Sustainability

Governance and administration

Campus Sustainability Plan

On April 22, 2008, the Chancellor approved a comprehensive, 124-page Campus Sustainability Plan. The plan covered organization and oversight; operations (electricity, heating, energy, fresh water, storm water, facilities, transportation, purchasing, solid waste, food services and grounds); teaching; research; outreach; and assessment.

For each section, it stated goals, recommendations for immediate consideration, and recommendations for future consideration, and top priorities were identified. The plan was written by the previously appointed Campus Sustainability Team, which sought campuswide input in various ways at several stages.

Campus Sustainability Council

The Campus Sustainability Council (CSC) began work in fall 2008. Co-chaired by Facilities Director Steve Arndt and Environmental Studies Director David Barnhill, the council includes administration, staff, students and faculty.

The CSC has prioritized several aspects of sustainability: curriculum, student life, transportation, dining and solid waste. Other initiatives that already were in place, including energy and water conservation and Fair Trade, also are continuing.

Campus Sustainability Director

A search for the new position of Campus Sustainability Director began in the summer and is ongoing as of Nov. 11, 2008. We hope to have the new director in place early in 2009.

Operations

Energy

A Green Power Partnership continued with the EPA, as the University purchased 11 percent of its energy from renewable sources. UW Oshkosh has been a member of that partnership since 2002. The gymnasium and Kolf and Albee halls were retrofitted from mercury halide to fluorescent fixtures, saving 72,266 kWh/year.

Water

UW Oshkosh replaced water-cooled refrigeration equipment with air-cooled equipment at Blackhawk Commons Dining Hall. At River Center and Gruenhagen Conference Center, water-cooled air conditioning equipment was replaced with air-cooled equipment. UW Oshkosh retrofitted 34 urinals and 63 toilets throughout campus with lower water-consuming devices. These retrofits resulted in an annual savings of 1,190,215 gallons.

Buildings

In fall 2007, the University opened a new Student Recreation and Wellness Center (135,576 gross square feet), which was built to LEED Certified standards. Planning continues for a new academic building (175,000 gross square feet) that will be certified at least LEED Silver. That building is being designed with an aggressive energy goal of 50 kBtu/sf, which is one-half of the energy requirement of the building code. Plans are underway to renovate Elmwood Commons, a project that is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and will be designed to LEED Certified standards.

Food and dining

In January 2008, students passed a resolution asking for shell eggs from cage-free chickens. Sodexho agreed to start the policy immediately. As the campaign to declare the campus a Fair Trade University accelerated, Sodexho also began to serve Fair Trade coffee in Dining Services.

During the year, the University purchased Energy Star and other energy-efficient cooking equipment. The possibility of converting used deep fat fryer oil into biodiesel is under investigation.

Campus garden

In June 2008, the University started a campus organic garden and established a paid position of Campus Garden Intern to provide leadership and continuity.

Parking and transportation

In October 2008, a new parking ramp was completed, with three stories and 448 stalls. Although more expensive than traditional parking areas, this ramp minimized the surface area that would otherwise be required to accommodate this number of vehicles. It is the first parking ramp at a UW comprehensive institution.

The University purchased four E-85 Chevy Impala Sedans for the campus fleet in 2007, and is in the process of purchasing two hybrid sedans for the campus fleet. All future vehicle purchases will be made with the intent to purchase the most sustainable options available in the marketplace.

Waste

UW Oshkosh participated in the national Recyclemania 2008 and ended up ranked first in the state of Wisconsin, 45th in the county. In May 2008, the student group SEAC (Student Environmental Action Coalition) purchased approximately $2,000 worth of recycling bins for classrooms.

Purchasing

No action this year.

Janitorial services

The University continues to use green cleaning chemicals throughout the campus.

Curriculum

Teaching

The University sent two faculty to attend AASHE-sponsored workshops (summer 2007 and in January 2008), training faculty to lead faculty workshops on infusing sustainability into classes. The Faculty Development program agreed to pay for the Winnebago Project, a two-day faculty college on infusing sustainability into classes. The college was offered in May 2008. Positive responses have led the University to commit to paying for another college next May. In addition, the University agreed to send two more faculty members to AASHE training. Regular meetings of faculty to discuss sustainability in the curriculum began in fall 2008.

