| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.76 |
| Liaison | Brad Spanbauer |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Brad
Spanbauer Campus Sustainability Officer Campus Sustainability Office |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Sustainability committee(s)
Yes
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
1. The Campus Sustainability Council was established in 2007 by the Chancellor to advise the UW Oshkosh administration on matters related to sustainability. The Council also helps with writing and updating the Campus Sustainability Plan, which calls for wide-ranging, coordinated efforts to advance sustainability across all operations and functions at the university, helps with sustainability reporting, and contributes to the timely promotion and communication of campus sustainability to campus and external stakeholders and the outside world.
Responsibilities
The Sustainability Council assists the Sustainability Director, and provides leadership on special issues (such as the curriculum).
Members
Campus Sustainability Council membership is determined by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Faculty, staff, and students representing academics, operations, and student affairs share the leadership of the Council.
The Chair or Co-chairs are expected to serve two-year renewable terms.
The council makes recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs on:
- priorities for sustainability plan goals
- campus-wide sustainability procedures and policies
- sustainability in the curriculum
- educational events on campus
- membership in off-campus sustainability organizations or initiatives.
2. The Sustainability Leaders Group is a subset of the Council that meets periodically with the Provost and occasionally the Chancellor and other Vice Chancellors to advise the administration on Council affairs and to discus campus priorities and changing circumstances.
3. The Sustainability Institute Internal Advisory Board serves as the steering committee for curriculum and research development .
Responsibilities
The Sustainability Council assists the Sustainability Director, and provides leadership on special issues (such as the curriculum).
Members
Campus Sustainability Council membership is determined by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Faculty, staff, and students representing academics, operations, and student affairs share the leadership of the Council.
The Chair or Co-chairs are expected to serve two-year renewable terms.
The council makes recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs on:
- priorities for sustainability plan goals
- campus-wide sustainability procedures and policies
- sustainability in the curriculum
- educational events on campus
- membership in off-campus sustainability organizations or initiatives.
2. The Sustainability Leaders Group is a subset of the Council that meets periodically with the Provost and occasionally the Chancellor and other Vice Chancellors to advise the administration on Council affairs and to discus campus priorities and changing circumstances.
3. The Sustainability Institute Internal Advisory Board serves as the steering committee for curriculum and research development .
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
1. Campus Sustainability Council
Chair: Brad Spanbauer, Campus Sustainability Officer
Staff:
Kevin Schumann, Facilities
Keven Boldt, Information Technology
Brian Langolf, Biogas Programs Manager
Lisa Mick, Supervisor, Grounds
Benjamin Richardson, Parking and Transportation Services Director
Brian Warzynski, University Dining
Faculty/Instructional Academic Staff:
Kevin Crawford, Chair/Professor, Chemistry
Marcel Dijkstra, Professor of Engineering Technology
Jim Feldman, Director/Professor, Env. Studies
Melissa Bublitz, Professor of Marketing
Stephanie Spehar, Professor of Anthropology, Director of SIRT
Students:
Erin Thompson
Alyssa Reinke
Sara Kleinschmidt
Max Lear
2. Sustainability Leaders Group includes:
Provost John Koker
Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services Jim Fletcher
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Art Munin
Vice Chancellor of University Affairs Bob Roberts
Brian Langolf, Biogas Program Manager
Brad Spanbauer, Sustainability Council Chair
Jim Feldman, Env. Studies Director
JoAnn Rife, Facilities Director
Greg Kleinheinz, Endowed Chair in Sustainability
Stephanie Spehar, SIRT Director, Anthropology Professor
Steven Dunn, Business Professor, Sustainability Management program
3. The Sustainability Institute Internal Advisory Board (IAB) members are:
Melissa Bublitz, Professor of Marketing, IAB Chair
Kevin Crawford, Professor of Chemistry
Jim Feldman, Professor of Environmental Studies and History, Director of Environmental Studies
Douglas Haynes, Professor of English
Brad Spanbauer, Sustainability Director
