SUSTAINABILITY ANNUAL REPORT 2019
EDUCATION AND RATINGS Metropolitan Community College has multiple programs that help to educate the community, employees and students on sustainability issues. MCC began tracking its sustainability progress through AASHE STARS in 2016. STARS is an international program that tracks sustainability progress for higher education institutions.
Credit courses Number of classrooms that integrate sustainability:
84 in 2018-19 3 in 2018-19
Number of sustainability-focused classes:
Noncredit courses
109
Noncredit sustainability courses cover a wide variety of topics, including honey production, beekeeping basics, solar panels, home gardening, home improvement and all natural cleaning products.
The Sustainability Leadership Presentation Series is in collaboration with Central Community College, Joslyn Institute for Sustainable Community, University Nebraska-Lincoln Environmental Studies, University of Nebraska-Omaha Center for Urban Sustainability and Hastings College and Nebraska Recycling Council. Topics covered include managing stormwater, ecological integrity, art and sustainability, Project Drawdown, regenerative farming and EV charging grants.
AASHE ST RS SCORE: 33.4 (a four point increase from the 2016 report)
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education has developed the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS • 42% of academic departments with sustainability course options • 22% of ongoing education classes that incorporate sustainability • Campuses are used as living laboratories for student learning • The Fort Omaha Campus compost system processes some food waste from the ICA and garden materials • Electric vehicle charging stations available • Four bioretention gardens
TRANSPORTATION AND BUILDINGS MCC supports a variety of transportation options and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. This year the Pass to Class program was expanded to include more programs and better meet student transportation needs.
PASS TO CLASS
Pass to Class provides all students enrolled in credit classes free bus rides for all class-related activities. 2015: 3,586 passes
CAMPUS FLEET ELECTRIC CARS: 4 CNG VEHICLES: 11
3
1.56M
RIDES TO DATE 6% INCREASE IN PASSES FROM 2018
Two B-Cycle stations connect the Fort Omaha and South Omaha campuses to the B-Cycle network. B-Cycle offers discounted memberships for students.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS (6 ports) Bike racks on each campus,
Number of unique visitors - 79 (72% increase from 2018) Number of sessions - 528 Equivalent of avoiding 3,500 KG of greenhouse gas emissions to date.
20 in total, support commuting by bike.
LEED BUILDINGS All new buildings at MCC are required to be built LEED certified. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. These buildings are more energy efficient and healthier for building occupants than a traditional building. 6 LEED buildings - 3 Certified LEED Gold in 2017 271,000 square feet Green roof 7 solar tables with device charging
LEED features building signage Electric vehicle charging stations Community greenspace Outdoor classroom
MATERIALS MCC is committed to using resources responsibly and practicing reuse and recycling. In addition to a traditional recycling program, MCC hosts an ongoing public auction for items no longer needed by MCC, promoting both reuse and community benefits. MCC also collects yard waste for mulch and electronics for recycling.
Recycling collected
TRASH
1,100
2019: 106 tons
TONS NUMBER OF SHEETS OF PAPER PRINTED: 4,589,006 SHEETS
Recycling includes metal, paper, plastic and cardboard.
Yard waste collected for reuse 2019: 33 tons
(Equal to 57 trees) (20,600 kg of Co2 produced) *4,460,326 SHEETS (EQUAL TO 55 TREES) IN 2017
23%
OF MCC PURCHASES CONSIDERED GREEN
Composting 2019: 3 tons
*47% IN 2017
MCC is polystyrene free.
FIND
US!
The compost system on the Fort Omaha Campus reduces the amount of material sent to the landfill. It takes in garden waste from Horticulture and food waste from the Culinary Arts department. It also serves as an educational tool for students.
• On Campus: Fort Omaha Campus, Building 14N • By phone: 531-MCC-2621 • On the web: mccneb.edu/sustainability • On social media: Twitter - @GreenMCCNeb
Facebook - MCC Sustainability
Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination. SUSTAIN007_AnnualReport_MISC_0420