Skidmore College
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Tarah
Rowse Director of Sustainability Sustainability Office |
1.1 Coordinating committee, officer, or office for sustainability
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s sustainability committees:
The Campus Sustainability Subcommittee (CSS) is one of the standing subcommittees of the Institutional Policy and Planning Committee (IPPC). As a part of Skidmore's shared governance model, the committee has representtion from staff, faculty and students. The function of the Campus Sustainability Subcommittee is to research, review, recommend, and help support the implementation of sustainability policies and procedures in such areas as waste and recycling, academics, transportation, green building, food systems, climate and energy, landscape and ecosystem management, community, diversity and equity, and communication and assessment. This includes assisting in the coordination of sustainability strategic planning and its assessment and updates. The subcommittee may create working groups to assist with this process. Secondarily, the CSS coordinates strategic event planning and collaborative efforts between departments around these topics. CSS's major recent accomplishments include revisions to the Sustainable Construction and Renovation Policy, leadership of a community input process as related to environmental sustainability in the strategic plan, and oversight of institutional assessment and reporting.
Does the institution have one or more sustainability officers?:
Narrative and/or website URL providing an overview of the institution’s sustainability officers:
Skidmore has three sustainability officers (two full-time staff and one faculty member with responsibility for advancing sustainability in academic affairs). The three positions are: 1) Director of Sustainability Programs and Assessment (lead on strategic planning, assessment, and the development and implementation of major projects, plans, and programs), 2) Sustainability Coordinator (lead on student programs, engagement, and events), and 3) Faculty Director of Sustainability (lead on sustainability in the curriculum).
https://www.skidmore.edu/sustainability/about-us/index.php
Does the institution have a sustainability office that includes more than one full-time equivalent employee?:
Description of each sustainability office:
With two full-time equivalent staff, the Skidmore Sustainability Office serves as a hub for campus sustainability. Each semester, the Office hires and manages 10-15 students in paid positions to run several campus sustainability programs, such as the Community Garden, the North Woods (stewardship of the 150 acres of forest on Skidmore property), and Skidmore Compost (a backyard compost program for the apartments). Sustainability interns research topics like sustainable food procurement and assist with the College's GHG inventory, as well as organizing and hosting student engagement initatives. The Sustainability Office collaborates with people and departments across the College to enhance and promote sustainability efforts. We continuously seek opportunities to develop new sustainability initiatives and programs to minimize our environmental impact and have a positive impact on our community.
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability offices:
Is at least one of the institution’s sustainability committees, officers, or offices charged with coordinating various campus constituencies in the advancement of sustainability across the entire institution?:
Narrative outlining the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
The Campus Sustainability Subcommittee (CSS) wrote the 2015-2025 Skidmore College Campus Sustainability Plan, which was endorsed by the President's Cabinet, Institutional Policy and Planning Committee, and Skidmore College Board of Trustees in 2015. Furthermore, CSS has provided reccomendations for the College's current draft of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, has initated and revised the College's Sustainable Construction and Renovation Policy, and encouraged the College's participation as an EPA Green Power Partner. The Director of Sustainability chairs the CSS, which oversees institutional assessments and reporting to inform sustainability decision-making.
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
Job descriptions
https://www.skidmore.edu/sustainability/about-us/index.php
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (1st position):
Text of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (2nd position):
https://www.skidmore.edu/sustainability/about-us/index.php
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (2nd position):
Text of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (3rd position):
https://www.skidmore.edu/sustainability/about-us/index.php
Copy of the job description for the institution’s sustainability officer (3rd position):
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