Sewanee - The University of the South
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Within the Strategic Plan of the University, Sustainability is outlined as a strategic directive in the following ways: Adopt and promote sustainable living practices on campus and on the Domain and achieve competitive benchmarks such as appropriate LEED certification for new construction. * Build sustainability goals into all departments and into the work expectations of all employees. * Complete and affirm a Sustainability Master Plan. * Establish a Green Corps of student environmental leaders—not necessarily majors in environmentally-focused programs—as well as faculty, staff, and other community members. The Green Corps would assist in promoting environment across the curriculum as well as participate in some admission tours. *Model collaborative and educational decision-making not only in addressing questions of Domain management and questions of sustainability but in all aspects of University life.

Stormwater Master Plan that emphasizes green infrastructure

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: Work remains to realize the potential for exceptional, national academic distinction in the environment, building on the physical assets of the Domain and the significant number of faculty in allied fields. In 2015 a new major in Environment and Sustainability was created, and the Forestry and Geology department was later expanded into Earth and Environmental Systems. The Sewanee Integrated Program in the Environment (SIPE) has catalyzed collaborative work among the environmental majors, sharing junior seminars and senior capstones. Work with relevant faculty groups to evaluate ways to integrate the study of sustainability into the curriculum at the course and or programmatic level. If appropriate, seek formal recognition of a course of study through a certificate or a minor in sustainability. c. Identify sustainability-related and sustainability-focused courses, isolating learning objectives within existing courses in each department. d. Facilitate the development of learning objectives in courses where previously not present. e. Incorporate sustainability education into first-year programming through a sustainability module, guaranteeing exposure to every student. f. Incorporate the development and implementation of this plan into the curriculum through class projects, individual research and as a case study in the process of sustainability policy-making.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: The office of environmental stewardship and sustainability is fully staffed and working collaboratively with SIPE to support faculty and student research related to the Domain in archaeology, geology (through the management of the Domain 3D project), forestry, ecology, and wildlife biology. 9. Build sustainability goals into all departments and into the work expectations of all employees. Expand opportunities for students to work with faculty and the community to study the domain both scientifically and culturally. 10. Provide grants for course development and fieldwork expenses for interdisciplinary courses on the environment, both within and outside the Environmental Studies Program, including first-year courses.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: 1. Provide co-curricular student leadership opportunities relating to environmental stewardship and sustainability through the creation of undergraduate and postbaccalaureate fellowships. b.Work with students to establish a board of student sustainability leaders that run programming, the revolving fund, and other facets of sustainability life on campus. c. Identify, promote and seek funding for internship opportunities in all facets of sustainability both on and off campus. 2. Improve sustainability literacy within the student body. a. Generate and conduct a survey to assess and track student awareness of and engagement with sustainability issues on an ongoing basis, engaging students by cohort. b.Use data from a sustainability survey to better inform a system of incentives encouraging sustainability literacy and quantifiable changes in behaviors across the student body. c. Develop and seek funding for a year-round speaker series highlighting local, regional and global sustainability issues and efforts. 5. Incorporate an introduction to Sewanee’s sustainability commitment into the new student orientation process. a. Continue to be a mandatory part of Freshman Orientation, encouraging sustainability literacy and defining how students can immediately become part of sustainability at Sewanee. 