Dallas College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Before consolidating into one college, the following campuses developed individual Climate Action Plans (CAPs) which established mid-range and long-term sustainability goals for academic areas. Dallas College will streamline and strengthen the six Campus CAPs into one Resilience and Climate Action Plan (RCAP) by 2025. See a summary of the CAP academic goals below. More recently, the Dallas College 2019 Bond Program outlines the new building needs to meet enrollment growth projections by 2030. The program includes sustainability features in all new buildings and outlines goals to meet the THECB 60x30 Plan for workforce, technology and decreasing student debt.

Academic Sustainability Goals and Objectives from Campus CAPs:

Richland Campus and Garland Center (formerly Richland College)
- Continue to expand and deepen incorporation of the 3BL (Triple Bottom Line) throughout the curriculum and student activities, co-led by the Richland Chief Sustainability Officer and Faculty Association Vice President.
- Build upon faculty sustainability leadership from Sciences, English, Economics, Government, Graphic Arts, Sociology, Philosophy and Journalism into more disciplines with teaching and learning experiences.
- Continue support of 8 UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with Richland Collegiate High School student projects.
- Further support of multi-disciplinary Learning Communities and Capstone Experiences for Associate Degree program students.
- Develop new credit degree programs in Environmental Systems Technology and Energy Management.
- Increase distance learning online for all programs


North Lake Campus, Coppell Center and Irving Center (formerly North Lake College)
- Continue the SAGE Scholars Program (Sustainability and Global Education), inclusive of volunteerism, sustainability in coursework, and completion of any associate degree.
- Continue support of Sustainability Learning Outcomes in:
- Personal Responsibility: to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making
- Social Responsibility: to include intercultural competence, knowledge, of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national and global communities
- Continue to expand and develop innovative education programs that include the convergence of Technology, Economic Development, and Sustainability. The New Construction Science Building is an exemplary opportunity to model industry sustainability practices and expand support of workforce skills development.
- By 2025, support academic sustainability goals for:
- New STEM Academy
- New Entrepreneurship Center and Business Incubator
- By 2030, support academic sustainability goals for:
- Workforce Development Center Expansion
- STEM Building Expansion
- New Academic Building


Mountain View Campus (formerly Mountain View College)
- Make climate neutrality and sustainability part of the curriculum and educational experiences for all students.
- Increase program offerings for online distance education.
- Integration of sustainability throughout curriculum utilizing Campus Learning Lab Projects: Community Garden, Composting Area, and Aquaponics Lab.
- Develop a sustainability workshop for the Entrepreneurial Studies program. Increase sustainability books in Mountain View's digital library collection.
- Eastfield Campus and Pleasant Grove Center (formerly Eastfield College)
- Create a new Green Associate Degree, inclusive of volunteerism, coursework in sustainability, and specific required classes focused on sustainability


Cedar Valley Campus (formerly Cedar Valley College)
- Increase faculty participation in sustainability curriculum offerings in all subjects
- Increase program offerings for online distance learning
- Be recognized as a national sustainability education and workforce training center for energy efficiency, building performance, real estate and automotive technology


Brookhaven Campus (formerly Brookhaven College)
- Increase faculty participation in sustainability curriculum offerings in all subjects
- Increase program offerings for online distance learning

Before consolidating into one college, the following campuses developed individual Climate Action Plans (CAPs) which established mid-range and long-term sustainability goals for academic areas. Dallas College will streamline and strengthen the six Campus CAPs into one Resilience and Climate Action Plan (RCAP) by 2025. See a summary of the CAP academic goals below. More recently, the Dallas College 2019 Bond Program outlines the new building needs to meet enrollment growth projections by 2030. The program includes sustainability features in all new buildings and outlines goals to meet the THECB 60x30 Plan for workforce, technology and decreasing student debt.

Engagement Sustainability Goals and Objectives from Campus CAPs:

