University of Wisconsin-River Falls
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Sustainability Coordinator: -Provides leadership support, expertise, and guidance in forming universities definitions, programs, policies relating to campus sustainability. -Assists with encouraging and facilitating cross-discipline and cross- university awareness and collaboration on issues related to sustainable campus and community development. -Researches data points and fields in support of university sustainability projects including renewable energy proposals, greenhouse gas reduction strategies, student sustainability projects, etc. -Assists in management of all undergraduate research fellows and Office of Sustainability interns.

The Sustainability Working Group (SWG) is the primary shared-governance group for promoting and coordinating sustainability values, principles, and practices at UW-River Falls. The SWG addresses the planning, design, implementation, and assessment of sustainable campus community programs and policies as well as documentation, such as the Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (STARS®), the Climate Action Plan (CAPlan), and the Sustainable Campus Community Plan (SCCPlan).

2014-15 SWG Members: Committee Chair, Staff, Matt Fitzgerald, Student Affairs Student, Molly Breitmun Student, Daniel Saunders Faculty, Charles Rader, Geography, CAS Faculty, Ruth Baker, Geography, CAS Faculty, Veronica Justen, Faculty, Plant & Earth Science, CAFES Faculty, Pamela Dixon, Management & Marketing, CBE Faculty, Mary Wright, Teacher Ed., CEPS Staff, Kathy Young, Diversity/Human Resources Staff, Tim Thum, Facilities Management Community, Mike Noreen, River Falls Municipal Utilities

The Sustainability Office at UW-River Falls serves multiple functions. The office is synonymous with and located at the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development (SCISCD) and housed at the Regional Development Institute building. The Director of the SCISCD serves as Sustainability Coordinator for all campus sustainability initiatives and as Director for all "think and do tank" initiatives for outreach and consulting from local to global. This approach provided significant opportunity for faculty and students to be integrated into both campus and outreach projects for sake of independent studies, research, internships, service learning, and other scholarly pursuits that provide innovative services and solutions to both sets of clients. The office is staffed with 2.0 FTE, student Research Fellows, and work study assistance when appropriate. See Notes below regarding a restructure of sustainability offices and support at UWRF moving forward.

Director of Sustainability (Dr. Kelly Cain): responsible for oversight of campus sustainability planning, initiatives, and outreach to local community. Director, St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development (SCISCD). Dr. Kelly Cain is responsible for day-today operations and management of embedded 'think and do tank' for campus, community, regional, national, and international initiatives. Bethany Gapinski, Campus Sustainability Coordinator (50% FTE supporting campus sustainability initiatives), and Senior Research Fellow (50% supporting SCISCD initiatives). The Sustainability Coordinator position for 2014 was a 0.5 LTE position, with a pending budget request to make the position a 12 month FTE appointment for 2015. The Coordinator is the go-to person for all major sustainability planning and implementation initiatives such as the Climate Action Plan, the Sustainable Campus Community Plan, AASHE STARS data tracking, the ACUPCC and associated greenhouse gas inventories, and sustainable community outreach, planning, and coordination. The Coordinator for 2014 reports directly to the Director of the St. Croix Institute for Sustainable Community Development (SCISCD) and has significant support, autonomy, and budget to pursue campus and SCISCD objectives. See Notes below for an update on the Sustainability Officer structure moving forward.

Kelly Cain retired on July 1, 2014. Facilities Management staff have assisted in the oversight of the campus sustainability efforts in the transition along with members of SWG and the Faculty Fellows. A new full-time (1 FTE) Sustainability Coordinator is expected to be hired in early 2015 as well as a Faculty Fellows Coordinator (.25 FTE).