identify initiatives at intersection of sustainability and health. Chatham will bring together faculty and students from across the University with outside partners to address issues at the intersection of health & sustainability: e.g., building healthier and more sustainable communities; protecting water resources; creative re-use; reducing pollution that endangers health; supporting thriving local food systems, and bolstering resiliency to help minimize the negative impacts of climate change on local food and the environment." Resilience plan: 1. Community fitness a. Continue our successful Fit for The Future campaign, an extensive employee wellness program. 2. Continue to support bicycle infrastructure and bike commuting a. Bike tax credit i. No longer a federal program but Chatham still continues to offer it at our own expense. Since the money is no longer pre-tax, we have increased the total available. Reimbursement is available for expenses incurred during the calendar year for the purchase of a bicycle, parts/components, service/repair, bicycle-specific tools, and bicycle-specific equipment such as lights, helmet, or gloves (other types of cycling clothing are excluded). Employees are eligible for a maximum of $300 reimbursement each calendar year. Employees that use this benefit for the partial or full reimbursement of the purchase of a bicycle during their first year in this program must stay in the program for a second year. Individuals that do not follow this guideline will be required to repay half of the received benefit (up to $150). The reimbursements will be included in an employee’s gross income and subject to federal taxes. Employees may not purchase a parking permit while participating in this program. Employees are encouraged to use BikeWorks facilities and resources for regular bicycle maintenance and to participate in bicycle safety and maintenance training when offered.

Resilience Plan: 1. An emerging technology and robotics sector in the city builds on research conducted at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, and other local research institutions. Moreover, the city is increasingly recognized for the cultural amenities afforded by the arts, entertainment, and food service sectors. To enhance its economic profile and build on its tradition of innovation, Pittsburgh should continue to support pioneering technology (and non-technological innovation) and new business development. Chatham's Resilience Plan has objectives to support this through innovation and incubation programs at the Chatham's Women's Business Center. With the support of 17 community partners and economic development agencies, CWBC has offered 101 training programs since opening its doors in April 2016 through February 2018, including 6-week entrepreneurial training programs, half-day workshops, webinars, and seminars on topics including financing a business, digital marketing, traditional marketing, accounting, exporting, certification, legal issues, hiring employees, veteran business ownership, and business startup, growth, and new product/service development. Metrics: Quantitative. Through these programs, CWBC has served over 1410 women entrepreneurs with 217 training hours. From April 2016 to February 2018, CWBC has provided 987 hours of counseling to 468 clients, which has directly contributed to 82 new businesses and $3.8M in raised capital through a combination of equity, SBA loans, and private loans. (WBC Website)partnership with Pittsburgh's Chatham University Strategic Plan: Offer greater lifelong-learning opportunities. Chatham has a tradition of providing educational and personal growth opportunities to learners of all ages (the former daycare center on campus, the Music and Arts Day Camp, the Gateway Program). We will seek ways to broaden our offerings for students of all ages to learn and improve themselves. Over time, these opportunities could include extending the Day Camp to serve high-school students and piloting new educational programs for the largest and most rapidly growing demographic in the region – over-50s – who have both the time and interest to invest in further education. Enhance the Arts. Over the next five years, we will invest in and develop partnerships with key players in Pittsburgh’s thriving arts scene to strengthen the arts at Chatham, including theater, music, dance, and visual arts. The Eden Hall Strategic Plan includes a strategy to offer green wedding and event services to the public at our campus, including the Barazzone Center, Eden Hall Barn, the Hilda M. Willis Amphitheater, Cafe Anne, and the meadow and orchard. This is designed to allow the everyday person to experience the sustainable principles and values that the Eden Hall campus has to offer while enjoying artistic and cultural events. Objectives include hiring a campus green event coordinator to work with the public (Status: completed) and forming a green events service (status: data collection/analysis underway).

Chatham University prepares its students to build lives of purpose, value, and fulfilling work. Through professional skill development and liberal arts learning, Chatham prepares its graduates to be informed and engaged citizens in their communities; to recognize and respect the diversity of culture, identity, and opinion; and to live sustainably.

"Chatham University defines sustainability as the capacity of society to meet its current needs without compromising the ecological, social and economic systems on which society will rely for meeting future needs." - Chatham's Board of Trustees, October, 2008 Chatham University is committed to integrating sustainability into every aspect of life on all its campuses, including curriculum, research, scholarship, student life, public and private partnerships, and operations. By doing so, we encourage the members of the Chatham community to become leaders in the critical effort to create a healthy, prosperous and secure future for this generation and future generations.

Chatham is a signatory of The International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) and its goal is to holistically integrate sustainability into campus operations, research, and teaching. The charter was created in 2009. Also, in 2009 Chatham signed as a Charter Signatory to the ACUPCC Climate Commitment on 09/15/09. The Climate Commitment targets for Chatham are a 10% reduction in Total Scopes 1, 2, 3 Emissions by 2015, relative to baseline emissions in 2007, 20% reduction in Total Scopes 1, 2, 3 Emissions by 2020, relative to baseline emissions in 2007, 10% reduction in Purchased Electricity Emissions by 2015, relative to baseline emissions in 2007. Lastly, Chatham is also a member of HESI. HESI provides higher education institutions with a unique interface between higher education, science, and policy making. HESI was created in 2012 and is a partnership between the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNESCO, United Nations Environment, UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative, United Nations University (UNU), UN-HABITAT, UNCTAD and UNITAR.