Fort Lewis College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

1. Integrate climate and sustainability education into orientations for new students, new faculty, and new staff.
2. Update policies on campus with sustainability information; review existing policies that relate to campus sustainability and update as needed.
3. Adopt a formal green building policy specifying that:
o All new building construction and renovation will be designed to be “Net 0”. Building heating and cooling systems shall have the potential to utilize clean electricity when available and shall not be fossil fuel based.
o Whenever a replacement or new installation is occurring on campus, Physical Plant Services should consider efficiency improvements, such as geo-exchange or other HVAC improvements.
4. Adopt further efficiency upgrades, such as LED light bulbs and other insulation improvements.
5. Install additional on-site renewables, such as solar. Historically, photovoltaic (PV) systems on campus have been installed in concert with LEED buildings. The VP of finance has also initiated PV installation investigations that combine cost savings with sustainability goals.
6. Invest in additional off-site renewables, such as Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). When possible, prioritize RECs with regional air quality benefits.
7. Measure and analyze the carbon emissions of the College with a greenhouse gas inventory. Collection of the greenhouse gas inventory is required to stay in compliance with FLC’s Carbon Commitment. Beginning in academic year 2015-16, the campus sustainability coordinator began collecting data to complete FLC’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) profile in collaboration with an external consultant. Collection of STARS data allowed FLC to apply for and receive placement on Princeton Review Green Schools and Sierra Club Cool Schools listings.
8. Implement a standards of comfort behavior change campaign, with the goal of changing how individuals adjust room temperatures.
Responsible parties: Physical Plant Services, Residence Halls, Campus Sustainability Council, Environmental Center
9. Establish Information Technology policies and practices for campus computers. Currently, Information Technology is working on a Wake-on-LAN setup that would allow them to turn the computers off and wake them up for updates. Once they have determined how to set up this system, which is a technical challenge, it should be codified into a policy.
10. Advocate for local, state, and national policies that improve the emissions factor of the electricity grid that serves the college.
11. Acquire offsets. These could be offsets that are purchased by the college; that individuals are encouraged to purchase; or those that are attributed to FLC via an offset program sponsored by the college, such as a reforestation project.
12. Hire a Physical Plant Services staff person whose sole responsibility is sustainability work.
13. Establish a campus emissions dashboard that shows end users real-time data about emissions and use it for education around behavior change on campus. Develop an accessible campus metering system for individual buildings across campus. Gather data and assess opportunities for savings. Educate and engage campus community based on data, using this “campus metabolism” project to create competitions among users on campus (e.g. residence halls).
14. Develop a sustainable transportation plan that evaluates possibilities for improving commuting to campus. This plan should be data-based, with research collected by Environmental Studies students.
15. Improve the recycling program on campus.
16. Improve the food waste system on campus. The Environmental Center and Sodexo are currently working on this. Ideas include inflow management (smaller plates in the dining hall, food purchasing) and outflow management (increase compost capacity by partnering with an off-campus compost organization). The in-vessel composter FLC currently uses is at capacity.
17. An outreach program to use less paper on campus.
18. Enhance the FLC Campus Surplus program that already exists to serve residence hall move-out. The Campus Surplus program currently allows departments and offices on campus to recycle furniture, but it does not serve Residence Hall students.
19. Advocate for changing the management practices of the landfill that serves FLC.
20. Electrical vehicle charging stations.
21. Acquire offsets. These could be offsets that are purchased by the college; that individuals are encouraged to purchase; or those that are attributed to FLC via an offset program sponsored by the college, such as a reforestation project.

FORT LEWIS COLLEGE STRATEGIC PLAN

Improve campus-wide approach to inclusion, equity, and diversity
Ensure that accountability and responsibility for inclusion, equity, and promoting a sense of belonging for all students permeates all work done by FLC faculty and staff. Students will be served in both curricular and co-curricular settings. Examples include adoption of pedagogical practices designed for equity, and the establishment of a FLC Mosaic Center, a student space for diversity and inclusion. This initiative entails reviewing all hiring, onboarding, and development practices for faculty and staff, as well as tenure and promotion criteria, and the modification of all practices and criteria as appropriate. Actively seeking the perspectives of our students and alumni will ensure that this work is grounded in the lived experience of those we are dedicated to serve.

Key Results:
Acquire baseline data on equity, diversity, and inclusive climate by Spring 2019, then work to improve campus climate based upon this data.

Updated February 2020