Richland Campus and Garland Center (formerly Richland College)
- Establish the GREEEN Richland Commons for Sustainable Community Building in a Central Campus Space to invite reflection and conversation about sustainability campus goals and include service learning and other experiential learning. (GREEN = Greening Richland via the Equity-Economy-Environment Nexus)
- Continue to expand and deepen incorporation of the 3BL (Triple Bottom Line) throughout the curriculum and student activities, co-led by the Richland Chief Sustainability Officer and Faculty Association Vice President.
- Continue focus on recycling and participation in RecycleMania. Include nationally known speakers in Student Life Programs.
- Host a faculty-led sustainability curriculum workshop at annual District Conference Day.
- Emphasis on sustainability and climate education into employee development and training with phased approach:
- employee survey of perceptions and priorities
- host a series of Employee Forums, informed by the survey results and gaining input on related college-wide plans
- create online sustainability modules for employee learning
- continue the Sustainability Conversations program, involving more employees
- develop a Sustainable Building Operations and Maintenance Management program
- Adopt and expand the GREEEN Richland Commons framework from the classroom into the community, by partnering with community organizations to offer student learning experiences in one or more dimensions of the 3BL (Triple-Bottom-Line of Equity-Economy-Environment).
- CAP Communication Strategy includes:
- Behavior Change Plan, to be facilitated by social marketing studies, employee surveys, student orientation and employee orientation, and recognition awards for successes
- Media, to develop an in-house marketing campaign around overarching theme of GREEEN Richland (3BL in Equity-Economy-Environment).


North Lake Campus, Coppell Center and Irving Center (formerly North Lake College)
- Awareness and Marketing Metrics:
- Facebook (clicks, likes, posts, shares)
- Web site (site traffic, strategy, content, theme)
- Branding, theme, logo
- Print materials
- Recycling education signs on bins
- Pin-Man, Pin-Woman, Pin-animal Sustainable Blazer Award
- Continue surveys for Transportation, Office Practices, and Printing Practices.
- Continue overview of campus sustainability initiatives in Student Orientation.
- Continue support of student and employee participation in sustainability events, volunteer and recognition programs.
- Continue focus on recycling and participation in RecycleMania.
- Increase tracking of outreach efforts in all areas and share with upper administration on regular basis.
- Increase technology infrastructure capabilities for sustainability staff to update public-facing outreach platforms.
- Measure sustainability literacy of in-coming students as part of new student orientation.
- Measure sustainability literacy of outgoing students as part of graduation process.
- Establish a new community renewable energy and sustainability initiative, where the college facilitates the development of emissions abatement and offset projects.
- Create a Green Office Program with targeted goals for different department structures and fostering student involvement.


Mountain View Campus (formerly Mountain View College)
- Make climate neutrality and sustainability part of the curriculum and educational experiences for all students.
- Expand outreach to students, faculty, staff, community, businesses and other stakeholders.
- Develop a Community Garden.
- Increase community involvement by offering opportunities in the Community Garden, Composting Area, and Aquaponics Lab.
- Develop sustainability resources and opportunities for faculty.
- Partner with groups for presentations, events and resources, groups such as: - Sierra Club, US Green Building Council, Audubon Society, North Texas Renewable Energy Group, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, National Wildlife Federation, Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability, Nature Conservancy, Earth Day Dallas, local Universities, City of Dallas.
- Launch a composting program associated with the community garden
- Increase sustainability workshops for Faculty and Staff.
- Develop a sustainability pathway for high school students to enter Mountain View with basic understanding of sustainability throughout the Core Curriculum.
- Develop a sustainability transfer pathway for associate degree graduates to continue to a four-year institution with an understanding of sustainability in bachelor’s degree plans.


Eastfield Campus and Pleasant Grove Center (formerly Eastfield College)
- Continue support of the annual Sustainability Summit.
- Enhance Community Learning in areas of recycling, alternative energy, and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Create a new Community Garden on campus.
- Host a Sustainability Conference and/or Clean Energy Speaker Series.


Cedar Valley Campus (formerly Cedar Valley College)
- Develop instructional materials for sustainability training.
- Promote sustainability and green living.
- Support Student Green Club efforts to expand Recycling and Fundraising. (ex. Recycle to Eradicate Poverty recycles old cell phones, and help clubs in fundraising)
- Advocate for Local and Regional Legislation that support Green Building and Sustainable Neighborhoods.
- Increase community awareness of sustainability in areas of food, lifestyle, landscaping, recycling, rainwater harvesting, and mixed-use land development to meet local needs.


Brookhaven Campus (formerly Brookhaven College)
- Increase participation in Service Learning Program
- Host more community events and speaker series on campus.
- Increase recycling awareness with outreach campaigns.
- Create a Student Sustainability Pledge that all students can sign online.
- Partner with Addison and Farmers Branch for a Community Bike Trail.

Before consolidating into one college, the following campuses developed individual Climate Action Plans (CAPs) which established mid-range and long-term sustainability goals for academic areas. Dallas College will streamline and strengthen the six Campus CAPs into one Resilience and Climate Action Plan (RCAP) by 2025. See a summary of the CAP academic goals below. More recently, the Dallas College 2019 Bond Program outlines the new building needs to meet enrollment growth projections by 2030. The program includes sustainability features in all new buildings and outlines goals to meet the THECB 60x30 Plan for workforce, technology and decreasing student debt.