Faculty position

With continued growth in the Environmental Studies program, the University approved an additional full-time position of environmental scientist. The search for this position will be held in fall 2008.

Curriculum

The Liberal Education Reform Team discussed the role of sustainability in a new set of essential learning outcomes for the University’s general curriculum. They agreed that one of the essential outcomes should be “knowledge of sustainability and its applications.” The Faculty Senate approved the outcomes in spring 2008.

Campus culture

Earth Charter Community Summit

UW Oshkosh promoted sustainability throughout the academic year in various special events. The Earth Charter Community Summit consisted of a week of events, Oct. 6-13, 2007. It is considered one of the largest Earth Charter community summits in the U.S.. Events included a discussion of building sustainable communities, with presentations by the mayors of Madison and Oshkosh. At the event, the mayor of Oshkosh signed the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. Other events included presentations on the introduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park and the greening of that park as well as a green careers panel.

Fair Trade Festival

On Nov. 29, 2007, UW Oshkosh hosted its annual Fair Trade Festival, with Fair Trade information and a variety of Fair Trade products on sale. The 2008 festival will take place on Dec. 4.

Aldo Leopold Weekend

On Feb. 29, 2008, UW Oshkosh participated in the statewide Aldo Leopold Weekend, celebrating the legacy of Leopold with students and faculty reading from The Sand County Almanac.

Community Gardens program

On April 9, 2008, in order to educate the community about community gardens and help UW Oshkosh move toward its own organic garden, the University hosted a presentation by the Natural Areas Coordinator for Troy Gardens in Madison.

Chill Out

On April 16, 2008, the University participated in the national Chill Out Simulcast.

Earth Week

Events during Earth Week (April 21-25, 2008) included a faculty-student panel on sustainability in Belize (reporting on a field studies course during January); talks by UW-Madison environmental historian Nancy Langston and environmental activist Derrick Jensen; a presentation by the University's facilities director on the Clean Water Act, storm water and UW Oshkosh; networking for green jobs and internships; a poster session on different aspects of sustainability with students in the environmental studies senior seminar; the formal announcement of the Campus Sustainability Plan; and an Earth Dinner sponsored by Organic Valley, with the Director of Family Farm Defenders as speaker.

During the week, students in residence halls participated in an energy conservation competition, with two awards going to the hall with greatest reduction of energy use per student and per square foot.

Community service and outreach

As noted earlier, during October, the University hosted the ceremony in which the Oshkosh mayor signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.

In April, the Environmental Studies director proposed a proclamation to the Oshkosh Mayor and Common Council endorsing Earth Day and proclaiming April 21-27 Earth Week in Oshkosh. That proposal was approved on April 8, 2008.

Conferences

UW Oshkosh began a chronology of sustainability-related conferences.

Jim Feldman participated in the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop, sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in summer 2007.

David Barnhill participated in the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop, sponsored by AASHE, Jan. 10-11, 2008, at Emory University.

Public relations

The University began to track publicity concerning sustainability at UW Oshkosh.

The AASHE weekly bulletin reported on UW Oshkosh on Jan. 10, April 27, May 29, June 6, July 10, Sept. 4, Oct. 13 and Nov. 11.
Sustainability-related articles and editorials appeared in the Advance-Titan on April 14, April 24 and May 8.
The student vote in favor of cage-free eggs made local newspaper and TV outlets.
The Fair Trade University declaration was reported across the country.

Internships

Campus map intern

In May, the University hired a student intern to conduct a mapping inventory of all campus trees. Eventually, the trees will be labeled so that the campus can serve as a setting for students to learn about native trees.

Campus garden intern

UW Oshkosh established an annual campus garden internship program. For 2008, Damion Drover, founder and president of the Oshkosh Community Gardens student club, was hired.

Declarations, memberships and other commitments

President’s Climate Commitment

Early in the academic year, the Chancellor signed the President’s Climate Commitment.

Fair Trade University

In April and May, a proposal to have UW Oshkosh declare itself the first Fair Trade University in the country was passed by all four governance groups (Faculty Senate, Senate of Academic Staff, Classified Staff Advisory Council and Oshkosh Student Association).

