West Chester University of Pennsylvania
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The mission of West Chester University's (WCU's) Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC) is to provide leadership, support and opportunities to advance sustainability at WCU and in the surrounding community. SAC leads by advising and advocating for a healthy, environmentally sound, socially just, spiritually fulfilling, and economically viable future. SAC supports wide-ranging sustainability initiatives, including the University's Strategic Sustainability Goals as it moves toward campus-wide carbon neutrality articulated in WCU's Climate Action Plan. Further, SAC provides opportunities for students, administration, faculty, staff and the community to develop the knowledge and skills to be environmentally responsible and involved citizens.

Jessica Schedlbauer, Chair, Sustainability Advisory Council [Faculty] Aliza Richman, Vice-Chair, Sustainability Advisory Council [Faculty] Sarah Paylor, Secretary / Treasurer, Sustainability Advisory Council [Staff] Paul Morgan [Faculty, Education] Tim Lutz [Faculty, Earth and Space Sciences] Joy Fritschle [Faculty, Geography and Planning] Joan Welch [Faculty, Geography and Planning] Cheryl Wanko [Faculty, English] Aliza Richman [Faculty, Sociology] Ashlie Delshad [Faculty, Political Science] Kurt Kolasinski [Faculty, Chemistry] John Pisciotta [Faculty, Biology] Walt Cressler [Faculty, Library] Premalatha Junius [Faculty, Mathematics] Joan Woolfrey [Faculty, Philosophy] Josh Braid [Staff, Grounds] James Lewis [Staff, Facilities] Nur Ritter [Staff, Gordon Natural Area] Patti Shields [Staff, Custodial and Grounds] Pete Galloway [Staff, Student Affairs] Michael Selby [Staff, University Student Housing] Raymond LeChien [Student] Tiffany Kennedy [Student] Abigail Kennedy [Student] Kathleen Tobelmann [Student]

The Office of Sustainability at WCU was established in 2011 and staffed by a faculty member tasked as Sustainability Coordinator. In 2017, a search was initiated to hire the first full-time Director of the Office of Sustainability to be officially attached to the university's Office of the President. The Office of Sustainability has a full-time staff of two with the support of three graduate student assistants and occupies two rooms in the university's Bayle House (703 South High Street, West Chester PA 19383). Bradley Flamm, Director, Office of Sustainability [Staff] Kelsey Tennett, Clerk, Office of Sustainability [Staff] Lori Brooks, Graduate Student Intern, Office of Sustainability [Student] Rachel Ezrin, Graduate Assistant for Social Media and Student Outreach, Office of Sustainability [Student] William Hendel, Grad Assistant for Data Monitoring and Analysis, Office of Sustainability [Student]

The Office of Sustainability, based in the Office of the President, has the responsibility to monitor and promote implementation of Climate Action Plan and Strategic Plan goals related to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The Director and Clerk of the Office of Sustainability collaborate with the Sustainability Advisory Council, SAC committees, various task forces and committees on campus, and community organizations that share sustainability goals.

Director of Sustainability WEST CHESTER, PA - POSTED: 10/19/16 Description: Join a vibrant campus community whose excellence is reflected in its diversity and student success. West Chester University of Pennsylvania is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Director of Sustainability. Reporting directly to the President's Office and with a close working relationship with the Offices of the Vice President for Administration and Finance, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Associate Vice President for Facilities, the Director will have responsibility for overseeing all University initiatives related to sustainability. General Responsibilities: Within the context of the University's Strategic Plan, including its Climate Action Plan, the Director will be expected: • To bring visionary leadership and organizational strategy to the task of enhancing West Chester University's status as an emerging model for sustainability in higher education. • To create the strategy to integrate a culture of sustainability throughout the University via initiatives in Academic Affairs, the Facilities Division, and Student Affairs, network with and to facilitate internal and external resources to accomplish that goal, and evaluate the needs of the University community. • To create and to implement communication strategies to promote broad awareness of initiatives and to develop a University-wide process and organizational structure to support sustainability inquiry, change, and assessment. • To build effective partnerships and relationships with surrounding communities and with regional institutions and establish effective linkages with units across campus that may have sustainability initiatives in process or as part of their overall strategy. • To be responsible for grant writing and funding, corporate partnerships, and programs that promote campus sustainability efforts. • To be responsible for annual reporting requirements and implementing other University policies and commitments related to sustainability. • To coordinate, support, and expand opportunities for faculty, staff, students and administrators to learn about sustainability issues throughout the academic and operational dimensions of University life. Major Functions: Campus Sustainability Leadership • Provide leadership to the campus and act as organizational strategist in order to position West Chester University as a leader in sustainability in higher education. • Develop and coordinate a process that leads to the creation of sustainability standards and policies that are consistent with STARS (Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System) and Climate Leadership Commitments, and that can be implemented at an institutional level. Develop annual sustainability planning priorities for the campus; identify annual expected outcomes, and coordinate appropriate evaluation and reporting of these efforts. • Coordinate with units, departments, and bodies that have existing sustainability initiatives. • Build relationships with campus administrative, operational, and academic units, and with student groups working in this field. Campus Facilities & Operations • Create a strategy to integrate sustainability principles and policies into the operational functions of the University; utilize the University's Climate Action Plan, the Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC), in-house expertise, peer institution practices, literature and conferences to develop ideas to advance West Chester University's sustainability efforts. • Collaborate with campus units as appropriate to infuse sustainability principles into campus short- and long-range planning, building design, construction, grounds, and other operations. • Offer expertise and collaboratively foster initiatives to reduce campus resource consumption and waste generation. • Work with appropriate campus units to assist them in developing sustainable practices in procurement, food systems, etc. Sustainability Program Management • Coordinate, support, and expand opportunities for faculty, staff, students, and administrators to learn about sustainability and incorporate sustainable practices into their day-to-day work. • Manage sustainability staff, graduate assistants, and other student employees and interns as appropriate. • Serve as an ex-officio member of the Sustainability Advisory Council (SAC), providing technical staff support to, and receiving guidance from, the Council, and assisting the Council in implementation of SAC initiatives. Education & Research • Offer guidance to faculty and administrators to apply sustainability principles to education, research, and interdisciplinary projects. • Work with faculty and academic leadership to provide input on incorporating sustainability into the curriculum; serve as a guest lecturer in sustainability-oriented courses. • Design and coordinate educational workshops and the production of educational materials for the campus. Communications • Publicize, promote, and communicate West Chester University's sustainability efforts within and outside of the WCU community. Document progress towards sustainability and promote broader awareness of WCU's sustainability efforts and accomplishments. Collaborate with the campus community to shape and deliver internal campus messages about sustainability and serve as the campus spokesperson on sustainability issues with internal constituencies. • Collaborate with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing to shape and deliver campus messages to external constituencies to promote campus sustainability efforts; serve as a campus spokesperson on sustainability issues. • Oversee the content, design, and maintenance of the campus sustainability website and social media platforms. Outreach and Engagement • Build effective partnerships with local organizations to support sustainability efforts. • Collaborate with relevant administrative units to identify and pursue opportunities for external funding for a "Green Fund" and other funding mechanisms to provide members of the campus community with funds for their sustainability proposals. • Identify, seek, and secure grant funding, corporate partnerships, and other savings programs to leverage campus resources and further propel campus sustainability efforts. • Identify opportunities to educate and involve alumni in sustainability initiatives. • Represent the University at regional and national professional conferences (speaking, presenting, etc.). • Develop and coordinate outreach events, including identifying sponsors and speakers, event planning, and logistics.