University of Massachusetts Amherst
PAE-4: Sustainability Plan

Consisting of the Environmental Performance Advisory Committee (EPAC), the Sustainability Manager, the Eco-Rep Program and fifteen student interns, the Initiative works to inform, educate and promote sustainable practices to the campus community. A collaborative effort between students, staff, faculty and administrators allows numerous projects and sustainable practices to be implemented. The large involvement of student participation in these efforts has integrated sustainability into the fabric of the academic mission of the University. The origin of the Sustainability Initiative began in 2007 when President Jack M. Wilson signed the five UMass campuses onto the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). In order to fulfill the requirements outlined in the ACUPCC, Chancellor Thomas Cole formed EPAC later that year to write the University’s Climate Action Plan and to develop and implement projects that would help make the campus more sustainable.

Assess ways to reduce environmental impacts of the campus in a manner which incorporates sound business practices; Enhance the campus' ability to gather, track, and analyze environmental performance data and related information and develop report documents; Develop a five to ten year plan to reduce the campus’ carbon footprint based upon current benchmarks; Devise a comprehensive and common-sense way to foster environmental stewardship across the entire organization among and within campus departments, both operational and academic; and Advise the Chancellor's Executive Board on all matters related to campus environmental performance including adjustments to operating policies and/or practices

EPAC meets monthly, reviews progress towards its measurable goals, and has adopted STARS as a framework for measuring quantifiable progress in meeting the campus' sustainability goals.