Greg Kleineinz, Viessmann Professor Sustainability Technology and Director Engineering Technology Program
Stephanie Spehar, Professor of Anthropology spehars@uwosh.edu
Chair: Brad Spanbauer, Campus Sustainability Officer
Staff:
Kevin Schumann, Facilities
Keven Boldt, Information Technology
Brian Langolf, Biogas Programs Manager
Lisa Mick, Supervisor, Grounds
Benjamin Richardson, Parking and Transportation Services Director
Brian Warzynski, University Dining
Faculty/Instructional Academic Staff:
Kevin Crawford, Chair/Professor, Chemistry
Marcel Dijkstra, Professor of Engineering Technology
Jim Feldman, Director/Professor, Env. Studies
Melissa Bublitz, Professor of Marketing
Stephanie Spehar, Professor of Anthropology, Director of SIRT
Students:
Erin Thompson
Alyssa Reinke
Sara Kleinschmidt
Max Lear
2. Sustainability Leaders Group includes:
Provost John Koker
Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services Jim Fletcher
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Art Munin
Vice Chancellor of University Affairs Bob Roberts
Brian Langolf, Biogas Program Manager
Brad Spanbauer, Sustainability Council Chair
Jim Feldman, Env. Studies Director
JoAnn Rife, Facilities Director
Greg Kleinheinz, Endowed Chair in Sustainability
Stephanie Spehar, SIRT Director, Anthropology Professor
Steven Dunn, Business Professor, Sustainability Management program
3. The Sustainability Institute Internal Advisory Board (IAB) members are:
Melissa Bublitz, Professor of Marketing, IAB Chair
Kevin Crawford, Professor of Chemistry
Jim Feldman, Professor of Environmental Studies and History, Director of Environmental Studies
Douglas Haynes, Professor of English
Brad Spanbauer, Sustainability Director
Greg Kleineinz, Viessmann Professor Sustainability Technology and Director Engineering Technology Program
Stephanie Spehar, Professor of Anthropology spehars@uwosh.edu
Sustainability office(s)
Yes
A brief description of each sustainability office:
In 2018, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, launched the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations (SIRT), a new unit focused on sustainability curriculum and research, that serves as a hub for sustainability teaching and research resources. The Institute was set up with a Director, Associate Director, and Administrative Assistant. At the time, the Campus Sustainability Office was a separate entity with a Director and student interns. Over the last year, the Institute has had a vacancy in the Associate Directorship, and in 2021 the Campus Sustainability Office merged with SIRT to exist as a single unit. The SIRT Director (0.75 FTE) is a faculty member who oversees sustainability curriculum and research development as well as associated grants, collaborative faculty research projects, and external partnerships. The Campus Sustainability Director (1.0 FTE), oversees university operations, facilities, and also serves as the subject matter expert for 'campus as a living, learning lab" projects, a marriage between academics and operations. SIRT also employs a full-time (1.0 FTE) Administrative Assistant who coordinates office work, reporting, etc. SIRT also regularly employs 3-5 student interns per year.
The Campus Sustainability Director also advises the Student Green Fund Committee on matters of proposed and awarded green fund projects.
The Campus Sustainability Director also advises the Student Green Fund Committee on matters of proposed and awarded green fund projects.
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
2.75
Sustainability officer(s)
Yes
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Brad Spanbauer, Campus Sustainability Director
Institution-wide coordination
Yes
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
With input from the Sustainability Council, the Sustainability Office wrote a Campus Sustainability Plan that calls for wide-ranging, coordinated efforts to advance sustainability across all operations and functions at UW Oshkosh. The Plan is periodically evaluated for progress and to prioritize annual planning.
The University developed a new Strategic Plan that places sustainability at the center of the university’s Mission, Vision and Values, and among the Plan’s four Foundational Elements. http://strategicplan.uwosh.edu/
As part of the strategic planning process, the university now has:
• A funding mechanism in place to provide grants to competitive initiatives that by design must include some aspect of sustainability. http://strategicplan.uwosh.edu/strategic-plan-implementation-process/
• A planning process to establish a sustainability institute at UW Oshkosh. The draft mission reads: “The Sustainability Institute (SI) at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh engages stakeholders from Wisconsin and beyond to build healthy communities, inclusive economies, and ecologically sound environments through inquiry, education, and action.”
