Tennessee Technological University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

The primary purpose of the Sustainable Campus Committee is to approve expenditures of the sustainable campus fee to create a more environmentally, friendly campus that strives to be carbon-neutral, in accordance with TBR and TTU guidelines, policies and procedures. The committee may also advise the University administration on sustainability policy, educate the community on its sustainability initiatives, or otherwise provide mentoring and support for a sustainable campus.
https://www.tntech.edu/committees/admincouncil/sustainable-campus/index.php

Ms. Erika Phillips- Chairman, Student, Ag & Human Ecology
Ms. Shawn Krosnick- Faculty, Arts & Sciences
Mr. Joshua Crowe - Administration, University Recreation
Ms. Shanna Muncy - Clerical, Communication & Marketing
Dr. Hannah Upole - Faculty, Ag & Human Ecology
Ms. Kashmoney Pride - Administrative, Residential Life
Mr. Ben Stubbs - Administrative, Student Affairs/RUC
Ms. Elisabeth Humphrey - Faculty, College of Engineering
Dr. Steve Sharp - Faculty, Interdisciplinary Studies
Ms. Erica Hoffman - Administrative, Residential Life
Ms. Terri McWilliams - Administrative, Business Office
Ms. Amanda Laboy - Student, Interdisciplinary Studies
Ms. Emma Farley - Student, Arts & Sciences
Mr. Austin Sanders - Student, Ag & Human Ecology
Ms. Claire Myers - Student, Engineering
Mr. Zachary Walls - Student, Biology
Ms. Kayla Sorensen - Student, Interdisciplinary Studies
Ms. Lenna Rodgers - Student, English & History
Ms. Samantha Bugter - Student, Engineering
Ms. Diana Popa - Student, Arts & Sciences
Mr. Daniel Braun - Student, Biology
Ms. DeLayne Miller- Executive Officer, staff, Facilities

In the fall of 2015, TTU's Office of Sustainability was established to help promote and document sustainable initiatives on campus. The office has invested in the AASHE STARS Program, Green Power Switch, Project Regrind & Associated Research, along with other initiatives such as Student Outreach through Earth Week Activities, the “Tree”mendous planting on campus, and much more. The office recently applied for and received recognition for the university as both a Bee Campus and Tree Campus recognized university, and has been instrumental in acquiring numerous sustainability grants. It supports the student-ran recycling program, which consists of all of the university recycling efforts. It is working towards LEED Certification for the new Science Building, and is always open to new project ideas from students on campus.
https://www.tntech.edu/sustainability/sustainable-campus-committee.php

There are faculty and staff members from various departments present during the Sustainable Campus Committee meetings who share their ideas and proposals for sustainable initiatives, both on campus and in the community. The committee has approved funding in the Performing Arts, Agriculture, Environmental Studies, Biology, and many other departments to update lighting to LED, fund a greenhouse for student use, work on capstone projects, etc.

The Office of Sustainability also stays in contact with student groups year-round to collaborate and sponsor events. The office works with the Student Government Association to write bills that will create a more eco-friendly campus. They also provide clean up supplies for any campus group that wants to keep their community litter-free. In the past three years, the Office of Sustainability has worked with the Child Development Lab to read books about the environment to young children, worked with the Water Professionals to get rain barrels on campus, worked with the Fashion Merchandising Association to create an on-campus thrift store that supplies free clothes and dorm supplies to students, sponsored a student to create a mural about pollinators in TTU's Native Plant Garden, and worked with Residential Life to promote the Bike Share Program, and more.
https://www.tntech.edu/sustainability/sustainable-projects.php

The Sustainability Manager reports to the Associate Vice President for Facilities and Business Services to manage Sustainability along with a portion of Utilities and Storm Water Management. These three areas go arm in arm with planning, initiating and managing projects and programs to help advance TTU’s efforts to become a recognized leader in sustainability. In addition, this position will be responsible for improving coordination between various campus sustainability entities and programs to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of these efforts. A major emphasis of this position is to elevate on and off campus awareness of existing and developing sustainability initiative to encourage conservation of resources.

The recycling student workers run the entirety of Tennessee Tech's recycling program under the supervision of the Sustainability Manager. These students ensure that the university is able to recycle paper, plastic, aluminum, and cardboard materials. They are responsible for collecting recycled materials and transporting them to the local collection center. With their commitment to sustainability in mind, these students collect recycled materials by foot or by use of electric vehicles. They have expanded their efforts to provide recycling for student activity events, sporting events, and general university events upon request. There are currently seven student recycling workers.

The Office of Sustainability student workers assist the Sustainability Manager with the various outreach programs the office offers throughout the academic year. These students help to plan and execute Tennessee Tech's Sustainability Month, Water Week, and Earth Week celebrations, as well as many other sustainability events and freshmen orientation. They are also instrumental in completing the university's AASHE STARS application. There are currently four student office workers.