Sewanee - The University of the South
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include:

Work remains to realize the potential for exceptional, national academic distinction in the environment, building on the physical assets of the Domain and the significant number of faculty in allied fields. In 2015 a new major in Environment and Sustainability was created, and the Forestry and Geology department was later expanded into Earth and Environmental Systems.
The Sewanee Integrated Program in the Environment (SIPE) has catalyzed collaborative work among the environmental majors, sharing junior seminars and senior capstones.

Work with relevant faculty groups to evaluate ways to integrate the study of sustainability into the curriculum at the course and or programmatic level. If appropriate, seek formal recognition of a course of study through a certificate or a minor in sustainability.

c. Identify sustainability-related and sustainability-focused courses, isolating learning objectives within existing courses in each department.
d. Facilitate the development of learning objectives in courses where previously not present.
e. Incorporate sustainability education into first-year programming through a
sustainability module, guaranteeing exposure to every student.
f. Incorporate the development and implementation of this plan into the curriculum through class projects, individual research and as a case study in the process of sustainability policy-making.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan and the Strategic Plan include:

Work remains to realize the potential for exceptional, national academic distinction in the environment, building on the physical assets of the Domain and the significant number of faculty in allied fields. In 2015 a new major in Environment and Sustainability was created, and the Forestry and Geology department was later expanded into Earth and Environmental Systems.
The Sewanee Integrated Program in the Environment (SIPE) has catalyzed collaborative work among the environmental majors, sharing junior seminars and senior capstones.

Work with relevant faculty groups to evaluate ways to integrate the study of sustainability into the curriculum at the course and or programmatic level. If appropriate, seek formal recognition of a course of study through a certificate or a minor in sustainability.

a. Work with key players on campus to develop the interface of sustainability and community engagement.
b. Host a community charette about sustainability to foster a meaningful dialogue between the University and the surrounding community.
c. Make an effort to place community members on various working groups of the Sustainability Committee to ensure grassroots and community-focused input.
d. Incorporate an introduction to Sewanee’s sustainability commitment into the new student orientation process.
e. Promote and increase number of sustainability-related dorm activities and programming.
f. Continue to support and promote cosponsoring and cooperation between on-campus sustainability clubs and initiatives with ally organizations.
g. Promote and expand alumni network for internships and job opportunities for current and graduating student.

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan

A. Energy and Carbon Neutrality
As per our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2016, Sewanee has dedicated itself to a multiple pronged strategy for responsible energy use and decreasing our carbon footprint. With an engaged community, increasing technical expertise, and bountiful carbon-offset resources, Sewanee can meet its affirmed goal of being a leader in energy conservation and generating awareness of climate change related issues.
1. Quantify and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
2. Conserve electricity and natural gas consumption in University facilities.
3. Install renewable energy systems.
4. Explore the potential of carbon sequestration and offset programs on and off the Domain.
B. Food
Through our self-operating dining program and Sewanee Farm initiative we have a unique opportunity to prioritize whole, fresh, local and/or organic foods; minimize food and energy waste in dining services and establish the dining hall and farm as places for learning about food, nutrition and sustainability.
1. Promote nutrition and sustainability as two key guiding principles for food purchasing and preparation policies at the University’s dining facilities.
2. Optimize waste management, composting, and energy conservation within dining services.
3. Expand agriculture on campus and implement the Farm Plan.
C. Materials Management
At Sewanee we want to foster a climate of responsible consumption of material goods that focuses on sourcing of products, their use, reuse, and proper disposal with the long-term goal of achieving “cradle to cradle” usage of materials.
1. Make strategic purchasing decisions, assessing products’ sustainability through social, economic, and environmental lenses.
2. Reduce consumption by departments, offices, and individuals in order to achieve institutional material efficiency.
3. Promote a culture of reusing and repurposing materials.
4. Improve the effectiveness of campus recycling.
5. Reduce weight and overall volume of solid waste leaving campus.
6. Reduce bottled water distribution and consumption.
D. Water
The University and the surrounding community is endowed with ample clean drinking water collected and stored in two rain-fed reservoirs with watersheds almost entirely within the jurisdiction of the University. It is of utmost importance that we maintain the quality of our water and focus on environmentally sound storm water management practices to minimize negative impacts on local and regional water.
1. Promote campus water conservation.
2. Implement effective stormwater management measures with all new campus construction.
3. Maintain and protect the integrity of the watersheds around Sewanee’s three drinking-water reservoirs.
E. Transportation
Vehicles have a major presence on University grounds. Through these initiatives, we hope to reduce our vehicle use, total emissions, and raise awareness of the impact our community’s transportation choices have upon the environment.
1. Reduce the carbon footprint of the University fleet.
2. Promote commuting practices and parking policies to reduce vehicle use on campus.
3. Support and incentivize walking and biking on campus.
F. Built Environment More than 83%of Sewanee’s greenhouse gas emissions result from existing structures, those newly constructed, and the maintenance of the surrounding landscape. The Built Environment also impacts the natural environment through chemical, noise, and light inputs. We seek to minimize these impacts through careful design, management and planning.
1. Design all new and renovated buildings using LEED or LEED equivalent standards.
2. Create a set of guidelines for environmentally-sensitive landscaping and pest management.
3. Create a policy codifying best practices for cleaning and utilization of buildings.
4. Incorporate smart growth and sustainability measures into all University land-use planning

