Green Mountain College
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

While per capita income in the U.S. has risen 90% between 1970 and today, the benefits of increased economic production have not been evenly distributed. Shares received by low and middle-income workers have declined as measured in inflation-adjusted dollars. During the past 40 years, the minimum wage also decreased 11% in real dollars. This has resulted in the greatest income disparity between top and bottom earners since the Great Depression. It has also created a system of eroding social capital in the U.S. that can be compared to our current ecological crisis. Green Mountain College by itself cannot influence broad economic factors that have created wide income disparity in the United States. But GMC takes its commitment to social sustainability seriously. To address the problem of income inequity at home, the Green Mountain Community Income Equity Fund (CIEF) was established in 2013 with the support of the College administration. CIEF invites higher earning workers at GMC to voluntarily contribute funds to benefit other workers in our community who earn less than the hourly livable wage. The livable wage for a single adult in Vermont is estimated to be between $15.23 and $16.41 per hour. Some full-time employees in the GMC community (including GMC, Chartwells, and CW) make below that income level. By inviting employees earning higher wages or salaries to contribute to a fund that compensates workers earning less than a living wage, the College is making a very real commitment to social sustainability as expressed in the 8-year master plan Sustainability 2020. CIEF also creates an opportunity for members of the GMC community to express values of social sustainability in ways that directly help their neighbors. Participation is voluntary.

The fund has made several payouts to support income quality. In the fall of 2016, approximately $4,300 was paid out to a total of 18 recipients. For people making minimum wage or close to it, they received the equivalent of a 3% to 4% bonus.

Every year, the College holds an energy conservation challenge between residence halls called Do it in the Dark. This campaign usually takes place in the fall, often corresponding with Halloween. The challenge is coupled with a massive campaign to educate the campus about the importance of energy conservation and techniques for conserving energy. Campaign techniques include tabling in the student center to educate passing students, staff and faculty, and to challenge them to sign a conservation pledge Events to educate and encourage energy conservation have included led-candle-lit dining hall meals, campus-wide camp-outs, and acoustic open mics. The sustainability office uses social media and campus communication channels to post standings and suggest energy saving techniques. The winning hall for the Fall 2016 was awarded $5,000 from the College's Green Revolving Loan Fund for installing energy efficiency upgrades in their building such as LED lighting.

Impact from the event is measured by total percentage electricity reduction during the competition week over the previous baseline week and by percentage reduction per residence hall. In 2016, residence hall with the largest reduction decreased their usage by 14.5% compared to he baseline week.

The Student Campus Greening Fund also engages in a campaign every semester to increase awareness about funds available for sustainability projects and to inspire students to develop projects for funding from the Student Campus Greening Fund. This campaign includes speeches to all core curriculum classes, tabling in the student center, and blasts using online media platforms. Every year the fund pays for $20,000 to $40,000 in projects.During the 2016-2107 academic year the Student Campus Greening Fund had seven student committee members. In FY 2017, over $17,500 was awarded to 27 student projects. Projects included supporting community service initiatives. gardens featuring native plantings, food production and restoration, and waste reduction activities.