Operations Sustainability Goals and Objectives from Campus CAPs:

Richland Campus and Garland Center (formerly Richland College)
- 10% emissions reduction by 2015 from 2005-06 Baseline Year of 23,973 MTCO2
- Continue energy performance contracting program led by the Assistant Director of Facilities Services.
- Participate in Rocky Mountain Institute's "Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives" project with Yale, Tufts, Missouri, and eight other colleges. This effort resulted in a DCCCD-wide Student Transportation Survey and pilot strategies to help students with commuting challenges such as DART options and rideshare options.
- Continue focus on recycling and participation in RecycleMania.
- Create an on-campus Urban Tree Farm in cooperation with TXU.
- Include Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in college's key performance indicators (KPIs).
- No mid-term overall Reduction Goal, but series of mid-term goals:
- 2008-2009 Emissions increase (TBA)% over 2005-2006, due to addition of students and modular buildings
- 2009-2010 Scopes 1 and 2 energy/emissions increase by 10-20%, due to addition of new science hall
- 2010-2011 Energy/emissions decrease to approximately 2008-2009 levels, as performance contracting projects are implemented
- 2011-2015 Total emissions decrease by 2% per year, as effects of measures described below are felt
- 2015-2050 Long-term goal is 80% reduction in total emissions by 2050
- Establish the following efforts:
- Energy Plan to measure and track goals progress by Spring 2010.
- Performance Contracting to pay for needed upgrades with cost savings from the upgrades (ESCO, Energy Services Contracting Company)
- Optimize classroom utilization with scheduling and coordinate building operations when rooms not in use
- Create a Rideshare service with AlterNet Rides by Fall 2009.
- Student Transportation Initiative and Student Summit 2010, funded by Kohlberg Foundation and Rocky Mountain Institute, to help address Richland's largest source of carbon emissions
- Increase distance learning online for all programs
- Employee Transportation Initiative to include rideshare service, telecommuting options and work schedule alignment, and transportation spending account tax credit (employees can create a pre-tax transportation savings account to pay for DART and other commuting options)
- 80% emissions reduction by 2060


North Lake Campus, Coppell Center and Irving Center (formerly North Lake College)
- 10% emissions reduction by 2020 in 8 areas:
- Energy
- Water
- Waste
- Recycling
- Travel and commuting
- Purchasing (all products and services)
- Landscaping, Native Gardens and Community Gardens
- Refrigerants and Hazardous Materials Management
- All New Building Additions should meet one or more of the following:
- EUI of 60% less than current EUI
- Zero Net Energy incremental building standards
- Existing Buildings can achieve sustainability and energy goals with:
- Energy Conservation goal of 25% of baseline consumption
- 2 MW Solar PV Parking Canopy in Large Parking Lot and Walking paths near DART Stations
- 600 kW Solar PV Parking Canopy in Smaller Parking Lot and Walking paths near DART Stations
- Geothermal ground source heat pump to replace traditional HVAC systems to reduce cost and energy load
- Combined Heat and Power (CHP) System in Central Plant to increase power input efficiency by 40-50% by using the waste heat
- Adopt HVAC Performance Criteria for all Purchasing and System Overhauls. Performance criteria can help provide a cost-benefit lifecycle analysis of traditional HVAC systems and geothermal HVAC systems.
- 30% emissions reduction by 2030 in 8 areas:
- Energy - purchase more renewable energy than current procurement contract,
- Water - continue with water efficiency upgrades and practices for buildings and irrigation
- Waste
- Recycling - continue expanding recycling materials and infrastructure - Travel and commuting
- Purchasing (all products and services) - adopt a procurement policy that requires certifications such as Cradle to Cradle, Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Trible Bottom Line Metrics, and Emissions of Products Disclosures.
- Landscaping, Native Gardens and Community Gardens
- Refrigerants and Hazardous Materials Management
- All New Building Additions should have minimum High-Performance criteria such as:
- Energy monitoring and verification
- Alternative energy to meet net zero goals beyond efficiency strategies
- Net Zero strategies that explore steps to Living Building Challenge, a certification awarded to buildings that operate at net zero for at least one year
- 100% emissions reduction by 2050 in 8 areas:
- Energy
- Water
- Waste
- Recycling
- Travel and commuting
- Purchasing (all products and services)
- Landscaping, Native Gardens and Community Gardens
- Refrigerants and Hazardous Materials Management


