2 Posts
How have you been able to reach the University professors and higher ups to try to create a more sustainable campus? What are ways you have made your campus more sustainable?
These questions are something I have been exploring and thinking about for my campus. I believe there is potential for the campus to be much more sustainable in its systems, but the people who run the campus grounds are very concerned with asthetics.
Any suggestions, examples, and other stories are very appreciated!!
These questions are something I have been exploring and thinking about for my campus. I believe there is potential for the campus to be much more sustainable in its systems, but the people who run the campus grounds are very concerned with asthetics.
Any suggestions, examples, and other stories are very appreciated!!
4 Replies
2 Posts
Hi! It might be useful to find a Resident Advisor or talk to your Resident Life head and see about starting a green community even if it means starting with one floor. We are starting a program where we have a floor dedicated to green living, which includes conserving water and electricity and not just recycling. I realize a lot of campus programs focus on recycling and we wanted an experience that is hands on for students to find other ways to live green.
6 Posts
Where do you go to school? Do you know if there is an Office of Sustainability on campus? or possibly a green team /sustainability committee? Maybe you college has signed the American Colleges and Universities President's Climate Committment (ACUPCC)- which for many schools was the launching off point to create a sustainability office or hire someone to help corrdinate on campus. Also, do you have an environmental /sustainabilty club / student organization on campus? If not, that also might be a place to start.
Talking to professors might help as well- do you have an environmental studies/science degree program? Those professors seem to be very willing to be engaged.
Also, asthetics are something that a lot of campuses struggle with- but there are creative ways to overcome this. For example, some schools have started small with a native garden or campus/ community garden- and overtime the benefits outweigh the solutions.
Heidi Goetsch, is on this community - and she has created a small native garden and had to jump through many hoops on how to get her administration on board. Here's her profile- if you want to message her: http://www.nwfecoleaders.org/profile/25
Hopes this helps
Talking to professors might help as well- do you have an environmental studies/science degree program? Those professors seem to be very willing to be engaged.
Also, asthetics are something that a lot of campuses struggle with- but there are creative ways to overcome this. For example, some schools have started small with a native garden or campus/ community garden- and overtime the benefits outweigh the solutions.
Heidi Goetsch, is on this community - and she has created a small native garden and had to jump through many hoops on how to get her administration on board. Here's her profile- if you want to message her: http://www.nwfecoleaders.org/profile/25
Hopes this helps
27 Posts
Hi! It looks like you got some great suggestions. One other thought - this may sound a bit shallow but if you find your administration just really isn't concerned with sustainability, you could look at what similar or "rival" schools are doing. Higher ed is super competitive these days and if a rival school can be protrayed as being more innavation or "ahead" of your school you might be able to use that to help get their attention. No one wants to fall behind!
Please let us know how things are going! Hang in there - sometimes campus administrators are often facing lots of competing demands and tight budgets. They may also think that after a meeting or two you might get interested in something else and just go away. So hang in there - be persistent. Be willing to listen to their concerns and be responsive if possible. You may gain their respect and sometimes people who start out as skeptics can turn into your biggest ally if you stick with it and work through things with them.
Please let us know how things are going! Hang in there - sometimes campus administrators are often facing lots of competing demands and tight budgets. They may also think that after a meeting or two you might get interested in something else and just go away. So hang in there - be persistent. Be willing to listen to their concerns and be responsive if possible. You may gain their respect and sometimes people who start out as skeptics can turn into your biggest ally if you stick with it and work through things with them.
1 Posts
My campus took a different approach to sustainability, we started a divestment campaign. We are hoping and pushing for the University to remove its endowment money out of fossil fuel industry. We have gained the faculty support, and many students on campus as well have signed our petition. However, we are having some trouble with the Board of the Foundation supporting us and actually letting us look at the portfolio to see if we are in fact invested in fossil fuels.
Divestment campaigns are happening every where on college campuses! But we are finding it difficult to actually get the University to divest- some schools have been successful and other schools are having a way harder time than we are. Any comments or feedback to help with this particular type of "greening" the campus would be so helpful!
I really like the idea of having specific floors that are "green"!! This is something I would like to bring to my universities attention because they (ie: the president, vice president, and their admin.) repeatedly express how they want to be carbon neutral, but yet they don't put their money where their mouths are!
Divestment campaigns are happening every where on college campuses! But we are finding it difficult to actually get the University to divest- some schools have been successful and other schools are having a way harder time than we are. Any comments or feedback to help with this particular type of "greening" the campus would be so helpful!
I really like the idea of having specific floors that are "green"!! This is something I would like to bring to my universities attention because they (ie: the president, vice president, and their admin.) repeatedly express how they want to be carbon neutral, but yet they don't put their money where their mouths are!