6. Additional engagement strategies to consider: a. Run a Sustainability film series. b. Continue and improve our Green Pledge dinner, increasing attendance by 25% in the next 5 years. c. Utilize pre-existing Greek system framework to promote recycling and other sustainability initiatives as a vehicle to change existing campus social culture. d. Promote and increase the number of sustainability-related dorm activities and programming. e. Continue and improve dorm energy competitions. f. Continue to support, promote, and provide resources for the Forestry and Geology Club, Sewanee Green Action, Responsible Investment Club, EarthKeepers, Team Compost, Natural History Society, and other student organizations related to sustainability currently in operation or that may arise in the future. g. Promote co-curricular engagement in the student residential experience by supporting sustainability-oriented theme housing. h. Establish an annual sustainability-themed Spring Break or Fall Break trip. i. Expand existing relationships with the Sewanee Outing Program and Outreach Office through shared trips and outreach opportunities with a sustainability focus. j. Continue to support and promote cosponsoring and cooperation between on-campus sustainability clubs and initiatives with allied organizations. k. Support and promote cosponsoring and cooperation between on-campus sustainability clubs and initiatives with ally off-campus organizations and peer institutions. l. Continue to promote dialogue between different sustainability-related student groups while also establishing an engaging educational experience (currently Green Convene). m. Create a more involved, engaged and incentivized way to promote the Environmental Residents program. n. Create a Green Office Certificate program following guidelines outlined by the Alliance to Save Energy. o. Promote and expand alumni network for internships and job opportunities for the current and graduating student.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: 4. Work with the Sewanee Outreach Office and the Community Engaged Learning program to provide and support opportunities for students to engage in community-level sustainability projects locally and abroad. a. Work with key players on campus to develop the interface of sustainability and community engagement. b.Implement a program to offset our emissions by implementing projects that reduce GHG emissions in the local community, e.g. the Utility Conservation Program offered through the Outreach Office. c. Host seminars, workshops, and presentations on energy conservation and sustainability targeting surrounding community and local schools. d. Maintain and promote Sustainability-themed outreach trips (Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Haiti) and explore the potential for expanding sustainability focus. e. Establish direct student involvement and create learning opportunities through offset programs by partnering Sewanee and Haitian students to monitor and evaluate offset generation. f. Host a community charrette about sustainability to foster meaningful dialogue between the University and the surrounding community. g. Continue to support and provide a location for the Cumberland Farmer’s Market. h. Make an effort to place community members on various working groups of the Sustainability Committee to ensure grassroots and community-focused input. i. Integrate sustainability outreach into opportunities for Canale and Bonner scholars j. Establish Home Construction workshop and Builder consortium for local architects, contractors, etc. to promote green building practices. k. Establish regional programming for agricultural practitioners to meet, to plan and to train based on the academic program and Farm. The dining hall serves a similar function to chefs.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan, Climate Action Plan, and the Strategic Plan include: a. Phased reduction of carbon emissions and the implementation of an energy conservation plan. b. Steps to engage students, faculty, staff, and administration in this institutional change. c. Standards to encourage green building and home design/construction, for all new buildings and major renovations. d. Further measures to reduce the negative effects of driving on campus. e. Policies concerning the acquisition, management, and recycling of materials. f. Creation and implementation of policies to establish best practices in food production, acquisition, preparation, serving, and disposal.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan, Climate Action Plan, and the Strategic Plan include: Design all new and renovated buildings using LEED or LEED-equivalent standards. a. Design all new and renovated buildings (for projects over $200,000 construction budget) to minimum LEED silver equivalent and to LEED gold equivalent when reasonably achievable. b.Design at least one building to LEED platinum equivalent. Design all new and renovated buildings to standards established in a published “Sewanee Green-Plus Building Standards.” d.Assess noise and light pollution and mitigate through changes in design and practices.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan, Climate Action Plan, and the Strategic Plan include: 1. Quantify and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. a. At least every two years, inventory and report GHG emissions using the CleanAirCool Planet (CA-CP) method. b.Update our Climate Action Plan annually and publicly post on AASHE website. 