Sustainability: Sustainability Task Force

“Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."

Cherie Barth, Coordinator, Student Activities/Admissions Office       

Wendy Ford , Dean of Teaching and Learning

Marie Glossen, Instructor of Early Childhood Education

Martina Grier, Instructor of Sociology

Sara Klink, Assistant Director of Campus Library  

Diane Laskey, Instructor of Medical Assisting                 

Ann McCoy, Adjunct Instructor, Physical Therapist Assistant Technology

Mary Beth Messner, Instructional Designer   

Angela Miller, Help Desk Specialist

Jonathan Mitchell, Associate Professor of Accounting and Finance Technology

Joe Pfeiffer, Adjunct Instructor, Sciences

Lindsey Snedden, Adjunct Instructor, Sciences

Vern Sproat, Assistant Professor of Engineering Technology

Rebecca Priest, Senior Director Emerging Technologies and Strategic Grant Development

Stefanie Smith, Sustainability Coordinator, Green Building Consultant

Robin Snedden, Help Desk Manager

Geoff Starnes, Network Systems and Security Coordinator

Steve Spradling, Director of Physical Plant and Construction

Beth Williams, Department Chair/Assistant Professor of English

Scott Williams, Coordinator, Environmental Health and Safety

Connie Wojanis, Associate Professor of Administrative Information Technology

Patricia Woodside, Assistant Professor of Social Sciences            

John Zeit, Associate Professor of Engineering Technology

The Sustainability Task Force was created in February, 2010 to become the clearinghouse of campus sustainability information and to serve as a centralized resource to students, faculty and staff.  Current responsibilities include:

·         Serving as the focal point for campus sustainability

·         Coordinating campus sustainability strategic planning & implementation

·         Initiating programs and practices that integrate sustainability

·         Planning for Earth Week and other educational events

·         Making progress toward our college’s sustainable initiatives visible

·         Supporting Stark State College’s commitment to attain a minimum LEED Silver Green Building Rating Certification for new construction projects

All members of the Stark State College community are invited to join the Task Force or one of the following committees. 

Committee responsibilities:

·         Improve recycling rates on campus

·         Create a long term plan for waste reduction and campus recycling

·         Coordinate participation in Recyclemania

Campus Outreach

Committee responsibilities:

·         Plan for Earth Week and other educational events

·         Make progress toward our college’s sustainable initiatives visible

Curriculum Development

Committee responsibilities:

·         Investigate ways to integrate sustainable principles throughout the curriculum.

·         Provide resources to faculty and staff.

Brown Bag Conversations on Sustainability (Proposed – Fall, 2010)

Committee responsibilities:

·         Organize monthly brown bag conversations around sustainability.

Campus Sustainability Survey (Proposed)

 Committee responsibilities:

·         Identify sustainable initiatives currently in place.  Many actions are already underway within the curriculum, campus operations, administration and public engagement practices.

·         Benchmark against similar institutions and the new STARS rating system.

·         Calculate the annual campus Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Dining Services (Proposed)

Committee responsibilities:

·         Work with the dining services provider to identify ways to build a more sustainable food program.

 ·         Evaluate dining service impacts on energy and water use, waste management, and environmentally preferred purchasing.

Meeting notes for the Task Force are posted below. 

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)

Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS)

Campus Ecology supported by the National Wildlife Federation

Clean Air, Cool Planet

There are many guides for campus sustainability online.  We have include only a few here, but a lengthier listing is available on the pdf below.

Higher Education in a Warming World - The Business Case for Climate Leadership on Campus   

Highlighting the business, educational, and moral arguments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campus, with best practices from U.S. colleges and universities.

Cool Campus!  A How-To Guide for College and University Climate Action Planning

 A manual to assist colleges and universities in creating climate action plans. It is intended to fill the gap in currently available resources by outlining a how-to approach for each of the various steps required to develop and implement a plan for campus climate leadership.  

Generation E - Students Leading for a Sustainable, Clean Energy Future

35 ways students are creating a sustainable future at U.S. colleges and universities - cutting carbon emissions, saving resources and equipping the coming generation for a green energy economy.

A Guide to Developing a Sustainable Food Purchasing Policy

Intended to help universities, colleges, hospitals, and other institutions - as well as those advocating for food system change - create, promote and implement practical sustainable food purchasing policies.