Wellesley College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Since February 2015, the Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability has solicited ideas from the college community (at an IdeaFest held in February), worked closely with key stakeholders across campus, and researched relevant sustainability initiatives and policies at peer institutions. The result of this work is a sustainability plan that is organized into eight sectors: Academic & Co-curricular, Buildings & Water, Climate & Energy, Food & Dining, Landscape & Watershed, Purchasing & Waste and Transportation. Each sector outlines what Wellesley has accomplished in the past and explains strategies and targets for advancing sustainability at Wellesley over the next ten years. The strategic summary was approved by the Board of Trustees in April, 2016.

Campus Renewal Plan 2025 https://www.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/assets/departments/about/files/2025programplan-execsummary2013.pdf

Main Issues/Primary Goals 1. Support sustainability across the curriculum 2. Increase hands ­on learning and research opportunities in sustainability 3. Introduce incoming students to sustainability at Wellesley 4. Assess sustainability awareness among the entire Wellesley community See Sustainability Plan document for details.

Primary Goals related to research: 1. Increase hands-on learning and research opportunities for students related to sustainability 2. To implement metering for primary utilities at the building-level for 80 percent of campus within five years and ensure the resulting data are available for facilities management, academic research, and educational purposes 3. To encourage community engagement with the landscape through research See Sustainability Plan document for more.

Primary Goals: 1. Use the campus as a living laboratory. 2. Data on energy, water, and waste should be collected on at least a building-by-building basis to better support institutional decision making, promote community engagement, and provide data sets for analysis and research. More info can be found in the Sustainability Plan document.

See Sustainability Plan AC1.6: The Center of Environment - Sustainability hub for research and collaboration The idea for the Center for the Environment was developed in 2013, architectural phase started in April 2016 and construction began in December 2017. The Center would promote collaborative research and teaching across Wellesley as well as Babson and Olin College. In addition, the Center would promote alumni involvement and outreach to increase student engagement in sustainability. The transdisciplinary center would be housed within the Science Center, in part to further the integration of the sciences with the rest of the liberal arts. The specific goals for the Center included (Wellesley Center for the Environment Working Group, 2013). A few of the public engagement goals of the future Center are: ● Bringing in environmental practitioners from around the world who can contribute to the curriculum. The Center would also connect with local environmental practitioners who can engage students in real-world issues, comment on student work, and host student internships. ● Providing consistent programming to enhance student leadership and communication skills. Programs and events might involve invited speakers as well as workshops and student-led symposia.

Wellesley’s comprehensive and forward-looking Sustainability Plan and a set of five guiding principles serve as our compass as we seek to advance environmental sustainability and achieve carbon neutrality. A multipart energy initiative announced on October 29, 2018 will enable us to lower the College’s electricity use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and annual utility costs, ensure a dependable electricity supply, and position the College to expand its renewable energy use in the future. At Wellesley, we know an ecologically diverse, energy efficient, and healthy campus benefits our community—and we know each student will carry that model with her as she goes on to make a difference in the world. Main Issues/Primary Goals ● To reduce the college’s greenhouse gas emissions from on-campus activities by 37 percent by 2026 and 44 percent by 2036 from a 2010 baseline and to undertake long-term planning to achieve carbon neutrality. ● To improve the energy efficiency of buildings through the implementation of the Green Building Standards (adopted in 2014) for major construction and renovation and the expansion of the current Green Revolving Fund to further support improvements in other buildings (which could help address deferred maintenance issues).

Main Issues / Goals: 1) To improve the energy efficiency of buildings through the implementation of the Green Building Standards (adopted in 2014) for major construction and renovation and the expansion of the current Green Revolving Fund to further support improvements in other buildings (which could help address deferred maintenance issues). 2) To implement metering for primary utilities at the building-level for 80 percent of campus within five years and ensure the resulting data are available for facilities management, academic research, and educational purposes. See the strategic sustainability plan for more information.

See the strategic sustainability plan section "Air & Climate: https://www.wellesley.edu/about/sustainability/sustainabilityplan Main Goals: 1) To reduce the college’s greenhouse gas emissions from on-campus activities by 37 percent by 2026 and 44 percent by 2036 from a 2010 baseline and to undertake long term planning to achieve carbon neutrality. 2) To improve the energy efficiency of buildings through the implementation of the Green Building Standards (adopted in 2014) for major construction and renovation and the expansion of the current Green Revolving Fund to further support improvements in other buildings (which could help address deferred maintenance issues). Objectives have been delivered by the adoption of Climate neutrality announcement: https://www.wellesley.edu/news/2018/stories/node/159866

