| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.14 |
| Liaison | John Stolz |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
Duquesne University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Meghan
Phillips Graduate Assistant Center for Environmental Research & Education |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Sustainability committee(s)
Yes
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
Community engagement is one of the hallmarks of a Duquesne education and a cornerstone of our 2018-2023 Strategic Plan. In July 2022, Duquesne reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability by creating a new sustainability committee to support, grow and promote the University's efforts to build a more sustainable campus.
The charge of the University Sustainability Committee (USC) is to support, promote, and grow Duquesne University’s efforts to build a sustainable campus. The Committee fosters opportunities for multidisciplinary engagement across academic units, facilities, and University leadership. The USC’s activities enhance recruitment, retention, and DEIA initiatives; highlight faculty and student research; and support all five 2023 Strategic Plan imperatives and the Bridges Common Learning Experience. They also help to position Duquesne University as a premier Catholic institution and leader in Sustainability Studies. This work is informed by Duquesne University’s Catholic mission, which conveys the University’s commitment to serving God through ethical and ecumenical service to the community, the nation, and the world.
This Committee will develop and promote a culture of sustainability across campus and the Pittsburgh community by being an advocate, resource, and catalyst a for social, environmental, and economic responsibility aligned with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”) and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The Committee and its advocacy are part of a vision for why and how a collaboration between faculty, staff, and students can expand the value of and be able to tell compelling stories about why students and scholars should come to Duquesne University to be part of our sustainability efforts.
The USC has six working groups:
1. Ranking, Reporting, and Accreditation
2. Communication and Outreach
3. Curricular Innovation
4. Gardens and Green Spaces
5. Student-Facing Initiatives
6. Budget
The charge of the University Sustainability Committee (USC) is to support, promote, and grow Duquesne University’s efforts to build a sustainable campus. The Committee fosters opportunities for multidisciplinary engagement across academic units, facilities, and University leadership. The USC’s activities enhance recruitment, retention, and DEIA initiatives; highlight faculty and student research; and support all five 2023 Strategic Plan imperatives and the Bridges Common Learning Experience. They also help to position Duquesne University as a premier Catholic institution and leader in Sustainability Studies. This work is informed by Duquesne University’s Catholic mission, which conveys the University’s commitment to serving God through ethical and ecumenical service to the community, the nation, and the world.
This Committee will develop and promote a culture of sustainability across campus and the Pittsburgh community by being an advocate, resource, and catalyst a for social, environmental, and economic responsibility aligned with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”) and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The Committee and its advocacy are part of a vision for why and how a collaboration between faculty, staff, and students can expand the value of and be able to tell compelling stories about why students and scholars should come to Duquesne University to be part of our sustainability efforts.
The USC has six working groups:
1. Ranking, Reporting, and Accreditation
2. Communication and Outreach
3. Curricular Innovation
4. Gardens and Green Spaces
5. Student-Facing Initiatives
6. Budget
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
Total Number of USC Members: 99
The USC consists of a Steering Committee and six Working Groups. The Steering Committee, which coordinates efforts undertaken by working groups, is listed under "Sustainability Officers." Working Group Chairs and members are listed below.
Ranking, Reporting, and Accreditation
Chair: Maria Mlinarcik
- Meghan Phillips
- Jim Bailey
- Samuel Cullen
- Elizabeth Rotz
- Alia Pustorino
- Jin Dassanayake
Steering Committee Representation: Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Maria Mlinarcik, Sarah Wright
Communication and Outreach
Chair: Sarah Wright
- Dan Scheid
- Elizabeth Shestak
- Jess Mann
- Martin Black
- Arita Talla
- Lauren Zelnis
- Ruby Montalvo
- Stan Kabala
- John Chekal
- Breanna Eichenlaub
Steering Committee Representation: Sarah Wright
Curricular Innovation
Chair: Leda Kloudas
- Naga Sivasubramaniam
- Kristin Klucevsek
- Michael McMaster
- Neha Newatia
- David Heisler
- Mary Parish
- Bethany Kaser
Steering Committee Representation: Leda Kloudas
Gardens and Green Spaces
Chair: Brady Porter
- Amber Kolesar
- Carla Richards
- Kasey Stepansky
- Kristen Spirl
- Leigh Anne Rethage
- Rahima Khatun
- Abbey Herbage
- Anna Nguyen
- Kate Potashnik
- James Chilton
- Michael Marafino
- Ethan Miller
- Kala Findley
- Kate Keeley
- Haley Moore
- Alayna Smith
- Alison D’Addieco
- Hannah Peters
- Bismark Tei
- Kate Flannery
- Chris Pollock
- Ryan Marin
- Sofia Cupp
- Maria Vamos-Demko
- Janiya Edwards
Steering Committee Representation: John Stolz
Student-Facing Initiatives
Chair: Faith Cook and Brynn Tripp
- Will Adams
- Mike Irwin
- CJ Simione
- J.D. Douglas
- Michael Jarrett
- Annie Prichard
- Micah McCleary
- Anna Arlet
- Sasha Keizler
- Vernice Veranga-Mulcahy
- Madison Fitzgerald
- Martin Black
Steering Committee Representation: Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Leda Kloudas
Budget
Chair: John Stolz
- Franny Serenka
Steering Committee Representation: Sarah Wright, John Stolz
The USC consists of a Steering Committee and six Working Groups. The Steering Committee, which coordinates efforts undertaken by working groups, is listed under "Sustainability Officers." Working Group Chairs and members are listed below.