2. Conserve electricity and natural gas consumption in University facilities. a. Reduce carbon emissions due to facility energy consumption by 10% (vs. a 2008 base year). b.Reduce emissions an additional 15% by a deep energy conservation program employing less wasteful operating procedures, behaviors, and more efficient systems. c. Evaluate prospective energy conservation and efficiency capital improvement projects on the basis of life-cycle cost/benefit analysis. d.Develop a Sewanee-Plus Energy Conservation Manual that serves as a road map for detailed energy conservation planning. e. Use the average Return on Investment (ROI) from the University’s endowment. investments as a benchmark for judging the desirability of energy conservation retrofits. Look favorably on projects that equal or exceed this ROI. f. Establish an action-oriented facilities energy committee that meets frequently to guide ongoing implementation of energy conservation measures. Ex officio membership should include PPS mechanical supervisor, PPS electrical supervisor, director of sustainability integration, with other faculty, staff and student representatives. g. Maintain a comprehensive utility bill database of historical and current energy usage (e.g. the Energy Watchdog system currently in use). h.Upgrade building envelopes: insulation, weatherstripping, window replacements, door closers, etc. in accordance with the Sewanee-Plus Energy Conservation Manual. i. Upgrade lighting systems: delamping, occupancy/daylighting controls, migration to more efficient lamps especially LEDs, dimming, etc. in accordance with the SewaneePlus Energy Conservation Manual. j. Broadly implement HVAC controls strategies and policies: space temperature limits, unoccupied/shoulder season setback optimization, kitchen hood smoke sensing controls, etc. in accordance with the Sewanee-Plus Energy Conservation Manual. k. When installing or replacing HVAC systems: select the most energy efficient systems/units consistent with performance and durability; especially look for an opportunity to install a geothermal well system to improve HVAC efficiency. l. Establish a University policy for office and classroom computer hibernation. m. Establish and keep current a database of all energy conservation projects, showing energy and cost savings and paybacks. n.Conduct a study of vending machine use across campus with the goal of reducing the number of vending machines on campus. Part of the study should include retrofitting existing machines with motion-sensor lighting and other energy efficiency measures.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan include: - Establish nutrition and sustainability as two key guiding principles for food purchasing and preparation policies at the University’s dining facilities. - Optimize waste management, composting, and energy conservation within dining services. - Expand agriculture on campus and implement the Farm Plan.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: 2. Create a set of guidelines for environmentally-sensitive landscaping and pest management. a. Sustainably maintain landscaping without sacrificing aesthetic and practical values by Create an explicit set of guidelines for landscaping and pest management with a particular focus on issues relating to chemical use and watershed protection, water conservation and controlling exotic species. b. Create an ongoing education program for groundskeepers and maintenance personnel for best practices. c. Increase town and campus urban canopy coverage and diversity, giving preference to native species over exotics. d.Calculate and reduce total GHG emissions resulting from landscaping practices e. Create GIS map of landscape assets and practices—turf area, agricultural area, mowing frequency, irrigation zones, and zones of chemical application. f. Reduce mowed areas by 25 % and consider additional reductions in mowed areas and frequencies. g. Strategically plant trees and shrubs to increase the energy efficiency of buildings. h. Provide the most environmentally sound snow and ice removal practices by implementing sand-only policies for steps and high risk areas, brush or blow only policies for sidewalks, and by working with Franklin County to reduce salt use on roads during winter weather events. i. Eliminate purchased mulch and utilize the organic waste collected from groundskeeping (leaves, grass clippings, woods chips from fallen trees) to be converted into compost and mulch. j. Golf Course i. Develop a maintenance and management plan for the golf course that ensures the course will be maintained in an exemplary and sustainable fashion – with a particular focus on its impact on the water quality of the surrounding watersheds. ii. Join a voluntary environmental stewardship program such as the Audubon Sanctuary Program run by jointly by the USGA and National Audubon Society. iii. Provide ongoing training for groundskeepers through integrated pest management classes provided by organizations such as the Audubon Society or the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). i. Document and reduce sedimentation and runoff from equestrian center pastures and facilities and increase the effectiveness of pasture management to reduce needs for outside feed and pasture inputs.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: 1. Make strategic purchasing decisions, assessing products’ sustainability through social, economic, and environmental lenses. a. Establish an ad-hoc purchasing committee with key stakeholders such as Dining Services, athletics, PPS-Custodial, PPS-Grounds, PPS-Facilities, Print Services, and Auxiliary Services and Purchasing. b.Identify current purchasers and their existing purchasing volumes and strategies. c. Establish a Green Purchasing Policy with the goals of utilizing environmentally friendly products and services. d.Encourage annual review of supply purchasing by departments prior to budget setting in the fall. 2. Reduce consumption by departments, offices, and individuals in order to achieve institutional material efficiency. a. Beginning with paper, identify key materials for concentrated efforts in materials reduction and establish goals, working towards a comprehensive materials reduction plan. b. Consider the establishment of printing quotas for students based on data about average semester printing figures, implementing financial disincentives when quotas are exceeded. 