• A structure in place to stimulate sustainability related research.
Campus also:
• Revamped recycling on campus to transition from segregated recyclable materials to single-stream recycling in summer 2015. http://www.uwosh.edu/sustainability/what-we-do/waste-reduction-1
• Developed a recycling strategy in summer 2016 for Titan Stadium, where the UW Oshkosh football team and many community teams play throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
• Developed an EPEAT purchasing policy for IT based on current practices in 2016.
• Opened a renovated classroom building in fall 2015 that is in review for LEED certification (submitted at silver).
• Opened a new alumni and convention center and in spring 2014 that earned a LEED gold certification.
• Began reconstructing two buildings, the student union and a residence hall, both of which are being guided by the LEED process and will be submitted for certification.
• Achieved the “Monarch Watstation” designation from Monarch Watch for a monarch friendly campus.
• Achieved the wildlife friendly designation from the National Wildlife Federation for an animal feindly campus.
• Earned the “Tree Campus USA” designation each year since 2010.
• Established a stdent green fund in 2015 that has approved 9 student projects to date.
• Launched a new and innovative general education program called the University Studies Program that requires all students to explore three signiture questions: 1) How do people understand and engage in community life? 2) How do people understand and bridge cultural differences? And 3) How do people understand and create a more sustainable world? http://usp.uwosh.edu/about-usp/signature-questions/
The University developed a new Strategic Plan that places sustainability at the center of the university’s Mission, Vision and Values, and among the Plan’s four Foundational Elements. http://strategicplan.uwosh.edu/
As part of the strategic planning process, the university now has:
• A funding mechanism in place to provide grants to competitive initiatives that by design must include some aspect of sustainability. http://strategicplan.uwosh.edu/strategic-plan-implementation-process/
• A planning process to establish a sustainability institute at UW Oshkosh. The draft mission reads: “The Sustainability Institute (SI) at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh engages stakeholders from Wisconsin and beyond to build healthy communities, inclusive economies, and ecologically sound environments through inquiry, education, and action.”
• A structure in place to stimulate sustainability related research.
Campus also:
• Revamped recycling on campus to transition from segregated recyclable materials to single-stream recycling in summer 2015. http://www.uwosh.edu/sustainability/what-we-do/waste-reduction-1
• Developed a recycling strategy in summer 2016 for Titan Stadium, where the UW Oshkosh football team and many community teams play throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
• Developed an EPEAT purchasing policy for IT based on current practices in 2016.
• Opened a renovated classroom building in fall 2015 that is in review for LEED certification (submitted at silver).
• Opened a new alumni and convention center and in spring 2014 that earned a LEED gold certification.
• Began reconstructing two buildings, the student union and a residence hall, both of which are being guided by the LEED process and will be submitted for certification.
• Achieved the “Monarch Watstation” designation from Monarch Watch for a monarch friendly campus.
• Achieved the wildlife friendly designation from the National Wildlife Federation for an animal feindly campus.
• Earned the “Tree Campus USA” designation each year since 2010.
• Established a stdent green fund in 2015 that has approved 9 student projects to date.
• Launched a new and innovative general education program called the University Studies Program that requires all students to explore three signiture questions: 1) How do people understand and engage in community life? 2) How do people understand and bridge cultural differences? And 3) How do people understand and create a more sustainable world? http://usp.uwosh.edu/about-usp/signature-questions/
Optional Fields
Job description (1st position)
Campus Sustainability Director
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
The Campus Sustainability Director (CSD) serves as the key strategist and facilitator to advance UW Oshkosh’s sustainability efforts across its three campuses. The CSD is responsible for working with university leadership to develop and communicate a comprehensive long-term strategy for achieving the university’s sustainability goals. The CSD will work closely with leadership, staff, faculty, and students across campuses, colleges, divisions, and administrative units to oversee implementation of these goals and to facilitate the incorporation of sustainable principles and practices in daily operations and activities.
