University of Pittsburgh
EN-9: Staff Professional Development and Training

The University of Pittsburgh offers a variety of internal sustainability professional development and training opportunities for all employees (including non-academic staff). From 2021 through 2023, at least 4,264 University of Pittsburgh employees participated in Sustainability-focused trainings, workshops, and presentations helping integrate sustainability knowledge into the workplace. These were distributed as 1,336 staff in 2021; 1,289 staff in 2022; and 1,639 staff in 2023. Pitt’s Sustainability educational opportunities are developed to serve all employees at the University of Pittsburgh; therefore, faculty are encouraged to participate as well and engagement numbers reported above include all employees who have been engaged in these opportunities.

Additionally, 3 specific sustainability-focused and related professional development offerings are summarized below: 1) Sustainability Professional Certificate Program; 2) Pitt Green Ambassador Workshops; and 3) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion educational opportunities. The percentage above was calculated using these programs described below for 2023 where 3,216 staff members were trained out of 8,425.

SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES

The University of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability Professional Certificate Program is designed to reinforce the University’s commitment to sustainability with a series of educational workshops open to all employees. Embedded into Pitt’s Human Resources Faculty & Staff Development Program (FSDP), the Sustainability Professional Certificate includes variety of workshops to enhance the professional and personal development of Pitt faculty and staff relating to both individual behaviors and University programs that impact local, national, and global efforts to become more sustainable (balancing equity, environment, and economics).

Classes currently offered through the Sustainability Professional Certificate are summarized below; each course is offered at least once annually, with core courses being offered at least twice annually.

1) CORE COURSE 1 - SUSTAINABILITY FOUNDATIONS: BALANCING THE THREE Es
Hearing a lot about "sustainability" at Pitt and elsewhere? This workshop provides foundational knowledge of the three dimensions of sustainability: economics, environment, and equity. Participants will learn how these disciplines relate to the challenges of climate change, food security, and racial justice and how they can contribute to solutions in the local, national, and global community. Discussion of solutions will start with opportunities and innovation at Pitt and in Pittsburgh.

2) CORE COURSE 2 - SUSTAINABILITY: CIRCULAR, REGENERATIVE, & JUST ECONOMIES
Hearing a lot of acronyms about investments and the economy, but wondering what CSR, ESG, and SRI really mean? This workshop will provide foundational knowledge on sustainable business practices. Participants will learn about sustainable purchasing, supply chain management, the circular economy, and best business practices that create positive social and environmental outcomes. This workshop will give participants the tools to tap into the wealth of Pitt resources (e.g., Center for Sustainable Business) to become more responsible consumers and help create and support regenerative and just economies.

3) CORE COURSE 3 – SUSTAINABILITY: ENVIRONMENT, ECOSYSTEMS, & YOU
Heard about Pitt’s commitment to carbon neutrality, renewable energy, alternative transportation, pollinators, and protecting our local ecosystems? This workshop will teach attendees about environmental stewardship, Pitt’s related goals, and how individuals & departments can help us improve our local and global environment. Learn about our recycling, composting, and specialty waste diversion efforts, while diving deeper into understanding climate change, ecologically friendly landscapes, and the how you and Pitt can help build a resilient future for our region.

4) CORE COURSE 4 - SUSTAINABILITY: BUILDING AN EQUITABLE FUTURE
Did you know that equity is 1 of 3 pillars of sustainability? This workshop will explore how equity and sustainability go hand-in-hand. Participants will learn about environmental justice, community development, and inclusion initiatives at Pitt and in Pittsburgh – and how that they and their departments can help contribute to. Professionals will be able to clearly define equity principles, identify systemic issues and systems, and become aware of the role we all play in building a sustainable future for all to thrive.

5) ELECTIVE COURSE 1- PITT BLUE & GOLD = GREEN
Heard about Pitt’s many sustainability commitments and wondering how you as a Pitt employee can contribute in your everyday activities and decisions for Pitt? Learn how you can engage professionally to help us achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 or engage in our Pitt Green program for labs, offices, event hosts, or even by becoming one of the first Pitt Green Ambassadors. We’ll also cover Pitt’s many sustainability benefits and commitments, including Healthy Ride bike share, electric vehicles, the Cool Food and Real Food pledges, community partnerships, pollinator gardens, LEED buildings, and so much more!

6) ELECTIVE COURSE 2 - SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
Have you ever wondered about the impact of food on society and the planet? In this class learn about how Pitt is eating its way to a more sustainable future for all! Dive deeper into our food system and find out the impact each of us can make with our food choices and about topics such as food sovereignty, food deserts, GMOs, fair trade, organics, and food waste.

7) ELECTIVE COURSE 3 – SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES
Curious about how the University protects and advocates for pollinators, trees, and rivers? In this class you will learn about how Pitt is caring for our beautiful campus using sustainable practices. You will learn about and engage with Pitt’s efforts to protect native pollinators, increase tree canopy, and reduce stormwater runoff. You will also gain understanding about how nature helps promote our wellbeing both physically and mentally. Participants will get explore campus gardens and learn how to help keep our waterways healthy.