3. Promote a culture of reusing and repurposing materials. a. Establish a reuse center for materials generated from deconstruction, remodeling, and new construction to be used by the University and the community. b. Establish protocols for capturing reusable items from annual dorm move-out for distribution to local non-profits and thrift stores.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan include: - Reduce the carbon footprint of the University fleet. - Promote commuting practices and parking policies to reduce vehicle use on campus. - Support and incentivize walking and biking on campus.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: 4. Improve the effectiveness of campus recycling. a. Establish and maintain appropriate and adequate recycling bins at campus buildings and grounds. b.Update guidelines for recycling and continue education efforts on recycling expectations for campus groups, departments, and individuals. c. Establish protocol for recycling and composting at large campus-wide events including Greek events, sporting events, alumni events, and commencement. d.Improve planning and execution of “zero-waste events,” ensuring that materials generated (especially compostable flatware, cups, and silverware) can be properly managed and disposed. e. Conduct at least three large-scale, University-wide zero-waste events annually, with the long-term goal of institutionalizing zero-waste at all events. f. Review existing policy on Electronic Waste Recycling (and other potentially hazardous items) with appropriate University offices to clarify present procedures and incorporate best practices. g. Quantify recycling loads leaving campus by way of Franklin County Recycling. 5. Reduce weight and overall volume of solid waste leaving campus. a. Establish a protocol for measurement of solid waste utilizing available records and additional weight records. b.Based on measurement data, set and work towards reasonable target goals for waste reduction through changes in materials purchasing and practices. 6. Reduce bottled water distribution and consumption. a. Conduct study on the feasibility of banning individual bottled water on campus, exploring possibilities including an independent campaign as well as third-party assistance from groups such as Thinking Outside the Bottle.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Stormwater Master plan include: - Promote campus water conservation. - Implement effective storm-water management measures with all new campus construction. - Maintain and protect the integrity of the watersheds around Sewanee’s three drinking-water reservoirs.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: - Work with an array of campus programs and organizations to promote and support a diverse campus (students, faculty, administration, etc.), providing equal opportunities to people from a range of racial, socio-economic, and other personal backgrounds. -Staff Support: a. Evaluate the need for an expansion of staff in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, adding more positions as deemed necessary. b. Conduct an annual diversity survey focused on campus stakeholders’ personal experience. - Diversity Programming: a. Keep a record of and promote to student body peer mentoring, counseling, support, and affinity groups. b. Evaluate the current status of academic support for students from diverse backgrounds c. Facilitate the creation of support, affinity, and mentoring groups for any group not represented in current support network. d. Promote and develop a more diverse faculty, not only at Sewanee but throughout higher education. e. Create a teaching fellowship for graduates from underrepresented groups seeking careers in higher education.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include: - Engage the University in a discussion about socially responsible investment strategies. - Establish a revolving fund to support energy conservation and other sustainability measures.

As an institution devoted to learning and the dissemination of knowledge, the University of the South is well positioned to contribute to this global project of pursuing sustainability. Our College of Arts and Sciences already encourages students to synthesize ideas and, as sustainability demands, to recognize interconnections among diverse spheres of knowledge. Our School of Theology is equipped to dramatize the role that ethics and spiritual discernment must play in learning to live sustainably.

Although “sustainability” can be variously defined, we understand it to describe both a vision and a principle of behavior that would allow others--throughout the globe and in future generations—not only to endure, but to enjoy as high a standard of economic security, health, and cultural satisfaction as we enjoy today. To realize this vision, on behalf of the entire biosphere, requires learning to live within limits. It also requires learning about and respecting the sustaining potential of ecological systems.