See the strategic sustainability plan section "Food & Dining: https://www.wellesley.edu/about/sustainability/sustainabilityplan Main goals: Reduce the College’s footprint by: 1. creating a multi­stakeholder Food Committee to implement the goals of this Sustainability Plan, 2. creating a better system for collecting more food-related data and information, 3. increasing sustainable food and utensil purchases, and 4. decreasing overall food and utensil purchases and waste generation Delivered items on FD2.2, FD3.3, FD3.4, and FD4.2 -Created a baseline of current food purchases based on categories such as local, organic, and Fair Trade (RFC started in 2015-2018). -Promoted vegetarian diet/reduced meat products consumption through educational outreach programs (meatless Mondays) -Advertised local and sustainable main dishes in dining halls on a regular basis -Educate students during orientation week about proper food disposal in dining halls

Primary Goals: ● To establish a more ecologically sustainable campus landscape through both design and maintenance, building on the 1998 Campus Landscape plans and updates. ● To encourage community engagement with the landscape through research (the campus is a living laboratory), additional signage (to educate people about the campus), and support for pedestrians and bicyclists. See the sustainability plan for more information.

See section "Purchasing and Waste" in Strategic Sustainability Plan: https://www.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/assets/departments/about/files/sustainabilityplan.pdf Delivered on: -PWM1.3 Educate Campus on College's green purchasing strategies - PMW1.4 Paperless events and reduced paper use in classrooms, reading hand-outs etc. -PMW1.5a Increase post-consumer recycled content of purchased paper: 75% of paper purchases should have at least 30% recycled content.

See section "Transportation" in Strategic Sustainability Plans Transportation goals: https://www.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/assets/departments/about/files/sustainabilityplan.pdf Main Goals: 1.Introduce systematic tracking of college-funded travel type (air, rail, auto) and associated miles and investigate carbon offsets. 2.Increase the efficiency of the Wellesley Motor Pool fleet with new purchases and replacements. 3.Reduce single-occupant personal vehicle use for commuting from 80% to 60% of trips by 2020 (207,600 miles or 114 MT eCO2). Delivered on goals TR2.3 and TR2.7and TR3.4. - Administered college-wide transportation survey of faculty/staff in 2016 - Improved walking and biking on campus by enlarging inventory of bike share by 30% from 20 to 30 bikes. -Re-evaluated bus contract and switched to smaller buses adjusting to actual ridership. Traction of ridership from and to campus.

See section "Transportation" in Strategic Sustainability Plans Transportation goals: https://www.wellesley.edu/sites/default/files/assets/departments/about/files/sustainabilityplan.pdf Primary Goals for Waste Reduction 1. Develop management strategies for college activities and operations that encourage materials re-use and waste reduction. - Increase awareness of the specialty recycling services for e-waste and batteries provided through the library. (2 years) - Review campus policy with respect to storing and re-using furnishings (2 years) - Create a campus re-use store. (10 years) - Establish a protocol for what constitutes a zero-waste event on campus. (2 years) - Phase out plastic bags at all retail operations on campus. (2 years) - Expand composting to all dining halls, dormitory kitchens, and other food vendors on campus (5 years) 2. Systematize waste management to ensure that sustainability is tracked and factored into all waste management decisions. - A comprehensive review of waste management and recycling practices (2 years) - Regular and publicly reported statistics on waste and recycling collection on campus (2 years) - Review the college’s single-stream recycling policy (2 years) - Develop a uniform system for waste management labeling and communication. Standards should be established during Phase I; implementation will take place in Phase II and III (as waste receptacles are replaced) Delivered on: PWM1.10 Expanded the number of offices participating in the Sustainability Office Program: 25% (Phase 1) - 160 workspaces certified PWM1.11 Made use of recycled content paper turned used paper into scratch pads for distribution on campus. PMW1.13 Undertook a review of the sustainability of current cleaning supplies purchased on campus. PWM 2.1 Recycled all landscape waste to provide mulch and loam PMW2.2 Donate books retired from the library PMW2.2 Refurbish and donate computers at end-of-life PWM2.9 Expand composting to all dining halls, dormitory kitchens, and other food vendors on campus,

Main Issues / Goals: 1. To improve the sustainability of campus water consumption by carefully managing our aquifer, reducing potable water consumption to 50 percent below the 1999 baseline by 2026, and eliminating the purchase of bottled water. 2. Campus-wide metering of potable and non-potable water use to provide data for reduction of potable and non-potable water use. 3. Use of data on potable water to increase awareness of water as a valuable resource and educate on water conservation principles. 4. Pursue strategies that will increase the quality of the college’s potable water. 5. Pursue strategies that will affect water loss and address water damage in college infrastructure. See sustainability plan for more information.

http://web.wellesley.edu/DeanStudent/Diversity/attachments/CoreCommittee5-19.pdf 1. Diversity and Inclusion Education – develop campus-wide multicultural capacity among students and within the Division of Student Life through programs of multicultural education and structured dialogues that enable all students to engage one another around issues of diversity and inclusion and deepen their competency in addressing issues of identity, culture, and community. 2. Affirmation and Collaboration – develop a vibrant and inclusive sense of community on campus by affirming social identities through the support of particular cultural communities, while at the same time, building stronger connections across differences through programs which foster mutual understanding and collaboration among all students and student organizations. 3. Student Success – work in partnership with faculty and student life staff to ensure that all Wellesley students reach their full potential through a vibrant educational experience that includes academic excellence, leadership development, interpersonal engagement and individual fulfillment. 4. Leadership Development – enable students to develop the knowledge, experiences and skills necessary to lead in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world by bringing people together with different histories, cultural legacies, and values in a manner that recognizes and addresses the tensions stemming from different social identities and builds community through the development of shared principles.

