University of Louisville
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

In 2008, Provost Willihnganz formed a university-wide Sustainability Council to help pull together efforts and to keep the campus community informed of everything that is happening. The Council also helps UofL move into a leadership position in sustainability. Among other things, the Council: * Oversees the work of three subcommittees (Education & Research, Operations, and Administration, Finance & Outreach) on sustainability initiatives; * Develops and reviews policies to recommend for implementation to the President and Provost; * Sets metrics and provides oversight to measure progress using the categories in the AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) and in other important areas; * Creates new subgroups or committees, if needed, to move forward agendas; * Serves as a clearinghouse for university activities related to sustainable practices; * Encourages faculty, staff and students to become involved in our efforts; * Works with the Office of Communications and Marketing to publicize internally and externally what the university is doing. The University's sustainability subcommittees include: Education and Research Subcommittee This subcommittee looks at instituting sustainability practices in co-curricular education, curriculum, faculty and staff incentives, student outreach programs and orientation and behavior change programs. It conducts an inventory of research and research expenditures, faculty involvement in sustainability research and incentives for involvement. Operations Committee This committee explores how UofL can manage its campus environment and facilities more effectively. It focuses on buildings and grounds, dining services, energy and climate, materials, recycling and waste minimization, purchasing and transportation. Planning & Administration Committee This committee explores opportunities to improve social, economic, and ecological stewardship within the university's investment policies & practices, planning processes, diversity initiatives, and human resources policies and practices. Engagement Committee: This new committee formed in Fall 2015 with a focus on: 1. Ways to deepen and broaden engagement in sustainability among students, faculty, and staff on-campus; and 2. Ways to deepen and broaden community engagement in sustainability beyond campus.

UofL SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL 2018-19 Chair: David Simpson Faculty Council Chair; Urban and Public Affairs Mark Watkins Staff Operations Committee Chair; AVP Business Services Tamara Sluss Faculty Education & Research Committee Chair; Director of Interdisciplinary Masters in Sustainability Jason Abbott Faculty Planning & Administration Committee Chair; Political Science Brian Barnes Faculty Engagement Committee Chair; EcoReps Program Director; Philosophy Daniel DeCaro Faculty Urban and Public Affairs; Psychological and Brain Sciences Marian Vasser Staff Vice-Chair Staff Senate; Dir Diversity Educ, Vice Provost for Div & Eq Opp (alternate: John Smith, President Staff Senate) Enid Trucios-Haynes Faculty Chair Faculty Senate; Law; Muhammad Ali Institute Avery Kolers Faculty Philosophy Brent Fryrear Staff Director, Partnership for a Green City Mark Baker Staff Campus Housing, Facilities Joy Hart Faculty Communication Janet Cappiello Staff Communications and Marketing Elisabeth McCracken Staff Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center Justin Mog Staff Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives Jessica Marcum Staff Development Associate, Univ. Advancement Thomas D. Rockaway Faculty Civil & Environmental Engineering; Director, Center for Infrastructure Research Paul Salmon Faculty Psychological and Brain Sciences Michael Ortman Staff Athletics Russ Barnett Staff Director, Kentucky Institute for the Environment & Sustainable Development Nick Paliewicz Faculty Communication Ellen Trahan Staff Sustainability Coordinator, UofL Dining - Aramark Erica LaMarche Staff Student Development Specialist, TRIO Student Support Services Sarah Drerup Staff STEM Librarian, Ekstrom Library Chris Hodgkins Staff Policy & Budget Analyst Sr, Office of Planning and Budget Mary Alexander-Conte Staff Controller, VPF-Financial Admin Green Unit Teams for Sustainability Representatives: Robin Harris Faculty School of Law Sherri Brown Faculty CEHD Sarah Caragianis Faculty Kent School of Social Work Karan Chavis Faculty Medical School Gerald Grant Faculty Dental School Jacek Jasinski Faculty Speed School; Conn Center for Renewable Energy Dean-Appointed Rep Faculty A&S Bruce Heim Faculty Music School Bob Esterhay Faculty SPHIS Dr. Luz Huntington-Moskos Faculty School of Nursing Beth Davis-Sramek Faculty College of Business Student Representatives: Grace Engelman Undergraduate GRASS, KSEC Liason Natalina Vaccaro Undergraduate ELSB Green Initiatives Wyatt Harris Undergraduate SGA Services VP Avalon Gupta-Verwiebe Undergraduate Garden Intern Steve Sizemore Grad Student Urban & Public Affairs James Joyce Undergraduate Sustainability Major, STARS Intern Marcus Jegede Grad Student Housing staff Jessica Eggleston Grad Student Sustainability Masters, SIGS GRA Henrietta Ransdell Undergraduate Sustainability Communications Intern; ELSB; Food Recovery Network Razija Mehinovic Undergraduate Zero Waste Intern; Food Recovery Network Saumya Gulati Grad Student Doctoral Candidate, Chemical Engineering - researching Solar fuels (hydrogen) Spencer Cox Undergraduate Student Sustainability Council Samantha Hudson Undergraduate Sustainability Communications Intern

The activities and accomplishments of the UofL Sustainability Council and UofL's chief sustainability officer, the Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives are far too varied and numerous to detail here, but are summarized in our Annual Reports available at http://louisville.edu/sustainability/sustainability-council/annual-report The Council has four main active committees reflecting the four components of STARS: Operations; Planning & Administration; Education & Research; and Engagement.

In 2009, the University of Louisville created the position of Assistant to the Provost for Sustainability Initiatives to coordinate and manage the operation of the University's Sustainability Program. The Assistant reports directly to the Provost and works closely with the Sustainability Council, made up of 60 faculty, staff, students, Vice Presidents and Administrators of the University. The Council provides oversight and direction, coordinates activities and recommends policy to the University administration. The Assistant is responsible for developing new policies and programs at the University to improve its operations in being more environmentally responsible and sustainable, to increase the breadth and scope of educational outreach on this issue, and to assure that financial investments are not detrimental to sustainability. Responsibilities include the following: • Develop and direct sustainability initiatives as directed by the Chair of the Council; • Manage operations of the Council and its programs; • Coordinate and collaborate with related sustainability programs of the University; • Develop, obtain and administer grants to support the Sustainability Council*s initiatives; • Hire or supervise staff, students and volunteers; • Prepare reports, records, video productions and other documentation of the Sustainability Council's initiatives and programs; • Maintain a website of Council activities and schedules; • Develop a matrix to assess the sustainability of University operations, education and financial management and conduct annual evaluations of progress to be published in an annual report; • Serve as a liaison to connect faculty, researchers and students with local community organizations; • Prepare and deliver professional development and training programs on sustainability to Council members, staff and faculty; • Assist in the implementation of the Green Threads program to integrate sustainability education into existing courses offered at the University; and • Perform other duties as assigned by the Chair of the Sustainability Council. The Assistant is required to have a high degree of knowledge on a wide variety of sustainability issues. S/he must have proven interpersonal, analytical, organizational and communication skills; experience in sustainability development; the ability to work with a diverse population of administrators, staff and students; and the ability to foster a collaborative work environment. A Ph.D in environmental science, education, or management is required for this position with 10 years of experience.