On Sept. 2, 2008, the Chancellor officially declared UW Oshkosh a Fair Trade University, the first in the country.

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

UW Oshkosh continues its memberships in AASHE.

Campus Ecology

UW Oshkosh joined the Campus Ecology program in the special Campus Climate Champion program.

Applications for awards and grants

Chronology

UW Oshkosh established a chronology of sustainability awards, grants and recognitions for students and the institution.

Johnson Controls TEAMS Competition

A team of four students applied for the Johnson Controls TEAMS Competition, Oct. 26, 2007. The scholarship is given to students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment, Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to tribal public policy, or to Native American and Alaska Native students who have demonstrated commitment to careers related to Native healthcare.

Morris K. Udall Scholarship

One student applied for the Morris K. Udall scholarship, March 8, 2008.

National Wildlife Foundation (NWF) Campus Ecology Case Study

The institution submitted information about its sustainability efforts for the NWF Campus Ecology Case Study program on May 31, 2008.

AASHE Sustainability Leadership Award

The institution applied for the AASHE Sustainability Leadership Award on Aug. 1, 2008.

Sustainability Web site

UW Oshkosh launched a sustainability Web site in May 2008: www.uwosh.edu/sustainability.

Plans for 2008-2009

Governance and administration

Start the Campus Sustainability Council in August 2008.
Hire a Campus Sustainability Director in November 2008.
Establish unit-level sustainability coordinators.

Operations

Energy: Continue monitoring energy consumption and conservation.
Water: Continue monitoring water consumption and conservation.

Buildings

Continue work on planning the New Academic Building according to (at least) LEED silver.

Food and dining

Food: In line with the new contract, expand sustainable foods and publicize the use of sustainable foods on campus.
Equipment and supplies: In line with the new contract, expand use of sustainable supplies.

Garden

Publicize the campus garden and the internship.
Hire another garden intern for 2009.
Consider expanding the garden to become a community garden.

Parking and transportation

Establish a Transportation Subcommittee of the CSC.
Develop a comprehensive transportation plan.

Waste

Expand recycling by putting recycling bins donated by the Student Environmental Action Coalition into targeted classrooms. Initiate an educational and signage campaign for those classrooms.

Establish a Recycling Subcommittee of the CSC.
Develop a systematic and comprehensive recycling plan.

Academic departments and programs

Ask academic departments and programs about any sustainability efforts they are pursuing. For instance, the Chemistry Department has initiated a green chemistry policy in terms of hazardous wastes, and the Environmental Studies program purchases 100-percent, post-consumer recycled paper.

Curriculum

Continue follow-up work with participants in the 2008 Winnebago Sustainability Project faculty college.
Offer a sustainability course in the spring semester.
Hold another Winnebago Sustainability Project faculty college in May 2009.

Research

Many faculty are engaged in scholarship related to sustainability. In the coming year, seek out and publicize that scholarship.
There are many scholarships that are related to sustainability. Review these opportunities and publicize information about those that are most relevant to our faculty.

Campus culture

Continue the events of last year with increased publicity and visibility.

Community service and outreach

Establish a sustainability internship with the city of Oshkosh.

Seek faculty who are involved in sustainability-related community service and publicize their activities.

Conferences

Establish and publish on the sustainability Web site a regularly updated list of sustainability related conferences.
Give a presentation at the AASHE conference in November.

Public relations

Publicize widely the University's declaration as a Fair Trade University.
Continue to send AASHE information about UW Oshkosh's sustainability efforts.

Internships

Publicize and continue the campus garden internship.
Establish internships to help with data gathering and presentation.
Establish a sustainability internship with the city of Oshkosh.
Use the sustainability course in the spring as a foundation for future interns and internships.

Applications for awards, grants and recognition

Maintain and expand the chronology of awards, grants and recognition.
Apply for as many awards and grants as possible.
Encourage students to apply for student awards.

Declarations, memberships and other commitments

Continue membership in AASHE and the Campus Ecology programs.

Continue work in the President’s Climate Commitment.

Sustainability Web site

Expand the sustainability Web site to provide feedback on energy and water usage.
Expand the Web site to more effectively publicize and promote sustainability efforts.