| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.71 |
| Liaison | Christie-Joy Hartman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 13, 2024 |
James Madison University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Christie-Joy
Hartman Executive Director ISNW |
Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World (ISNW) organizes multiple committees. The ISNW is advised by an Executive Councill. As needed, council members have chaired some of the ISNW committees. Faculty and staff serve on the committees, and students are welcome to partner with the committees. The committees make policy and practice recommendations, conduct projects related to their expertise, and educate/model actions for other employees and students.
One of the functions of the ISNW committee members is to be ambassadors of campus sustainability initiatives and promote the initiatives to their peers. The committees' approach to environmental stewardship is inclusive of the three dimensions of sustainability. The Education and Scholarship Committee promotes and measures learning, engagement, and cultural change for environmental stewardship, as well as promotes scholarly and creative activities that advance environmental sustainability. The East Campus Hillside Advisory Committee provides recommendations, conducts scholarly studies, and conducts outreach.
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World Executive Council:
- Ms. Virginia Cook, Director of Real Property and Space Management
- Dr. Dirron Allen, Associate Vice President for Student Life and Involvement
- Mr. Richard Larson, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources Training and Performance
- Dr. Linda Plitt Donaldson, Associate Dean, College of Health and Behavioral Studies Director, Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services
- Mr. Craig Short, Associate Vice President of Business Services
- Mr. Gary Shears, Executive Director, Facilities and Construction
ISNW Education and Scholarship Committee:
- Dr. Jennifer Coffman, Professor, Integrated Science and Technology Program
- Dr. Timothy Thomas, Associate Professor, Department of Education
- Dr. Carole Nash, Associate Professor, Integrated Science and Technology Program
- Ms. Jamie Calcagno-Roach, Head, Instructional Technology, Libraries & Educational Technologies
East Campus Hillside Advisory Committee:
- Mr. Abe Kaufman, Energy Conservation and Sustainability Manager, Facilities Management
- Mr. Robert Whitescarver, Adjunct Instructor, School of Integrated Sciences
- Dr. Mikaela Schmitt-Harsh, Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies
- Ms. Ali Sloop, FM Stormwater Compliance Specialist
- Dr. Carole Nash, Associate Professor, Integrated Science and Technology Program
- Dr. Robert Brent, Professor, Integrated Science and Technology Program
- Dr. Dhanuska Wijesinghe, Assistant Professor, Geology & Environmental Science
- Dr. Leone Brown, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology
- Mr. Kyle Snow, Wet Labs Coordinator, School of Integrated Sciences
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent employee?:
A brief description of each sustainability office:
The Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World (ISNW) coordinates the collaborative efforts of the university to promote cultural change for environmental sustainability and stewardship and a broader sense of citizenship. The mission of the ISNW is enhancing environmental stewardship and sustainability by advocating for priorities; coordinating the collaborative efforts of the university to promote cultural change and a broader sense of citizenship; and challenging all members of the JMU community to participate in educational opportunities and think critically about their role in achieving the long-term stewardship of Earth. The responsibility for sustainability efforts (including environmental stewardship) is not housed in one university unit, but is shared across all divisions. JMU’s achievements can be attributed to the efforts of staff, faculty, and students in many areas, commonly in collaboration. For more information about sustainability at JMU, visit www.jmu.edu/stewardship.
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution?:
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
The ISNW is tasked with university-wide coordination. Highlights of JMU's environmental stewardship and sustainability accomplishments can be found at http://www.jmu.edu/stewardship/. As examples, the ISNW led the STARS report development process, oversaw Science On a Sphere and the East Campus Hillside, and facilitated development of the campus Environmental Stewardship Action Plan. A short sustainability highlights video for 2021-2023 can be found at the site above.
Job title of the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Summarized highlights of responsibilities include:
1: Coordinate development of plans for campus environmental stewardship and sustainability.
2: Provide administration and coordination for the campus-wide stewardship committees (called the Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World) and office.
3: Coordinate the documentation of campus environmental stewardship and sustainability progress (including gathering, analyzing, and reporting information on institutional progress).
4: Manage and implement institutional special projects. Provide support to university departments, programs, and groups implementing projects related to environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Key responsibilities for this position include:
1: Developing, implementing, and managing learning opportunities for students, employees, and visitors that enhance environmental stewardship knowledge and reasoning
2: Planning and managing ongoing environmental stewardship programs and initiatives, and identifying and developing new institutional efforts
3: Analyzing, summarizing, and documenting university sustainability progress in areas such as curriculum, research, engagement, and operations
4: Using sustainability assessment tools, and completing reports and applications to external organizations following detailed criteria, guidance, and definitions
5: Building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with campus and community stakeholders, including faculty members, ISNW committee members, and partners from other JMU units; overseeing the recruitment, selection, orientation, and development of student employees
6: Communicating to diverse audiences including staff, students, and decision makers and fostering a culture of sustainability
7: Representing the ISNW across campus and externally by actively participating in and presenting at meetings, workshops, and conferences
Job title of the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The following is presented for context:
Part-time positions in the ISNW support a variety of office functions, but are not considered officer positions:
Ms. Christy Bradburn, Student Program Coordinator (25%)
Ms. Essa Paterson, Program Coordinator (50%)
Ms. Carol Lena Miller, Program Manager (25%)
The ISNW also has a graduate assistant position.
Facilities Management has two full-time positions that work with many others at the university:
Mr. Abram Kaufman, Energy Conservation & Sustainability Manager
Mr. Nathan Brown, Sustainability Analyst
Also, Aramark, JMU's dining services contractor, has a sustainability coordinator who completes credits of STARS.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.