8) ELECTIVE COURSE 4- RECYCLING: HOW TO REDUCE WASTE AT PITT & BEYOND
Diverting materials from landfill can be confusing, especially understanding what can be reused or recycled. For instance, what materials can be recycled indefinitely? Why do recycling guidelines sometimes change? What plastics are recyclable — and why or why not? Learn the ins and outs of recycling, including the history recycling system in the U.S., the true value of recyclables, and how the local recycling sector impacts what you can put in the recycling bin both on-campus and off. We’ll use Pitt’s own single-stream and specialty recycling programs as examples to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle here at Pitt and at home.
Learn more: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/employees/professional-development/

PITT GREEN WORKSHOPS

In 2023, a series of “Pitt Green” workshops were developed to help employees integrate sustainability knowledge and skills into the workplace. This new workshop series reached 66 people in Fall 2023 -- and their recordings are publicly available on the Pitt Sustainability YouTube page for all employees. Future Pitt Green workshops are already planned for 2024 forward.

• PITT GREEN WORKSHOP – RECYCLING DEEP DIVE: Recycling landscape in Southwestern Pennsylvania and at Pitt, featuring expert panel.
Event Details: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/event/pitt-green-workshop-recycling-deep-dive/
Event Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsEQC8-b5AM
• PITT GREEN WORKSHOP – SAVE PAPER, GO DIGITAL: How employees can conserve resources by embracing digital alternatives.
Event Details: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/event/pitt-green-workshop-save-paper-go-digital/
Event Recording: https://youtu.be/53Qggxs86xU

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

With equity as a key pillar of sustainability, Pitt Sustainability always highlights campus-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion events, trainings, and programs offered to Pitt employees. A few examples of these opportunities are Pitt HR’s Diversity and Inclusion Professional Development Certificate (https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/education/diversity-and-inclusion-certificate-program) and monthly celebrations that recognize and uplift our diverse campus community (https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/events/monthly-celebrations).

Because Pitt’s Office of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (OEDI) reports their data by fiscal year (FY), their FY data is used as a proxy here for annual calendar year participation in the professional development program. In FY21, 1,364 faculty and staff attended OEDI educational opportunities. In FY22, OEID reported 1,623 participants in education and in FY23 1,577 participants.

SUSTAINABILITY TRAININGS, TOURS, & WORKSHOPS

Throughout the year the Pitt Sustainability Team holds workshops, tours and trainings for Pitt employees to teach them about University sustainability efforts and programs. These can include but are not limited to; educational tours of campus and facilities like the Vesper Gaucho Solar Farm, events that focus on deep dives into specific topics like the Endowment, departmental trainings on how to embed sustainability initiatives into workflows, and sustainability supplier showcases that educate purchasers on how to be a more sustainable consumer. For a complete list see the attached document.

In Fall 2021 & 2022, the University of Pittsburgh was a Host Institution for the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, allowing all Pitt employees and students to attend at no cost. A total of 134 individuals participated in AASHE professional conference programming, at least 49 of whom were employees of the University of Pittsburgh.

Additionally, the University of Pittsburgh has been a proud partner of the Pittsburgh 2030 District since 2014. Facilitated by Green Building Alliance, the Pittsburgh 2030 District holds regular Partner Meetings (which are external to Pitt). Cross-departmental Pitt staff with sustainability-focused and related positions regularly attend Pittsburgh 2030 District Partner Meetings.

Specific to Sustainability, Facilities, and Auxiliaries, several employees have also acquired or are working towards external sustainability credentials (including the LEED Green Associate, LEED Accredited Professional, and/or GPRO credentials). As a result, these employees regularly pursue and attend professional development opportunities to maintain these credentials.

The Pitt Sustainability team, newsletter, and events calendar very often highlights sustainability-focused and related professional development opportunities external to the University. Over the past 3 years, that has includes 398 events, of which it’s estimated that at least 1 per month is external (if not more).
Pitt Sustainability Events Calendar: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/events/

Due to the nature of their job descriptions, all members of the embedded Pitt Sustainability team have sustainability included in their annual staff performance reviews.
Pitt Sustainability Staff team members: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/team/staff/

The University of Pittsburgh’s Sustainability governance structure is cross-departmental in nature and service on internal and external sustainability-related and -focused councils and committees is completed by staff and faculty across the University. As a result, a number of staff at a wide variety of levels and in departments across the University have both their contributions to key Sustainability performance indicators and engagement with cross-campus Sustainability efforts regularly evaluated in their performance reviews (all aligned with the Pitt Sustainability and Climate Action Plans).

A summary of Pitt’s Sustainability Councils, Committees, and their membership is here: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/team/council-committees/. While these individuals are the most easily tracked regarding their demonstrable engagement with Pitt Sustainability, they are by far not the only individuals within the University officially (or even unofficially) engaged with University-wide Sustainability efforts. For instance, all Pitt Green Office and Laboratory teams have sustainability embedded into their daily workflows (and thus performance): https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-green-designations-awarded/

Total number of Pitt staff is in Institutional Fact Book - https://www.ir.pitt.edu/faculty-and-staff-information