See Sustainability Strategic Plan Section Landscape and Water (LW2.3) and (LW2.9) that pertain to the subject of the campus community and wellbeing. "The Wellesley College campus was not designed to create efficiency and convenience, but to be a place where people move through the landscape, experience natural surroundings, and meander in a way that promotes physical and emotional health." According to (LW2.3), the following actions were taken to connect the community with the nature for increasing wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff such as: 1. Place logs or boulders—materials already located on campus land—strategically so they can be used as outdoor seats (in keeping with Olmstedian design). ----Placed boulder seats into the Walkable labyrinth in the Botanical Gardens in 2017 2. Placed 4 comfortable Adirondack chairs on Wellesley's common green spaces (lawn in front of Waban Lake) made from sustainable recyclable materials in 2016. 3. Place bird boxes, sundials, mounted weatherproof binoculars, or other unintrusive, naturally interesting items in the landscape to attract attention to the environment. -----placed bird boxes at the edible Eco-gardens, sundial at the Observatory. According to (LW2.9) the following actions were taken for enlisting students to help in experiencing the Wellesley landscape: -------------The Office of Sustainability bike share interns organized group bike rides to the Natick Farmers market and adjacent forests. https://www.mapmyride.com/us/wellesley-ma/

https://www.wellesley.edu/about/sustainability/guidingprinciples Disciplined Thinking Wellesley College develops knowledge about sustainability through research and education to be tested and shared at the local and global level. As Wellesley College considers sustainability to be a key component of a liberal arts education, to reach this goal we will: Encourage research on sustainability-related issues across the humanities, sciences, and social sciences Educate our community by offering a wide range of courses related to sustainability, and diverse opportunities for relevant experiential learning Engage the entire Wellesley community in testing ideas, adaptively managing campus resources, and sharing resulting knowledge beyond the College + Diversity and Inclusion Wellesley College commits to the inclusion of all groups within our community — no matter their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, physical ability, or any of the other categories that can be used to divide people — when addressing sustainability issues and in implementing sustainable practices. The institution recognizes that equitable and conscientious progress can only be made when all voices are able to speak and be heard. To ensure the inclusion and equity of all groups of people in discussions and decisions about sustainability issues, Wellesley College will: Communicate consistently and transparently about all decisions reached to achieve sustainability goals Solicit and incorporate the perspectives and concerns of all campus constituencies into sustainability decisions Provide opportunities and resources for the exploration of sustainability goals such that all are encouraged and able to participate; these include but are not limited to academic lectures and open forums about sustainability Continue to adapt these Sustainability Guiding Principles as campus cultures change and new issues arise + Leadership Wellesley College is a campus community that offers students experiences to develop their leadership skills in sustainability and to take action locally, regionally, and globally on pressing sustainability issues. Wellesley College ensures student leadership through actions that: Maintain our robust sustainability program for students to take leadership roles under mentorship from inside and outside the institution Offer opportunities to develop solutions to sustainability problems by using the campus as a living laboratory and by providing avenues for community service both locally and globally Work with the College leadership to allocate and maintain resources for these programs to flourish Connect the environmental issues we face with concepts of social justice, inspiring our campus community to commit to bettering the campus and the world Require the college to be a leader by enacting with transparency and accountability the Sustainability Plan adopted by the Trustees in 2016 + Landscape Wellesley College preserves, manages, and regenerates the campus landscape to build community, promote well-being and intellectually engage with the natural environment. As this landscape is central to our identity and part of the unique founding principles of the College, the College seeks to: Minimize impacts on the land by leaving natural forms and patterns intact, and protecting and restoring the hills, meadows, and forest Provide transparent management approaches to the community Use the landscape for interdisciplinary collaborations, research, and teaching to explore questions of sustainable land and water, and biodiversity and restoration management Engage physically, spiritually, and intellectually with the natural environment to build a sense of place, connectedness with nature and committed community Promote physical and mental health by encouraging the use of and interaction with the landscape + Act Locally, Think Globally Wellesley College’s community makes a difference in the world by being mindful of our impact on the greater global community while minimizing our overall “footprint” and maximizing our “handprint.” So that the Wellesley community continues striving to be a local and global leader in sustainability, we will: Promote waste reduction, energy efficiency, reduction of consumption, renewable energy, and responsible consumer choice Use sustainable practices in our physical infrastructure and landscape Partner with local, regional, and global stakeholders in advancing sustainability efforts Encourage our community and leadership to consistently operate with an awareness of the social, economic, environmental, and health-related impacts of our actions or inactions on the local and global community and the future generations.