Lane Community College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Quantify and improve ecosystems services college wide (2023 - 2024)

Quantify the number of trees and shrubs on all campus locations.

Evaluate carbon storage from campus grounds management practices.

Measure air pollution mitigation from tree planting.

Quantify the amount of water that infiltrates the soil (rather than flows into the wastewater system). 

This work will be measured through living lab and service learning educational models measured by tracking student projects that focus on ecosystems services on campus. 

Using classroom resources will help ensure fiscal sustainability rather than requesting additional funding.

Because this is a new metric, there is no baseline for comparison. 

Adopt a Sustainability Institutional Learning Outcome (ILO) (by 2023/2024)

Create, adopt and start using a sustainability ILO college wide by 2024 (success will be measured by actualization and use of an ILO).

Measure the number of students that attend classes or programs that include a sustainability ILO. 

Measure the number of students that graduate from degree programs that require an understanding of sustainability.

Because the metrics above are new, there are no baselines for comparison. 

Increase the number of students that complete at least one class that is sustainability-focused by 2% each as compared to >1% in 2019-20 (6 out of 2,023 graduates).

Improve Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System score from Silver to Gold (by 2024)

The main areas for improvement for Lane are the following:

As compared to the 2020-21 baseline of 5%, increase the number of academic courses that are sustainability-focused or sustainability-inclusive by 5% of total courses per year. 

Increase students community service participation by 2% per year. 

Increase employee community service participation by 2% per year contributed annually through programs sponsored by the institution. (Note that this is linked to the MFI: Participation Rates and Impact of Lane’s Community Programs and Services.)

Increase college wide communication about sustainability as defined in Lane’s Sustainability Value (ongoing)

Measure the number of participants that attend events (2 events per year) and the number of announcements sent (5 announcements per academic year). 

Because this is a new metric, there is no baseline for comparison.

Make measurable progress toward meeting the goals of the Climate Action Plan (ongoing)

Achieve college-wide carbon neutrality by 2050 (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). 

Reduce college wide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 2% each year (in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent).

Decrease college-wide energy usage by 2% each year (in kBtu per square feet).

Decrease college-wide landfill waste by 5% each year as compared to 222 tons total landfill waste in 2021-22.

Lane's institutional-level key performance indicators, also known as Mission Fulfillment Indicators (MFIs),  measure ecological sustainability, holistic health and wellness, and transparency in planning. Because these indicators are new, baseline metrics have not yet been established.

https://inside.lanecc.edu/ir/ay23-mission-fulfillment-indicators

MFI #16 measures availability and utilization of health and wellness resources for students and employees at Lane Community College. This indicator measures student basic needs (e.g. food) and access to the Student Health and Wellness Center. In regard to employees, it looks at the Employee Wellness Program. 

MFI #17:  Sustainability is identified as one of Lane’s Core Values, and is defined as “Integrating practices that support and improve the health of systems that sustain life.” In alignment with this Core Value, the College is committed to: improve Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System score; increase college wide communication about sustainability; quantify and improve ecosystems services college wide; adopt a sustainability institutional learning outcome; make measurable progress toward meeting the goals of the Climate Action Plan. 

A third indicator, MFI #15 is being developed to measure engagement in planning  that is transparent and includes relevant stakeholder input.

Lane's Diversity Council: The Diversity Council will develop the campus plan and policies related to diversity, set response priorities for diversity issues on campus, and advocate for the resolution of diversity issues on campus. The scope of work includes:

Lastly, Human Resources and the college are in the process of developing a new Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Sustainability Integrating practices that support and improve the health of systems that sustain life Providing an interdisciplinary learning environment that builds understanding of sustainable ecological, social, and economic systems, concern for environmental justice, and the competence to act on such knowledge Equipping and encouraging all students and staff to participate actively in building a socially diverse, just, and sustainable society, while cultivating connections to local, regional, and global communities. https://www.lanecc.edu/pie/vision-mission-values?itm_source=www.lanecc.edu&itm_campaign=megamenu

Sustainability Integrating practices that support and improve the health of systems that sustain life Providing an interdisciplinary learning environment that builds understanding of sustainable ecological, social, and economic systems, concern for environmental justice, and the competence to act on such knowledge Equipping and encouraging all students and staff to participate actively in building a socially diverse, just, and sustainable society, while cultivating connections to local, regional, and global communities

Commitments In 2006, Lane Community College (LCC) became one of the first signatories of the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), whereby LCC committed to systematically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve carbon neutrality for all of its College operations across Lane County by the year 2050. Commitments for all signatories: Develop Climate Action Plan for becoming climate neutral. Complete a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory. Submit updated greenhouse gas inventories and progress reports every two years.