The CSD will be housed in the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations (SIRT) and will work closely and collaboratively with the Director of SIRT to advance the university’s broad vision for sustainability at UW Oshkosh. They will work closely with the Director of Facilities Management and other relevant units on campus. The CSD will report jointly to the Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services.
The CSD will be housed in the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations (SIRT) and will work closely and collaboratively with the Director of SIRT to advance the university’s broad vision for sustainability at UW Oshkosh. They will work closely with the Director of Facilities Management and other relevant units on campus. The CSD will report jointly to the Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs the Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services.
Job description (2nd position)
Director of the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Duties/Responsibilities:
Champion sustainability as a foundational element in the university strategic plan across all aspects of campus, primarily in the life of the faculty and staff and through interaction with surrounding communities, but also for student affairs and campus sustainability.
Build external relationships:
Communicate with established external contacts (via email, phone, in-person meetings).
Establish new contacts (via networking, cold calling, etc)
Seek ways to connect external contacts to campus activities - through attendance at events, sponsorships, grants, donations, exchanges, internships, etc.
Management of personnel:
Supervise staff including the Associate Director and Administrative Assistant (and others as staffing changes, to include Campus Sustainability Office and Biogas Program personnel) - this includes daily or weekly updates on activities, giving direction and feedback, approving hours and leave, initiating paperwork related to summer salary and periodic reviews, etc.
Interface with on-campus units:
Regular meetings with Provost (direct supervisor), and budget officer.
Attend and represent SIRT at Campus Sustainability Council meetings.
Occasional meetings with the Chancellor.
Attend Administrative Staff (Chancellors’ reports) and Leadership Council meetings.
Other groups to meet with may include Advancement, Sponsored Programs, University Marketing and partnering units (CCDET, Biogas, Campus Sustainability Office, etc).
Regular meeting with Internal Advisory Board.
Represent SIRT at the quarterly Campus Sustainability Leadership meetings and provide leadership role.
Participate in regular activities of SIRT.
Manage and procure funds:
Develop SIRT budget and manage fund through the year.
Approve all SIRT expenditures.
Assist with grant applications, seek external funds for projects from external contacts.
Lead fundraising efforts for SIRT
Requirements:
Demonstrated knowledge of sustainability.
Ph.D. in any field
Understanding of interdisciplinarity and ability to converse across fields
Demonstrated leadership and recognized scholarship related to sustainability (broadly defined)
Demonstrated managerial, organizational and interpersonal skills to inspire a team and collaborate across a diverse range of faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni and donors.
Commitment to SIRT and its success
Experience with securing research grants and other fundraising activities
Champion sustainability as a foundational element in the university strategic plan across all aspects of campus, primarily in the life of the faculty and staff and through interaction with surrounding communities, but also for student affairs and campus sustainability.
Build external relationships:
Communicate with established external contacts (via email, phone, in-person meetings).
Establish new contacts (via networking, cold calling, etc)
Seek ways to connect external contacts to campus activities - through attendance at events, sponsorships, grants, donations, exchanges, internships, etc.
Management of personnel:
Supervise staff including the Associate Director and Administrative Assistant (and others as staffing changes, to include Campus Sustainability Office and Biogas Program personnel) - this includes daily or weekly updates on activities, giving direction and feedback, approving hours and leave, initiating paperwork related to summer salary and periodic reviews, etc.
Interface with on-campus units:
Regular meetings with Provost (direct supervisor), and budget officer.
Attend and represent SIRT at Campus Sustainability Council meetings.
Occasional meetings with the Chancellor.
Attend Administrative Staff (Chancellors’ reports) and Leadership Council meetings.
Other groups to meet with may include Advancement, Sponsored Programs, University Marketing and partnering units (CCDET, Biogas, Campus Sustainability Office, etc).
Regular meeting with Internal Advisory Board.
Represent SIRT at the quarterly Campus Sustainability Leadership meetings and provide leadership role.
Participate in regular activities of SIRT.
Manage and procure funds:
Develop SIRT budget and manage fund through the year.
Approve all SIRT expenditures.
