| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.46 |
| Liaison | Bradley Flamm |
| Submission Date | March 6, 2020 |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Bradley
Flamm Director of Sustainability Office of the President |
Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The mission of West Chester University's (WCU's) Sustainability Council (SC) is to further "the University’s sustainability initiatives by advocating campus research, curriculum revisal, environmentally-friendly development, and community outreach. Everyone is welcome to attend SC meetings and/or join the work of a committee." The SC's Vision Statement reads "Our vision is to cultivate a campus community that thrives on the principles of sustainability. We practice, promote, and advocate for a campus culture and institutional structure that embody a deep respect for the natural world, social equity, and economic justice for all."
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
NOTE: WCU's Sustainability Council and its seven committees have over one hundred self-selected members. We follow a philosophy of openness and welcome to all who are interested in environmental, social, and economic sustainability, on campus and in the world. The following list includes many of our most active members, but is not comprehensive.
Jessica Schedlbauer, Chair, Sustainability Advisory Council [Faculty]
Aliza Richman, Vice-Chair, Sustainability Advisory Council [Faculty]
Howell Bosbyshell, Secretary / Treasurer, Sustainability Advisory Council [Faculty]
Paul Morgan [Faculty, Education]
Tim Lutz [Faculty, Earth and Space Sciences]
Joan Welch [Faculty, Geography and Planning]
Cheryl Wanko [Faculty, English]
Jen Maresh [Faculty, Biology]
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]
Nur Ritter [Staff, Gordon Natural Area]
Patti Shields [Staff, Custodial and Grounds]
Pete Galloway [Staff, Student Affairs]
Abigail Kennedy [Student]
Kathleen Tobelmann [Student]
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent employee?:
A brief description of each sustainability office:
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 three with the support of three graduate student assistants and occupies four rooms in a university building at 114 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester PA 19383.
Bradley Flamm, Director, Office of Sustainability [Staff]
Nur Ritter, Gordon Natural Area Stewardship Manageer, Office of Sustainability [Staff]
Amy Maxcy, Administrative Support, Office of Sustainability [Staff]
Katie Elliott, Graduate Student Intern, Office of Sustainability [Student]
Samara Brothers, Graduate Assistant for Social Media and Student Outreach, Office of Sustainability [Student]
Ravi Venkatesh, Grad Assistant for Data Monitoring and Analysis, Office of Sustainability [Student]
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution?:
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
The Office of Sustainability, based in the University Affairs Divison of the university, 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, Administrative Support staff member, and GNA Stewardship Manger of the Office of Sustainability collaborate with the Sustainability Council, SC committees, various task forces and committees on campus, and community organizations that share sustainability goals.
Job title of the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Director of Sustainability WEST CHESTER, PA - POSTED: 10/19/16
Description:
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.
Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
The Stewardship Manager of the Gordon Natural Area is responsible for:
• Implementation of the GNA's Strategic Plan, including implementing trail maintenance, promotional, scholarly, educational, and ecosystem restoration activities within the GNA
• Communication across divisions / groups on campus regarding GNA initiatives, support needs, etc.
• Coordination/record keeping regarding GNA research, species identification (plant and fungi), and educational activities
• Contribution to GNA's online / social media presence
• Development and implementation of (1) GNA master plan, (2) preventative maintenance programs for GNA, outdoor classroom, and gardens, (3) GNA components of the West Chester University MS4 watershed management plan
• Oversight of outdoor classroom and gardens, and assistance with green roof management
• Budget management
• Administration and supervision of student workers and volunteers
Job title of the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
This position provides clerical support to the Office of Sustainability (OoS) which promotes, monitors, coordinates, and supports environmental, economic, and social sustainability initiatives of West Chester University’s staff, faculty, and students. The Clerk Typist 3 will work under the direct supervision of the Director of Sustainability and in collaboration with staff and student workers in the OoS. The successful applicant will provide a variety of services to help achieve the missions and goals of the OoS, the Sustainability Council (SC), and committees of the SC.
Duties include: types and proofreads e-mail messages, meeting minutes, memoranda, and other documents; provides reception duties within the Office of Sustainability; answers incoming calls and email messages, receives visitors, and provides responses to inquiries; schedules and confirms locations and times for Office of Sustainability, SC, and SC committee meetings, and other events; takes minutes at OoS, SC, and SC committee meetings, distributes them for review, then finalizes and disseminates them; assists in preparing documents and materials for Office of Sustainability and SC sponsored events on campus and in other locations; orders office supplies; reconciles purchasing card expenditures; processes e-requisitions; provides assistance in data entry and analysis; opens, sorts and distributes mail; coordinates front desk coverage during breaks, lunch periods, and vacations; and other clerical duties, as needed.
The successful applicant must have the ability to adapt to changing priorities and possess a professional and friendly demeanor when dealing with students, faculty, staff, and visitors who interact with the OoS.
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.