Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 35.35
Liaison Kimberly Post
Submission Date Sept. 26, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Saint Joseph's College - ME
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Nancy Kristiansen
Online Business Program Director
Saint Joseph's On-line
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee, office, and/or officer that focuses on sustainability broadly and covers the entire institution?:
Yes

A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the committee(s), office(s), and/or officer(s) during the previous three years:

In 2012, upon the resigning of the President Climate Change Commitment by our new president, the "Sustainability Steering Committee" (SSC) was formed to engage in developing strategic, institution-wide integration of a "sustainability management system."

The SSC immediately forged a "Phase 1" strategic plan that has included a full assessment, or "gap analysis" of our current sustainability management system in the context of the STARS standard. Phase 1 has also included goals aimed at creating a climate action plan and guiding specific aspects of the college's overall strategic plan.

A Waste Management Team was formed to improved our waste stream management and existing teams (E-team, ECO-Reps) received the support and guidance of the SCC.

It is important to note that the Sustainability Coordinator, a dedicated part-time position since 2008, along with the Bon Appetit food service, had provided a strong, fertile ground for evolving a sustainability culture to a higher level of awareness and embedding sustainability processes and features into all aspects of the campus community.


Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
Yes

The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:

SUSTAINABILITY STEERING COMMITTEE:
Overview
The Committee was established in concert with the signing of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment on October 4, 2012 by SJC President Jim Dlugos, as well as the Saint Francis Pledge of the Catholic Climate Covenant, also signed on October 4, 2012. The Mercy Environmental Guidelines provide a framework for the Committee’s ongoing efforts.

Mission and Vision Statement
The Committee will guide our campus sustainability commitments, goals and actions for the inextricably linked social, economic and environmental issues of our time. The level and extent of the College’s commitments will be expressed through balancing of short and long term strategies and careful analyses of the quantitative and qualitative value of both small and large undertakings. The Committee will work to develop policies and guide priorities for strategic, physical campus, sustainability and climate action planning. Saint Joseph’s College will be viewed as a leader in pioneering sustainable practices within our on campus community, as well as within The Lakes Region and greater Portland communities. SJC will cultivate a stewardship ethic among students, faculty and staff. The mission of this committee is reflective of our college mission statement and our core values.

E-TEAM:
The E-Team is a group of enthusiastic faculty and staff volunteers dedicated to helping integrate sustainability and "green" practices into campus life. Team members hope to educate colleagues about sustainable practices and foster an environmentally aware culture that values employees efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of everyday activities.

Goals of the E-Team Program
•Decrease energy use on campus
•Increase the environmental awareness among all members of the College community
•Work together as a team to educate the campus community about sustainable living and green practices.
•Serve as role models for all members of the College community, including staff, faculty and students

Role of E-Team Members
Members will serve as environmental monitors in the different buildings on campus to provide friendly reminders that relate to energy conservation and sustainable living on campus. Volunteers will also help disseminate information related to green practices, and may also help to promote campus-wide events related to environmental issues. E-Team members will generally help to set a great example in the various buildings around campus, and help maintain awareness about the importance and benefits of sustainable living.


Members of each committee, including affiliations and role (e.g. staff, student, or faculty):

SSC COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Kris Avery, Director of Human Resources
Sarah Bakun—SJC Student, EcoRep Chair
Chuck Dawes—Director of Facilities
Dr. Jeanne Gulnick—Campus Sustainability Coordinator, Environmental Science Professor
Carolyn Plant— Executive Assistant to the President & Secretary to the Board
Nancy Kristiansen—Director of Online Business Program, Committee Chair
Stuart Leckie—Director of Food Services
Kimberly Post—Director of Community-based Learning
Sr. Kathleen Sullivan—VP for Sponsorship & Mission Integration
Dr. Gregory Teegarden—Marine Science Professor

Ad Hoc Members
Dr. Jim Dlugos—College President
Garrett Van Atta—SJC Board Member, LMBA Adjunct Professor

WM TEAM MEMBERS:
Chuck Dawes—Director of Facilities
Dr. Jeanne Gulnick—Campus Sustainability Coordinator, Environmental Science Professor
Stuart Leckie—Director of Food Services
Kimberly Post—Director of Community-based Learning

E-TEAM MEMBERS:
Co-Chairs of the E-Team: Suzanne Murphy and Brian Shelley
Campus sustainability coordinator: Jeanne Gulnick
Members: David McCall, Shelly Davis, Charles Prinn, Elizabeth Auger, Frank Daggett, Sue Keene, Jackie Sovas, Sue Kelly


The website URL where information about the sustainability committee(s) is available:
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) employee?:
Yes

A brief description of each sustainability office:

The office of sustainability works to develop, support and institutionalize sustainable practices and initiatives at Saint Joseph's College utilizing several part-time positions to ensure ongoing support and development of projects and new initiatives. The paid positions include a part-time Sustainability Coordinator (faculty member) and two part-time "ECO-Rep" positions (students).


Full-time equivalent (FTE) of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
1

The website URL where information about the sustainability office(s) is available:
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Yes

Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Dr. Jeanne Gulnick, Faculty Member, Sustainability Coordinator

A brief description of each sustainability officer position:

The Sustainability Coordinator is also on the faculty in the department natural sciences. She acts to further sustainability efforts at the college and coordinates the campus ECOreps, develops sustainability focused events and advocates for and evaluates sustainability in the curriculum. She is an active member of the Sustainability Steering Committee, the E-Team and the WM Team, as well as, several key community organizations - Natural Resources Council of Maine,


The website URL where information about the sustainability officer(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Saint Joseph's College has long been engaged in ensuring that students are exposed to a holistic view of their environment that is in close alignment with the core values of the college. Several notable examples include the following:

2001, Required course, Ecology and the Environmental Challenge, added to undergraduate core curriculum. http://www.sjcme.edu/magazine/spring10/earth-day-2010

2005, Pearson's Farm launches in partnership with Bon Appetit Dining. http://www.sjcme.edu/mercy-center/farm

2009, Initial signing of the PCCC http://www.sjcme.edu/magazine/summer09/climate


Saint Joseph's College has long been engaged in ensuring that students are exposed to a holistic view of their environment that is in close alignment with the core values of the college. Several notable examples include the following:

2001, Required course, Ecology and the Environmental Challenge, added to undergraduate core curriculum. http://www.sjcme.edu/magazine/spring10/earth-day-2010

2005, Pearson's Farm launches in partnership with Bon Appetit Dining. http://www.sjcme.edu/mercy-center/farm

2009, Initial signing of the PCCC http://www.sjcme.edu/magazine/summer09/climate

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.