Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 69.87
Liaison Kevin Kirsche
Submission Date June 22, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Georgia
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Kevin Kirsche
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Campus Sustainability Grants Selection Committee
--Review and select annual Green-Fee-funded student grant proposals

Sustainability Certificate Advisory Board
--Review courses for inclusion in the certificate, provide balanced representation from each area of sustainability (economic, social, and ecological), and serve as ambassadors of the certificate


Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:

Campus Sustainability Grants Selection Committee (2020 members)
--Christy Tweedy, UGA Housing
--Paul H. Matthews, Office of Service Learning
--Steve Mitchell, Facilities Management Division
--Sarah Corbin, Undergraduate Student, Grady College of Journalism
--Samantha Siragusa, Graduate Student, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
--Elizabeth Boyce, Graduate Student, Hodgson Scholl of Music / Ideas for Creative Exploration

Sustainability Certificate Advisory Board
--Jesse Abrams, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
--Malcolm Adams, Mathematics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
--Ron Balthazor, Certificate Director
--Tyra Byers, Office of Sustainability
--Gary Hawkins, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
--Elizabeth Gallant King, Odum School of Ecology, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources
--Kevin Kirsche, Office of Sustainability
--William Kisaalita, School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
--Kristen Lear, Integrative Conservation PhD Program and Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
--Jane McPherson, Social Work
--Katalin Medvedev, Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
--Nathan Nibbelink, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
--Alfred Vick, College of Environment and Design
--Richard Watson, Management Information Systems, Terry College of Business


Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent employee?:
Yes

A brief description of each sustainability office:

The UGA Office of Sustainability was initiated in 2010 as part of a strategic directive to enhance conservation of resources and long-term sustainability at the University of Georgia. The Office of Sustainability coordinates, communicates, and advances initiatives in teaching, research, service, student engagement, and campus operations. In alignment with UGA's Great Commitments to create healthier populations; stronger, more resilient communities; and a safer, more secure future for all; our sustainability initiatives provide meaningful experiential learning for students and valuable support for the communities we serve.

Comprised of 3 full-time staff, 1 graduate assistant, and 20+ student interns, the Office of Sustainability is committed to create inspired leaders, stronger communities, and thriving natural systems.

Other sustainability positions include:
Sustainability Coordinator for UGA Housing - 1
Transportation - 0.5
Certificate - 0.5
Interns - 5


Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
10

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

Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Kevin Kirsche

Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution?:
Yes

A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:

The UGA Office of Sustainability coordinates sustainability-related activities across the institution.

Teaching
--Support the Interdisciplinary Certificate in Sustainability
--Hosted annual faculty workshops, networking breakfasts, and Faculty Learning Community
--Implemented Foodshed UGA, a campus and community-wide initiative to engage in sustainability and innovation through the food that we grow, eat, and waste
--Awarded faculty mini-grants to enhance sustianability teaching and learning

Research
--Support sustainability science symposia such as the Syposium on Integrative Conservation
--Support interdisciplinary sustainability-focused research grant proposals

Service & Outreach
--Support UGArden, teaching and demonstration farm
--Support Campus Kitchen, student-led food recovery and hunger relief program
--Provide weekly newsletter and calendar for sustainability events and activities on campus and in the local community

Student engagement
--Host sustainability student internship program
--Support sustainability-related student organizations
--Administer campus sustainability grants program
--Host events such as Earth Week and Semester in Review

Campus operations
--Support Facilities staff to promote energy and water conservation, waste reduction, and alternative transportation programs
--Conduct plans review for new design and construction on campus


Job title of the sustainability officer position:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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