Pomona College
PAE-4: Sustainability Plan

In 2006, Pomona College President David Oxtoby presented a charge to the newly formed President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS), asking for a set of priorities, measurements, and benchmarks for sustainability on campus. Following the hiring of a full-time Sustainability Coordinator in 2008, the College moved forward with a two-year sustainability planning process. In 2008-09, 29 students participated in the Sustainability Action Fellowship to research and assess potential actions and objectives for the plan. The Sustainability Integration Office and PACS used these recommendations and input from various staff and faculty offices, departments, and groups to produce the Sustainability Action Plan. Participating groups included Maintenance, Housekeeping, Grounds, Dining Services, Student Affairs, the Office of Campus Life, the student body at-large, interested alumni, the Board of Trustees Facilities and Environment Committee, and the local community. Throughout the 2010-11 academic year, PACS hosted forums, gathered online input, and had conversations with stakeholders across the campus to gather final input for the plan.

The plan contains dozens of specific objectives for the College for the year 2020 with many quantitative and qualitative target, including: 15% reduction in energy use, 4% of energy use from on-campus renewable sources, 15% of existing buildings certified under LEED-EBOM, 30% of total food purchases qualifying as "sustainable," reduction of campus fleet gas use by 15%, and 75% diversion of landfill waste. These targets address seven larger goals: reduced greenhouse gases, reduced resource impact, reduced air, water, and soil pollution, increased environmental health for all members of the College community, environmental awareness and education, "sustainable sustainability," and public commitment to sustainability.

Recommended actions are organized by time period (Years 1-2 and Years 3-5). Progress will be measured by the fulfillment of these recommended strategies and by "indicator" data points, such as campus energy and water use, the number of sustainability-focused courses, annual greenhouse gas emissions, etc. The Sustainability Integration Office (SIO) will present the President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS) with a Sustainability Annual Report by September 30 each year, which will then be presented to the President's Office. PACS retains primary oversight of implementation, while the SIO is be the primary implementing agent. After two years and five years, PACS and the SIO will identify progress on each objective. The plan will be comprehensively reviewed and updated by PACS in 2015.