University of Delaware
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The Executive Council is charged with: • serving as the point of contact for sustainability issues on campus; • strategic planning for the Sustainability Task Force ensuring that activities align with the mission of the task force; • maintaining operating budget and pursuing opportunities for funding of the Sustainability Task Force and its activities; • oversight of the activities of the working groups. Campus Sustainability Day Working Group The Campus Sustainability Day (CSD) Committee serves to develop activities at the University of Delaware during National Campus Sustainability Day. It is the duty of this committee to showcase sustainable actions occurring at the University of Delaware, provide outreach avenues of these sustainable efforts to the University of Delaware community, and encourage sustainability at all levels of involvement through an innovative series of events celebrating National Campus Sustainability Day. The CSD committee will hold a preliminary meeting in the late spring to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming National Campus Sustainability Day in October of the following academic year. Committee members will meet throughout the fall semester to plan and organize events and then will oversee those activities on Campus Sustainability Day. Currently not active. UD Sustainability Fund Working Group The Sustainability Fund Working Group issues the call for applications for the Sustainability Fund grants, reviews applications, works with applicants to clarify issues and ensure that impacted university groups such as Facilities, Public Safety, or others are aware and supportive of the proposed project if needed. This working group awards the grant money to successful applicants, works with the applicants as needed throughout the year, including connecting the applicant with an advisor if needed to assist with navigating through the University processes, obtains updates from the applicants throughout the project including a descriptive report at the conclusion of the project. Green Liaison Working Group The Green Liaison Committee meets 1-3 times per semester to brainstorm sustainability topics and speakers that are relevant to the UD community based on feedback from other Green Liaisons and personal interest. They then coordinate activities (i.e. Lunch and Learns) throughout the semester to bring Green Liaisons together to discuss these topics via a speaker presentation and network with each other. The committee also collaborates with other working groups (i.e. Campus Sustainability Day and Earth Week Committees) to help promote those activities on campus. Earth Week Working Group The Earth Week committee is a work group responsible for developing, planning, and providing a campus friendly week of resources, activities, and information which promotes awareness for Earth Day and other sustainability issues. This week should focus on bringing the campus together to enhance our knowledge of sustainability while supporting the University’s Climate Action Plan. Members of the committee should include students, faculty, staff, and professionals from a variety of departmental units throughout the university. The members should be mindful of the resources used during and before the event. Earth Week should accomplish the following outcomes: • Inform the community about current sustainability practices and issues; • Promote green health practices; • Generate investment in local, regional, and global sustainability issues through creative activities, events, and competitions. Marketing & Communications Working Group The Marketing and Communication Working Group is charged with promoting and publicizing all of the events and initiatives overseen by the Sustainability Task Force, including Sustainability Day, the UD Sustainability Fund, the Green Liaisons program, and Earth Week. The Working Group works closely with the Executive Committee and Task Force Chairs to coordinate and create publicity, and establish and enhance the Sustainability Task Force brand within and without the University of Delaware. Members of this Working Group play an important role in streamlining publicity efforts throughout the academic year, and often serve as de facto liaisons between the other Task Force working groups, as they are involved with all members of the Task Force.

Updated list of active members not currently available.

The Sustainability Taskforce (committee in question) brings members of the UD community together to discuss, promote and act on sustainability initiatives. The UDSTF also manages the Green Grants program, which rewards grants to student initiatives focused on sustainability on campus. In 2015 a new staff position for Sustainability Manager was created in the Facilities Department. To date the Manager has helped coordinate many sustainability efforts across campus, has created 6 internship roles for students, proposed numerous energy- and water efficiency measures, and performed multiple analyses to support sustainability policies or guidelines that would not have otherwise been completed or pursued.