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The Place of Sustainability in the Strategic Plan. Dr. James Montgomery Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Studies Co-director: Sustainability Initiatives Task Force Dr. Scott Kelley Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Office of Mission and Values
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The Place of Sustainability in the Strategic Plan Dr. James Montgomery Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Studies Co-director: Sustainability Initiatives Task Force Dr. Scott Kelley Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Office of Mission and Values Co-director: Sustainability Initiatives Task Force
“It is not enough to do good. It must be done well.” St. Vincent DePaul
The Sustainability Story at DePaul Oct. 2009 Nov. 2009 Dec. 2010 Sept. 2009 June 2009 Request to President to formalize committee “What Must Be Done” - White Paper Join AASHE!!! Follow-up meeting Exploratory meeting Dec. 2010 Apr. 2011 Nov. 2010 Jan. 2010 April 2010 Faculty roundtables President’s formal charge to SITF Faculty survey on curriculum and research C.O.R.E. Working Groups populated; Guidance Document created Sustainability Initiatives Task Force (SITF) created June 17, 2011 Oct. 5, 2011 October 24, 2011 SITF report sent to Strategic Planning Task Force STARS audit completed Sustainability Plan submitted to President
Can Sustainability Be An Organizing Principle in Higher Education? Question: How can DePaul infuse “sustainability” into its various curricula? Question: Is sustainability an important aspect of DePaul’s Mission? Question: What is your area currently doing with regard to sustainability? Question: What would you like your area or the DePaul community to do with regard to sustainability in the future?
The Sustainability Story at DePaul Oct. 2009 Nov. 2009 Dec. 2010 Sept. 2009 June 2009 Request to President to formalize committee “What Must Be Done” - White Paper Join AASHE!!! Follow-up meeting Exploratory meeting Dec. 2010 Apr. 2011 Nov. 2010 Jan. 2010 April 2010 Faculty roundtables President’s formal charge to SITF Faculty survey C.O.R.E. Working Groups populated; Guidance Document created Sustainability Initiatives Task Force (SITF) created June 17, 2011 Oct. 5, 2011 October 21, 2011 Sustainability Plan submitted to President STARS audit completed SITF report sent to Strategic Planning Task Force
“If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it.” Abraham Lincoln, “A House Divided” June 16, 1858
In what ways does ‘sustainability’ enable DePaul to build sustainable communities?
Charge to the SITF • To coordinate and report on initiatives to develop and recommend a Sustainability Plan, using the organizing framework of “C.O.R.E”. • As members of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE; www.aashe.org), the SITF may use the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS®) to audit and gauge the progress of sustainability related activities, or other tools as they prove helpful.
Three Pillars of Sustainability ENVIRONMENTAL Natural resources use, Environmental Mgt, Pollution Prevention (air, water, land, waste) Social-Environmental Environmental Justice, Natural Resources Stewardship Locally and Globally Environmental-Economic Energy Efficiency; Incentives for use of natural resources INSTITUTIONAL SOCIAL Standards of living, Education Community Equity for all Socially responsible leaders • ECONOMIC • Profit • Cost Savings • Economic growth • Research and Development CULTURAL VALUES Economic-Social Business ethics, Fair Trade, Human Rights, Labor Rights Adapted from the 2002 University of Michigan Sustainability Assessment Tavanti - SIC 2010
S U S T A I N A B L E LIVING DEVELOPMENT FOOD AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATIONS MANAGEMENT PLANNING DESIGN ETHICS ENERGY COMMUNITIES EDUCATION
SITF Definition of Sustainability “””Sustainability is a force that moves beyond environmental initiatives. It recognizes the interdependence of environmental, human and economic systems so that people around the globe may enjoy a healthy and fulfilling quality of life now and into the future. It views sustainability as a way of thinking and acting that respects the Earth’s ecological limits.” Click on View, Headers and Footer to change text footer.
Survey of Faculty on Sustainability in the Curriculum and in Research • Survey conducted by DePaul’s Social Science Research Center in November 2010 • Survey sent to all 1931 FT and PT faculty • 426 responses; 22% response rate • Self-identified key themes concerning sustainability • Community • Environmental justice/ethics • Education for sustainability • Interconnectedness Click on View, and Footer to change text footer.
SITF Recommendations to Strategic Plan • GHG emissions reduction and building a more sustainable food service system. • Expand and develop sustainability-related and sustainability-focused curricula. • Devote more resources to train faculty and staff in sustainable practices, especially in purchasing and procurement. • Establish infrastructure necessary to create opportunities for collaborative, sustainability focused research. • Create opportunities for enhanced co-curricular engagement that is focused on sustainability, and develop and expand existing activities focused on community food systems.
So, how do we institutionalize sustainability?
James Montgomery jmontgom@depaul.edu 773-325-2771 Scott Kelley skelley6@depaul.edu 773-362-6674