Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.95
Liaison John Alejandro
Submission Date March 11, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of San Diego
PAE-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Michael Catanzaro
Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a sustainability committee?:
Yes

The charter or mission statement of the committee or a brief description of the committee's purview and activities :

A Sustainability Task Force was charged to study the status of sustainability at USD, research best practices at other universities, and develop a strategic plan by March 2008. \The result was their “Outline of Sustainability Initiatives,” which encompassed academics; outreach and community relations; auxiliaries; facilities operations; campus life; and executive decisions. The task force distilled this extensive outline into a proposed two-year action plan that highlighted the initiatives in each category that task force members considered to be most timely, important, or feasible. The task force specifically noted that implementing the action plan would require the guidance of a full-time director with sufficient authority and resources to take action. The university joined AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education), participated in both Focus the Nation and Earth Week, launched a newsletter, and began audits of energy and water use. Since 2010, the Sustainability Task Force meets regularly to provide input on the activities and goals of the Office of Sustainability.


Members of the committee, including affiliations:

Michael Catanzaro, Director of Sustainability
Paula Morreale, Administrative Assistant, Office of Sustainability
Scott Anders, Administrative Director, Energy Policy Initiatives Center
Dawn Anderson, Director, Procurement Services
Moises Baron, Assistant VP Student Affairs, Student Wellness
Michel Boudrias, Chair, Marine Science and Environmental Studies
Doug Burke, Director, Network Information Technology Services
Sandra Ciallella, Assistant Vice President of Development
Esteban Del Rio, Interim Director, Center for Inclusion and Diversity
Colin Fisher, Director, Sustainability Living Learning Community
Pamela Gray, Assistant VP, Public Affairs
Elizabeth Harman, Director of News Bureau
Dayanne Izmirian, Assistant Dean, Residential Life
Barry Ligman, Parking Services Manager
Michael Lovette-Coyler, Director of University Ministry
Andre Mallie, Executive Director, Auxiliary Services
Lynne Morris, Facilities Management Office Manager
Patricia Marquez, Director, Changemaker Hub
Chris Nayve, Director, Community Service Learning
Mark Norita, Assistant Vice President, Facilities Management
Coreen Petti, Associate VP, Marketing and Strategic Partnership
Michael Plakosh, Energy Manager, Office of Sustainability
Juan Carlos Rivas, Assistant Director, Changemaker Hub
Krystn Shrieve, Director of Brand Marketing Communications
Jodi Waterhouse, Director, Corporate and Professional Programs, Continuing Ed.
Greg Zackowski, Director, Outdoor Adventures and Sustainability Programs
Brianna Tracy, Graduate Assistant, Office of Sustainability
James Wykowski, Associated Students, Director of Sustainability and Wellness
Shannon Schumacher, Office of Sustainability Intern


The website URL where information about the sustainability committee is available:
Does the institution have a sustainability office?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability office:

The Office of Sustainability was formed in Fall 2009, stemming from the first cycle of Strategic Initiatives proposed by President Mary Lyons to make our campus more green and eco-friendly. The Sustainability Task Force first met in November 2007, charged to “inventory educational, research operations, facilities initiatives, and service learning experiences currently in place at USD that support sustainability and/or climate change programs; survey best practices at other universities; and develop a strategic plan by March 2008 that will encompass the elements of education, research, service, and operations.”

The Office of Sustainability currently has three full time staff members: Director, Energy Manager, and Sustainability Coordinator. This staff is designated to plan and implement sustainable practices across campus as well as apply innovative applications to improve sustainability. This office also helps the Be Blue Go Green Team on campus. This student group educates the USD and local community regarding various ways to be sustainable in your everyday life. They also run the compost and garden area behind Missions Crossroads, complete office and home energy assessments, and create awareness around being eco-friendly. The Office also employs three Graduate Assistants and a number of undergraduate interns.


The number of people employed in the sustainability office:
20

The website URL where information about the sustainability office is available:
Does the institution have a sustainability coordinator?:
Yes

Sustainability coordinator's name:
Michael Catanzaro

Sustainability coordinator's position title:
Director of Sustainability

A brief description of the sustainability coordinator’s position:

The Director of Sustainability is responsible for engaging in the university’s sustainability program to include the elements of education, research, service and operations including, but not limited to: day-to-day oversight of the Office of Sustainability’s twenty employees, operation of the Electronic Waste Recycling Center, and engagement with both external and internal partners.


The website URL where information about the sustainability coordinator is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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