Comprehensive Sustainability Plan
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b. Sustainability Plan Current Practice: Earlham currently has no college-approved comprehensive sustainability plan. An “environmental plan” was drafted and approved by the Board in 2004. ERC (now the Sustainability Advisory Committee) was charged with, and successfully drafted a comprehensive sustainability plan in the 2011-2012 academic year. Recommendations: 1.4 The Sustainability Coordinator and SAC will report progress to the community on the sustainability plan every 3 years. When the sustainability plan is updated the Climate Action Plan should also be reviewed and updated (see Climate Action Plan section). A goal of the Sustainability Coordinator will be to expand the sustainability plan to incorporate department level sustainability planning. Responsible Office(s): Office of the President, Sustainability Coordinator, SAC c. Climate Action Plan Current Practice: Earlham currently has no Climate Action Plan. As part of overall sustainability planning at the college, a Climate Action Plan will be written in the 20122013 academic year. This plan will be specific, data driven and involve measurable goals towards the reduction of the college’s impact on the climate. Recommendations: 1.5 The Sustainability Coordinator and SAC will review and update the Climate Action Plan every 3 years along with the sustainability plan. Responsible Office(s): Office of the President, Sustainability Coordinator, SAC d. Tracking & Measurement Current Practice: Earlham completed a greenhouse gas inventory in 2009 and participates in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking and Rating System (AASHE STARS). These initiatives have thus far been undertaken by students in classes and through independent studies. Recommendations: 1.6 Sustainability assessment and tracking will become the responsibility of the Sustainability Coordinator. Earlham will publicize this data and continue to assess and evaluate itself using STARS or the current best practice in higher education sustainability assessment and tracking. Sustainability assessment and tracking information will be collected in conjunction with a number of college offices and with the help of various faculty, students and staff. The Sustainability Coordinator will submit data to STARS for a rating every three years or whenever a higher rating is projected to be achieved.
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