Quad Cities Intercollegiate Sustainability Summit

April 21, 2009Augustana CollegeBlack Hawk College

Eastern Iowa Community Colleges DistrictSt. Ambrose University

Western Illinois University

Tentative Schedule

1:00 Welcome and introductory remarks (J.C. Strasser)Putnam Museum – Kim Findlay

1:30 St. Ambrose University2:00 Western Illinois University2:30 Eastern Iowa Community Colleges District – STARS, Climate Commitment, etc.3:00 Break3:30 Black Hawk College4:00 Augustana College – Augie Acres and Farm to Fork (student presentation)4:30 General discussion – What have we learned? Where do we go from here?

5:00 – 7:00 Reception7:00 IMAX Under the Sea in 3D

Other IMAX shows:

12:30 Under the Sea in 3D1:40 Dolphins2:50 Under the Sea in 3D4:00 Bugs in 3D5:10 Dolphins

ModeratorsJeffrey Strasser (Augustana)Tim Phillips (St. Ambrose Univ.)

SustainabilityMore than just a buzzword?

A few introductory remarks, acknowledging material stolen from the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

http://www.aashe.org/

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Brundtland, 1987

Sustainability…The intersection of three domains: the economic, the environmental, and the social.

Economic: production of goods and services

Environmental: maintain biodiversity and health of biological (and geological!) systems

Social: broad social issues and political participation.Holmberg and Sandbrook, 1992

Sustainability and Higher Education

Sustainability is a vision of the future that provides us with a road map… This map focuses our attention on a set of values and ethical and moral principles to guide our actions.

Stephen Viederman, 1997

“The [sustainability] crisis cannot be solved by the same kind of education that helped create the problems.”

David Orr

“Rather than being isolated in its own academic discipline, education about the environment . . . must become an integral part of the normal teaching in all disciplines.”

Tony Cortese

Sustainability ≠ Environmentalism

Understanding the human condition in a world of limited resources (involves scientific, ethical, economic, historical, social issues)

Connecting with your place & identity

We are different kinds of educational institutions, following different missions. What are some of our common interests in sustainability?• Educating our students and our communities

on relevant topics and issues, some of which are controversial

• Operating a large organization while minimizing its environmental impact (e.g. pollution, landfill waste, CO2 emissions, and the use of natural resources)

• Economics – each institution needs to be economically sustainable

• Being leaders in community, and preparing the future generations of leaders

What can we learn from each other?

How can we help each other?

Are there opportunities for collaboration in the future?

Acknowledgements – thanks to…

Kim Findlay and the staff of the Putnam MuseumPresident Steve Bahls (AC) and Sister Joan Lescinski (SAU)Financial support from WIU, EICCD, BHCHeather MatternAll the people attending and presenting

Sustainability at other institutionsCurricular programs in interdisciplinary

environmental studiesNew coursesNew course modulesLearning communities and other innovative

classroom experiencesService learningCollege operations – buildings, materials,

energy use, etc.Faculty workshops

A commitment to adopt sound practices and use sensible technologies that will reduce our environmental footprint.

A commitment by each and every member of the Augustana community to consume less…..

A commitment to provide each and every student with an educational program that includes an appreciation of environmental sustainability issues.

Augustana's Environmental Plan

Paper UseEnergy and Waste ReductionClassroom Ideas

Overview

Use a pdf creator to keep copies of receipts or webpages instead of printing them.

Think before you print! Do you really need a paper copy of it???

Set page margins to 1” to save paper

Print and photocopy double-sided (think about class assignments, meeting agendas, memos, etc.)

Paper Use

Have students submit electronic copies of papers

Require students to print double-sided or on scratch paper.

Suggest that students do not print all Moodle readings/postings. If you require a handout, suggest copying it double-sided and handing it to students.

Paper Use

Turn computers and printers off at night (no…it won’t reduce the life of your computer).

Turn off lights! (or consider not even turning them on)

OfficeClassroom

Consolidate printers where possible.

Energy and Waste Reduction

Recycling

Did you know that Augie can recycle:Plastic #1-7 (except #6, styrofoam)

Plastic bags and wrapping too!GlassCardboardAluminumPaper (all types co-mingled)

Energy and Waste Reduction

Coffee break?? Bring your own mug! Buy an Augie mug!

Take out from the Wilson Center? Bring your own container.

Abandon use of paper and styrofoam coffee cups in the department coffee rooms.

Develop department “green” policies and convey to all office personnel.

Energy and Waste Reduction

Set a good example for your students and colleagues to follow.

Hot button topic….office space heaters. Carefully consider the energy consumption.

Consider your transport options to campus:CarpoolMetroLinkBike or walkFuel efficient cars

Other ideas

CFL bulbs for office lamps

Other ideas