Assist with grant applications, seek external funds for projects from external contacts.
Lead fundraising efforts for SIRT
Requirements:
Demonstrated knowledge of sustainability.
Ph.D. in any field
Understanding of interdisciplinarity and ability to converse across fields
Demonstrated leadership and recognized scholarship related to sustainability (broadly defined)
Demonstrated managerial, organizational and interpersonal skills to inspire a team and collaborate across a diverse range of faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni and donors.
Commitment to SIRT and its success
Experience with securing research grants and other fundraising activities
Job description (3rd position)
Associate Director of the Sustainability Institute for Regional Transformations
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
---
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Duties/Responsibilities:
1. Building and maintaining research capacity for SIRT:
Maintains and supports research cluster program: annual SIRT research retreat. Manages research cluster activities including annual cluster grant program (15K seed money for UWO sustainability research).
Works to build support for research among faculty and administration
Coordinate SIRT faculty seminar - find folks to run it and make sure there is space, time, interest
2. Social media:
In consultation with other staff and UMC as appropriate, creates social media plan for institute and updates it annually.
Regular maintenance of twitter, facebook, instagram (?), LinkedIn.
Create communications plan for Institute related to annual events, liaising with UMC, possible creation of newsletter, blog.
Bi-annual review of website components and updating.
Recruit and oversee social media intern/communications intern to assist with above.
3. Interface with on-campus units:
Weekly SIRT staff meetings
Regular meetings with Provost
Occasional meeting with Chancellor
Other groups to meet with may include Advancement, Sponsored Programs, University Marketing and partnering units (CCDET, Biogas, Campus Sustainability Office, etc).
Represent SIRT at the quarterly Campus Sustainability Leadership meetings.
4. Participate in regular activities of SIRT:
Faculty research seminar series
Regular meeting with Internal Advisory Board.
Attend SIRT events as appropriate
The AD will fulfill the role of responsibilities of the Director when they are away from the office for a period exceeding three days or as directed
Requirements:
Demonstrated knowledge of sustainability.
Ph.D. in any field
Understanding of interdisciplinarity and ability to converse across fields
Working knowledge of methods and styles of multiple fields
Demonstrated managerial, organizational and interpersonal skills to inspire a team and collaborate across a diverse range of faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni and donors.
Commitment to SIRT and its success
Experience with securing research grants and other fundraising activities
1. Building and maintaining research capacity for SIRT:
Maintains and supports research cluster program: annual SIRT research retreat. Manages research cluster activities including annual cluster grant program (15K seed money for UWO sustainability research).
Works to build support for research among faculty and administration
Coordinate SIRT faculty seminar - find folks to run it and make sure there is space, time, interest
2. Social media:
In consultation with other staff and UMC as appropriate, creates social media plan for institute and updates it annually.
Regular maintenance of twitter, facebook, instagram (?), LinkedIn.
Create communications plan for Institute related to annual events, liaising with UMC, possible creation of newsletter, blog.
Bi-annual review of website components and updating.
Recruit and oversee social media intern/communications intern to assist with above.
3. Interface with on-campus units:
Weekly SIRT staff meetings
Regular meetings with Provost
Occasional meeting with Chancellor
Other groups to meet with may include Advancement, Sponsored Programs, University Marketing and partnering units (CCDET, Biogas, Campus Sustainability Office, etc).
Represent SIRT at the quarterly Campus Sustainability Leadership meetings.
4. Participate in regular activities of SIRT:
Faculty research seminar series
Regular meeting with Internal Advisory Board.
Attend SIRT events as appropriate
The AD will fulfill the role of responsibilities of the Director when they are away from the office for a period exceeding three days or as directed
Requirements:
Demonstrated knowledge of sustainability.
Ph.D. in any field
Understanding of interdisciplinarity and ability to converse across fields
Working knowledge of methods and styles of multiple fields
Demonstrated managerial, organizational and interpersonal skills to inspire a team and collaborate across a diverse range of faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni and donors.
Commitment to SIRT and its success
Experience with securing research grants and other fundraising activities
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.