Ithaca College
PAE-1: Sustainability Coordination

The Climate Action Plan Steering Committee reports in to the Institutional Effectivenss and Budget committee, which resource allocations are made. In 2006 the college signed the Talloires Declaration based on the recommendation of the ad hoc sustainability committee. The CAP Steering Committee - and the Resource and Environmental Management Program implementation team to the CAP steering committee - continue to advise the college on how best to update the Comprehensive Environmental Plan and the Climate Action Plan so as to meet stated goals and objectives of each plan

Climate Action Plan Steering Committee
Carl Sgrecci, Vice President of Finance and Administration (chair)
Robert Cree, Associate VP for Finance and Administration
Marian Bown, Special Assistant for Campus and Community Sustainability, chair of the CAP Transportation Implementation team
Mark Darling, Sustainability Programs Coordinator for Facilities, chair of the CAP REMP Implementation Team
Rick Couture, Associate VP for Facilities, chair of the CAP Facilities
Implementation Team
Dr. Susan Swensen (Biology), Chris Swinton (Environmental Sciences), and Marlene Barken (Legal Studies), co-chairs of the CAP Education Implementation Team

Although we do not have a formal office or department named as such, the Sustainability at Ithaca program - which has its own separate operating budget - is readily identified with the Special Assistant for Campus and Community Sustainability, currently part of the Office of Civic Engagement.

Facilities named a Sustainability Programs Coordinator to oversee operational sustainability activities within that unit. Facilities also hired a full-time Energy Manager.

In addition, the Office of Dining Services named its own full-time sustainability coordinator position.

These four positions all collaborate closely on campus sustainability programming.

Coordinate, support, and promote IC’s sustainability-related activities including:

Support sustainability education efforts, including conducting classroom presentations,
coordinating student projects on campus and in the local community, and contributing to student research efforts;

Oversee and develop programs to educate students, faculty and staff about campus sustainability efforts and the benefits of sustainable practices.

Foster communication and collaboration between various campus groups related to sustainability to ensure coordination of efforts (e.g. IC Sustainability; IC Natural Lands; Resource and Environmental Management Program; Climate Action Plan Steering Committee; "Committed to Change"; TREES; School of Business Sustainability committee, etc.).

Improve awareness of College’s sustainability activities both internally and externally.

Regularly conduct a sustainability audit, compile data, and prepare sustainability indicators reports. Track and report progress toward sustainability goals using the AASHE STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) inventory tool. Respond to other external sustainability rating systems as deemed appropriate (e.g. Princeton “Green Schools” rating; Sustainable Endowments Institute “Green Rating” system).

Establish strategic goals and objectives related to campus sustainability, including:
• continued implementation of Talloires Declaration action steps;
• continued implementation of the Comprehensive Environmental Plan; and
• continued implementation of the Climate Action Plan goals and objectives;
• continued implementation of IC20/20 goals as relates to campus sustainability.

Evaluate proposals and recommendations from the campus community, especially schools and academic divisions and educational programs related to academic programs to ensure alignment with institutional planning priorities and sustainability objectives.

Work with campus departments to integrate sustainability messaging into appropriate campus publications, training materials, etc.

Produce publications and support communication channels (“Collective Impacts” newsletters; Sustainability at Ithaca website; Sustainability friends listserve; progress reports). Respond to external communications such as queries from the public and the media.

Provide sustainability educational programs for departments and divisions upon request (e.g. divisional retreats, Student Leadership trainings).

Coordinate learning opportunities (e.g. Campus Sustainability Day observance(s), Earth Week observance(s), Campus Ecology webcasts, AASHE or SCUP webcasts, sustainability speakers, Sustainability Café series). Collaborate with schools, departments and programs to arrange for speakers on sustainability-themed topics that dually meet the programming objectives of collaborators

Serve as a liaison for Ithaca College and the Sustainability at Ithaca program to sustainability- related organizations, committees and task groups externally; share examples of and information with external entities about successful campus sustainability strategies; seek out opportunities for student experiential learning in partnership with external entities; and foster improved “town- gown” relationships between Ithaca College and the external local community.

Collaborate with other departments to research and apply to sources of external funding for campus sustainability efforts. As appropriate, manage budgets related to such external funded projects and programs.

Supervise, monitor the performance of, and delegate tasks to sustainability interns.

The Special Assistant for Campus and Community Sustainability also works closely with Mark Darling, the Sustainability Programs Coordinator in Facilities. His job description is as follows: The Sustainability Programs Coordinator in Facilities is a full-time position with 60% of his job duties specified to support sustainability-related resource management issues.