Mountain View Campus (formerly Mountain View College)
- 25% emissions reduction by 2020 with six strategies: Energy Consumption, Transportation, Solid and Water Waste, Pollutants (including fertilizers, refrigerants, and others), Education and Outreach.
- 100% emissions reduction by 2035 with six strategies: Energy Consumption, Transportation, Solid and Water Waste, Pollutants (including fertilizers, refrigerants, and others), Education and Outreach.
- Energy Goals:
- replace thermal storage with larger capacity tank
- continue improving building efficiency
- continue improving lighting efficiency
- reduce printing and # of printers
- reduce personal appliances
- purchase only Energy Star certified equipment
- continue improving HVAC efficiency
- Transportation Goals:
- continue promoting mass transit and alternative transport option
- decrease air travel to conferences with telecommunications and video conference tools
- increase online distance learning programs offerings to reduce transport needs to campus
- evaluate shipping/receiving schedules to reduce # of trips with consolidated deliveries
- implement idling restrictions, especially during ozone season
- decrease employee commuting to district offices by inviting district staff to the campus
- Waste and Recycling Goals:
- reduce garbage by increasing use of reusable bags, bottles and mugs
- reduce paper purchases by increasing use of digital documents and software, and limiting access to printers
- increase recycling efforts campus-wide through education and special projects
- find a recycler for Styrofoam and packaging
- launch a composting program associated with the community garden
- launch organics recycling program in employee breakrooms
- Pollutants and Other Goals:
- reduce use of ozone-depleting refrigerants and upgrade to R401A (and similar climate-friendly products)
- phase out the use of synthetic fertilizers
- increase use of mulch to conserve water
- replace all paint and adhesives with low- and no-VOC alternatives to improve Indoor Air Quality
- protect and increase biodiversity on campus


Eastfield Campus and Pleasant Grove Center (formerly Eastfield College)
- 10% emissions reduction by 2020
- Increase Public Participation by 8% by 2016 in the Cease the Grease Waste Diversion Program.
- Explore on-site renewable energy feasibility.
- 30% emissions reduction by 2030 Increase # of bottle filling stations.
- Increase energy and water efficiency with lighting retrofits and restroom facility upgrades.
- 100% emissions reduction by 2065


Cedar Valley Campus (formerly Cedar Valley College)
- 10% emissions reduction by 2020 
- Increase commuter options with Rideshare and DART.
- Conduct a campus energy audit and make recommendations for energy efficiency.
- 50% emissions reduction by 2040 
- Create a Purchasing Policy for Energy Star certified products and Fuel-Efficient Fleet Vehicles.
- Increase water efficiency with landscape irrigation and restroom facilities retrofits.
- 100% emissions reduction by 2050 


Brookhaven Campus (formerly Brookhaven College)
- 10% emissions reduction by 2015 
- Increase # of recycling stations throughout campus.
- Implement Energy Efficiency and Resource Conservation projects for Lighting, Landscaping, HVAC, Restrooms, and Purchasing.
- 20% emissions reduction by 2035 
- New Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Green and Silver Lines will provide students and employees commuting options.
- 100% emissions reduction by 2050

Before consolidating into one college, the following campuses developed individual Climate Action Plans (CAPs) which established mid-range and long-term sustainability goals for academic areas. Dallas College will streamline and strengthen the six Campus CAPs into one Resilience and Climate Action Plan (RCAP) by 2025. See a summary of the CAP academic goals below. More recently, the Dallas College 2019 Bond Program outlines the new building needs to meet enrollment growth projections by 2030. The program includes sustainability features in all new buildings and outlines goals to meet the THECB 60x30 Plan for workforce, technology and decreasing student debt.

Administration Sustainability Goals and Objectives from Campus CAPs:

Richland Campus and Garland Center (formerly Richland College)
- Continue to model sustainability as definitional to the Community College mission, inclusive of social equity and justice and economic sufficiency with enhanced focus on environmental vitality.
- Make Triple-Bottom-Line a way of life in the community.
- Participate in AASHE-STARS to evaluate sustainability performance in all areas and incorporate results into College's strategic plan and utilize STARS as key performance metrics for the Strategic Priorities.
- Increase employee and student participation in Sustainability Committee called GREEEN Richland.
- The following areas are inclusive of the concept of sustainable community building: "Closing the Gap" in enrollment and success of students from underserved populations, building Intercultural Competence among employees, managing maintenance, and developing competitive educational programs.
- Funding and Multi-level administration continue to support efforts when budget and time allows, but challenges exist for effectively sharing information, reviewing processes, reaching consensus, and ultimately taking action.
- Data management and improvement strategies should include accuracy, reliability, sharing, and more overall data collection to support sustainability Learning Curve reductions.
- CAP will be managed by Senior Leadership Team, Chief Sustainability Officer, GREEEN Richland Committee, Facilities Department and Energy Team, and Institutional Research
- Adopt "Road Map" 10 Steps for a Sustainable Community and Technical College:
1 - Set a policy framework for the work, including vision, mission, values, and plans
2 - Weigh every decision against the Triple-Bottom-Line, accepting the challenge of environmental stewardship as it relates to equity and economy goals
3 - Build community within the college, internal relationships built on trust and integrity
4 - Promote sustainability learning across the curriculum and co-curriculum, modeling multi-disciplinary learning communities
5 - Make the College a Laboratory, with cross-departmental collaboration and encouragement of the development of student projects
6 - Stress preparation for work, utilizing existing staff expertise to develop learning opportunities that connect students and communities with emerging career opportunities.
7 - Listen first, by initiating campus and community conversations and creating environments for dialogue
8 - Explore deeper questions, learning to discern between efficiency and effectiveness and making thoughtful adjustments to programs that will transform all institutions in some way
9 - Make collaboration a core value, when valuing others' expertise, sharing resources freely and reaching decisions in collaboration
10 - Start immediately, set goals and take action, to develop more comprehensive and collaborative plans, projects and frameworks.


North Lake Campus, Coppell Center and Irving Center (formerly North Lake College)
- North Lake College established six areas to measure sustainability progress:
1 - Awareness and Marketing
2 - Carbon Footprint
3 - Community Partnerships
4 - Education Programs
5 - Student and Employee Participation
6 - Vendors and Services
- Emissions Data should be backcasted and forecasting each year as data methodologies become more accurate.
- Explore funding opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy, such as an energy performance fund model where savings goes back into infrastructure investment to realize more savings and so on. In 2016, energy cost was $0.056 / kWh and is projected to increase. The energy cost for a solar PPA is approximately $0.07 / kWh. The College will need to solicit quotes to find the best approach.
- Continue support of the DCCCD Sustainability Policy supported by leadership and developed in compression planning.
- Adopt the Energy and Sustainability Plan with components agreed upon in order to respond to opportunities quickly, such as grant funding and donor funding. Typically, grants require responses within 6 to 12 weeks. Without an agreed plan in place, a grant response can take 6 to 12 months.
- The College should adopt a streamlined decision-making process to facilitate funding of sustainability projects and programs. AASHE has published the "Resources on Sustainable Investment and Financing" for beginner institutions.


Mountain View Campus (formerly Mountain View College)
- Increase mechanisms for tracking sustainability progress in all areas, with focus on emissions reduction and cultural impacts throughout the campus.
- To further Mountain View College's sustainability pathway, adopt the AASHE-STARS framework to continuously evaluate sustainability performance annually beginning in 2014.


Cedar Valley Campus (formerly Cedar Valley College)
- Integrate sustainability principles into all Cedar Valley initiatives.
- Increase employee participation in Sustainability Committee.


Brookhaven Campus (formerly Brookhaven College)
- Increase employee participation in Sustainability Committee.
- Adopt an Energy Star Purchasing Policy to support energy efficiency.
- Increase funding for sustainability initiatives in all areas.

Board Strategic Priorities have sustainability listed in two areas:
"Impact Income Disparity Throughout Our Community, Careers: Help prospective and current students understand the value and necessity of Career Connected Learning leading to living wages and sustainable careers."
"Strengthen the Career Connected Learner Network and Implement the Student-Centric One College Organization, Capital Improvements: Meet the short and long-term educational needs of our students, employers, and communities through construction of new buildings and renovation of existing facilities within sustainability and fiscal guidelines."

The mission statement of Dallas College is: To ensure Dallas County is vibrant, growing and economically viable for current and future generations. To provide a teaching and learning environment that exceeds learner expectations and meets the needs of our community and employers. https://www.dallascollege.edu/about/trustees/priorities/pages/default.aspx

Dallas College adopted the United Nations definition of sustainability as, "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Dallas College further defines sustainability as being at the intersection of three areas: Equity, Economy, and Environment.

Dallas College is in the process of applying the the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI). UNAI has 10 principles:
(1) Capacity-building in higher education system
(2) Commitment to the United Nations Charter
(3) Education opportunity for all
(4) Fighting poverty through education
(5) Global citizenship
(6) Higher education opportunity for every interested individual
(7) Human rights
(8) Inter-cultural dialogue and understanding -- unlearning intolerance
(9) Peace and conflict resolution
(10) Sustainability