Key elements of the Sustainability Master Plan

Critically reexamine the university’s investment strategies, engaging in a dialog of how our investment portfolio can best reflect institutional values

H. Investment Management
1. Engage the University in a discussion about socially responsible investment strategies.
a. Increase transparency of the endowment to make university investment holdings publicly available.
b. Establish a permanent committee on investor responsibility composed of students, faculty and administrators to facilitate dialog about investment strategies.
c. Evaluate University holdings in stocks and assets and their relationship to our institutional commitment to the environment and other values.
d. Develop guidelines for evaluating investments with a sustainability lens.
e. Facilitate institution-level discussion about the implications of investment holdings in fossil fuels and other potentially environmentally or socially problematic industries.

2. Establish a revolving fund to support energy conservation and other sustainability measures.
a. Establish a Phase I revolving fund with $150,000 seed money to support an annual competition of sustainability projects submitted broadly by all stakeholder groups.
b. Establish a larger, Phase II revolving fund for funding more capital intensive projects. Roll 100% of savings back into the fund to be used for further investment in deeper energy conservation and renewable energy investments until long-term carbon emissions and energy goals are met.

Human Resources
While the student body is a transient presence on Sewanee's campus, the faculty and staff serve in positions of longevity and thus have a on-going impact on the continued spirit of sustainability of Sewanee. The proper functioning and well-being of Sewanee's human systems are a central pillar to the effort a creating a more sustainable campus.

1. Strengthen community, foster an atmosphere of respect in the workplace, expand the presence of sustainability in the employee experience, and offer ongoing support and training through Human Resources initiatives.
2. Sustainable Compensation:
a. Conduct an evaluation of current employee compensation, focusing on fairness of wages and how these compare to prevailing wages.
b. Independent Assessment performed by faculty and staff on a regular basis evaluating local cost of living.
c. Based on evaluation, restructure any wages that do not meet standards for the local cost of living.
d. Offer a retirement package featuring sustainable investment options.
3. Employee Satisfaction:
a. Conduct a survey of employee satisfaction every five years.
b. Continue to provide child care to university employees, creating a system of subsidies to increase availability to all employees.
c. Evaluate current status and research ways to expand and develop an employee wellness program.
4. Employee Orientation, Professional Development, and Policies:
a. Develop a sustainability module for employee orientation focused on continuing dialogue and fostering interest and engagement.
b. Provide training opportunities for staff interested in promoting and developing new sustainability efforts within their division.
c. Build sustainability objectives into the career development and work expectations for all employees.
d. Build sustainability goals and accountability into all departments and divisions.


Diversity and Affordability
For us to be able to live sustainably, we must promote well-being amongst all people that will afford them a standard of living adequate to focus on sustainability and provide equal access to sustainability education. Hence, it is important that we as an institution provide the adequate resources and programming to promote enhanced diversity in both the student body and faculty and staff.

1. Work with an array of campus programs and organizations to promote and support a diverse campus (students, faculty, administration, etc.), providing equal opportunities to people from a range of racial, socio-economic, and other personal backgrounds.
2. Staff Support:
a. Evaluate the need for an expansion of staff in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, adding more positions as deemed necessary.
b. Conduct an annual diversity survey focused on campus stakeholders’ personal experience.
3. Diversity Programming:
a. Keep record of and promote to student body peer mentoring, counseling, support, and affinity groups.
b. Evaluate the current status of academic support for students from diverse backgrounds
c. Facilitate the creation of support, affinity, and mentoring groups for any group not represented in current support network.
d. Promote and develop a more diverse faculty, not only at Sewanee, but throughout higher education.
e. Create a teaching fellowship for graduates from underrepresented groups seeking careers in higher education.

As an institution devoted to learning and the dissemination of knowledge, the University of the South is well positioned to contribute to this global project of pursuing sustainability. Our College of Arts and Sciences already encourages students to synthesize ideas and, as sustainability demands, to recognize interconnections among diverse spheres of knowledge. Our School of Theology is equipped to dramatize the role that ethics and spiritual discernment must play in learning to live sustainably.

Although “sustainability” can be variously defined, we understand it to describe both a vision and a principle of behavior that would allow others--throughout the globe and in future generations—not only to endure, but to enjoy as high a standard of economic security, health, and cultural satisfaction as we enjoy today. To realize this vision, on behalf of the entire biosphere, requires learning to live within limits. It also requires learning about and respecting the sustaining potential of ecological systems.

Within the Strategic Plan of the University, Sustainability is outlined as a strategic directive in the following ways:
Adopt and promote sustainable living practices on campus and on the Domain and
achieve competitive benchmarks such as appropriate LEED certification for new
construction.
* Build sustainability goals into all departments and into the work expectations of all
employees.
* Complete and affirm a Sustainability Master Plan.
* Establish a Green Corps of student environmental leaders—not necessarily majors in
environmentally-focused programs—as well as faculty, staff, and other community
members. The Green Corps would assist in promoting environment across the
curriculum as well as participate in some admission tours.
*Model collaborative and educational decision-making not only in addressing
questions of Domain management and questions of sustainability but in all aspects of
University life.