Sustainability Council
Academic Year 2008-09
Charge
Evergreen’s Vision for a Sustainable Future:
“The Evergreen State College will be a laboratory for sustainability as demonstrated in its operations, curriculum, and quality of life for employees and students. We will nurture values and practical skills that motivate a lifetime commitment to a sustainable, intergenerationally just way of living on a healthy planet.”
Purpose
The Evergreen State College is committed to a sustainable future.
Evergreen’s vice presidents charge the Sustainability Council to coordinate, facilitate, and provide necessary support to the Evergreen community as it strives to 1) meet the goals and targets specified in Evergreen’s institutional commitments to sustainability, especially the goals of carbon neutrality and zero waste, and 2) achieve its vision for a sustainable future.
The council will foster connections between academic programs and operations to enhance student learning and experience through whole systems thinking and interdisciplinary understanding of sustainability principles. Graduates will be prepared to use their theoretical understanding and practical skills as templates to help businesses, governments, non-profit and community organizations to address complex sustainability issues.
The council embraces the diversity and organic nature of our interdisciplinary institution, and strives to convene and empower groups already working on sustainability, as well as to bring new collaborative efforts into focus as needed.
Work groups, with both regular and ad hoc members, will carry out the work of sustainability and provide the council with recommendations that will form the basis for collaborative decision-making. To facilitate the development of agreed upon goals and a mutual vision, the council will initiate periodic meetings with each of the work groups. Work group membership includes faculty and academics, operations, and students from the Geoduck Union and sustainability-related groups.
The council, in years 2008-10, should focus particularly on engaging the entire campus in the following areas:
- Alternative Transportation
- Clean Energy Systems
- Communications and Fundraising
- Sustainable Food Practices
- Waste Reduction
Throughout its work, the council will ensure that principles of equity and justice serve as a lens for decision-making and implementation.
Council membership, as appointed by the vice presidents, includes the:
- Academic Budget Dean
- Director of Facilities
- Director of Marketing, Communications, and College Relations
- Director of Residential and Dining Services
- Director of Sustainability (co-chair)
- Faculty Member (co-chair)
- Student Member (as appointed by Geoduck Union)
The council will outline a 2008-09 work plan by August 31, 2008.