University of Texas at Austin
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

For the entire institution, the primary entities are the Office of Sustainability (described below), the President's Sustainability Steering Committee (described below), the Sustainability Staff Roundtable, and the Green Fee Committee. These groups collaborate frequently from the policy to the front line implementation level. Their accomplishments include numerous annual series, academic and staff oriented, focused on sustainability efforts, both day to day and long term. The joint efforts of these entities has played a significant role in elevating the presence and importance of sustainability across campus.

The University of Texas at Austin has a President's Sustainability Steering Committee, chartered and appointed by the President of the University. The charge of the PSSC is to develop recommendations on policy and operations to reflect the University’s commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the environment, and to serve as the principal channel of communication between the campus community and the University administration on setting priorities for sustainability related activities. The PSSC has two subcommittees, one focused on Education and Research and the other on Operations. The Green Fee Committee is a nine-member committee of six students and three non-students that governs the distribution of approximately $460,000 per year of tuition fee funds for environmental services on campus. The Office of Sustainability serves as ex oficio for the Committee and facilitates funded projects, but all funding decisions are made by these nine members. 76 projects have been funded to date from the first three years of funding. The Sustainability Staff Roundtable is a less formal group that meets monthly and consists of front-line staff responsible for initiatives with direct impact on the wellbeing and health of the physical campus, including students and employees.

PSSC Dr. Pat Clubb Co-Chair - Vice-President, University Operations Dean Fritz Steiner Co-Chair - Dean, School of Architecture (PSSC Members, alpha order) Dr. David Allen Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering Dr. Jay Banner Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences Dr. Kelley Crews Department of Geography and the Environment, College of Liberal Arts Dr. David Eaton Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs Dr. Ofodike Ezekoye Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering Dr. Larry Gilbert Section of Integrative Biology, College of Natural Sciences Dr. Bob Harkins Campus Safety and Security, University Operations Dr. Floyd Hoelting Division of Housing and Food Services, Student Affairs Dr. Steve Kraal Campus Planning and Facilities Management, University Operations Dr. Daene McKinney Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Emily Mixon Undergrad Student (Campus Environmental Center) Dr. Steven Moore School of Architecture Chris Plonsky Associate Athletic Director, Athletics Susan Rieff Executive Director, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Dr. Bill Sage School of Law John Salsman Environmental Health and Safety, University Operations Melinda Taylor School of Law Collin Roland Undergraduate Student (Student Government) Jim Walker Director of Sustainability, University Operations GREEN FEE COMMITTEE Collin J. Roland, Chair Student - Environmental Studies Leo Chen, Vice Chair Student - Business Evan Fleming Graduate Student - Engineering R. Scott Hickle Student S. David Comer Student - Environmental Science C. Dakota Stormer Student - Undeclared Dr. Jay Banner Faculty Jim Walker Staff, University Operations Dr. Donna Bellinghausen Staff, Student Affairs

The Office of Sustainability was created in 2010 and collaborates across the university to advance ideas and programs that transform the physical, social and educational environments of campus for the enduring benefit of society and the planet. The Office staff (3) collaborate year round on producing various events with both academic and operational departments, auxiliary units and student groups. Office staff have also worked within policy and procedural initiatives to promote sustainability outcomes; for example, green purchasing guidelines, green building design and construction, building efficiency and operations, and course and degree development.

The Director of Sustainability has a broad strategic role at the University. While he is housed in the University Operations portfolio, he is tasked with providing support to the President's Sustainability Steering Committee and in that role, is able to build relationships and design projects with deans and academic departments. A large part of the Director's time is given over to cross-communications between and about the many disparate sustainability activities at UT-Austin.