Ranking, Reporting, and Accreditation
Chair: Maria Mlinarcik
- Meghan Phillips
- Jim Bailey
- Samuel Cullen
- Elizabeth Rotz
- Alia Pustorino
- Jin Dassanayake
Steering Committee Representation: Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Maria Mlinarcik, Sarah Wright
Communication and Outreach
Chair: Sarah Wright
- Dan Scheid
- Elizabeth Shestak
- Jess Mann
- Martin Black
- Arita Talla
- Lauren Zelnis
- Ruby Montalvo
- Stan Kabala
- John Chekal
- Breanna Eichenlaub
Steering Committee Representation: Sarah Wright
Curricular Innovation
Chair: Leda Kloudas
- Naga Sivasubramaniam
- Kristin Klucevsek
- Michael McMaster
- Neha Newatia
- David Heisler
- Mary Parish
- Bethany Kaser
Steering Committee Representation: Leda Kloudas
Gardens and Green Spaces
Chair: Brady Porter
- Amber Kolesar
- Carla Richards
- Kasey Stepansky
- Kristen Spirl
- Leigh Anne Rethage
- Rahima Khatun
- Abbey Herbage
- Anna Nguyen
- Kate Potashnik
- James Chilton
- Michael Marafino
- Ethan Miller
- Kala Findley
- Kate Keeley
- Haley Moore
- Alayna Smith
- Alison D’Addieco
- Hannah Peters
- Bismark Tei
- Kate Flannery
- Chris Pollock
- Ryan Marin
- Sofia Cupp
- Maria Vamos-Demko
- Janiya Edwards
Steering Committee Representation: John Stolz
Student-Facing Initiatives
Chair: Faith Cook and Brynn Tripp
- Will Adams
- Mike Irwin
- CJ Simione
- J.D. Douglas
- Michael Jarrett
- Annie Prichard
- Micah McCleary
- Anna Arlet
- Sasha Keizler
- Vernice Veranga-Mulcahy
- Madison Fitzgerald
- Martin Black
Steering Committee Representation: Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Leda Kloudas
Budget
Chair: John Stolz
- Franny Serenka
Steering Committee Representation: Sarah Wright, John Stolz
Sustainability office(s)
No
A brief description of each sustainability office:
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Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
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Sustainability officer(s)
Yes
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Steering Committee Chair: Dr. Sarah Wright; Vice Chair: Dr. John Stolz; Officers: Martin Black, David Chismar, Faith Cook, Dr. Luci-Jo DiMaggio, Dr. Leda Kloudas, Maria Mlinarcik
Institution-wide coordination
Yes
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
The USC actively maintains the campus garden, organizes produce donations, assists in the completion of a greenhouse gas inventory, and the completion of the STARS sustainability report alongside the Center for Environmental Research and Education. The Committee is currently working on assigning sustainability designation to courses and organizing a bike to campus week through BikePGH. Committee members co-teach a Climate Change, Resilience, and Sustainability course every fall semester. The USC has also supported partnerships with the Pittsburgh Blueberry Project, Allegheny GoatScape, and other local organizations to promote sustainable practices on campus.
Optional Fields
Job description (1st position)
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.