Collaborate for Sustainability

Collaboration is one of the key ingredients for creating a sustainable future. This can be interpreted at every level – countries, organizations, groups, people, thoughts, and even missions and goals. The concept of needing to ‘collaborate’ can also be used within the setting of a university’s sustainable development efforts. DePaul University is one of the most revered private universities in the U.S., and has taken great steps towards promoting sustainable development. One of the steps which must be strengthened is the concept of collaboration, specifically among various departments at the university. Each department brings with it unique goals, people, and ideas, and it also brings resources. Finding ways to combine resources is a smart way to maximize the use of current strengths and assets. Many times sustainability is not prioritized due to lack of time, man power, and resources. Being more creative with what is already within our reach will help move DePaul move forward towards creating a more sustainable future.

Efforts to collaborate, however, are difficult and require great communication skills and proper management. This is true for all levels of collaboration, as is shown in this video by Josh Powell, which concentrates on the various sectors and the complexities they face to work together. It also discusses the need and importance of collaboration to achieve goals. This concept of collaborative governance is also used with other topics and can be implemented for sustainable development.

I recommend the Yale University approach of sustainability where inter-departmental collaboration is vital to the successful attainment of goals. Yale creates networks of both members of the university community as well as local community to become involved in sustainability goal-setting and creating visions for future development.

Another example of collaborative governance is explained in the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory Advance Access in the article “Collaborative Governance in Theory and Practice” by Chris Ansell and Alison Gash. They discuss how making various groups come together for decision-making will be successful if a number of factors are aligned. Some mentioned are “face-to-face dialog, trust building, and the development of commitment and shared understanding.” These factors can be applied to the departments within DePaul, and can be noted to include as more efforts in inter-departmental collaboration become common. The full article can be read here.

Another type of collaboration can be through DePaul’s students. Creating more public forums about sustainability, or starting student-initiatives in sustainability (and making them public) will help promote better understanding of the topic, and interest. This approach allows students to be in-charge and govern a part of DePaul’s sustainable development. The grass-roots level ‘buzz’ among students should begin in various departments, and not only in one. This way, the collaboration is starting at the ground-level, and will be able to elevate as the development initiatives begin to grow. The Sustainable DePaul Blog is a great example of a way for students to collaborate for sustainability.

Adding onto DePaul’s current inter-departmental collaboration practices will allow the university’s sustainable development efforts to expand to a larger stakeholder audience, and also create a stronger sustainable footprint.

Posted by Nidhi Singhal
Photo Credit: University of Calgary, Leadership in Learning http://www.ucalgary.ca/iejll/files/iejll/images/fauske.gif

Let's Go Green in Academics

The role of education for human sustainable development is to contribute to making this possible. Only education can give people the environmental and ethical awareness, values and attitudes, skills and behavior needed for sustainable developme

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nt. To achieve this, education needs to explain not only the physical and biological environment, but the socio-economic environment and human development. To be effective it should deal with the dynamics of both and be integrated in all disciplines. However, many people do not understand the close ties between human activities and the environments because they have inaccurate or insufficient information or are not accustomed to systemic thinking and are not used to look ahead and deal with global outlooks.

Unfortunately, DePaul University does not offer students seeking professional degrees that deal with different aspects of the environment or sustainability. An active research program is a vital component to DePaul’s School of Public Service. A graduate degree program will prepare students to concentrate their study and research within a well-defined subject area, pursuing fewer and more advanced topics to a greater depth than do students in a regular master’s program.

The sustainability master’s program has been implemented in other universities across the country. Universities such as Arizona State University, Illinois State University and Duke University have all incorporated a master’s program that focus specifically on the environment at large. According to a US News Report, Arizona State's program has more than 600 students who have declared sustainability a major. Illinois State University has 65 majors in renewable energy, the report says. MIT and the University of California–Berkeley, among many others, have also seen more students drawn to sustainability programs.
Students enrolled in these courses conduct research on and implement projects that advance sustainability. For example, students at Illinois State University have the opportunity to enroll in sustainability program called Environmental Stewardship and Sustainable Design. Students in this course would address the economics and logistics of implementing strategies to conserve resources and reduce the negative impacts of the built environment. Students will collaborate in interdisciplinary teams on projects to investigate opportunities to reduce the negative environmental impacts of the campus and community and increase the positive impacts. Another example of an academic sustainability program would include the University of California-Berkeley Master’s of Science in Sustainability. This M.S program in Environmental Science, Policy and Management integrates the biological, physical, and social sciences to provide advanced education in these fields. We develop critical analytical skills and the ability to conduct ecosystems research at molecular, organism, and global scales and within interlinked human social system.

Sustainability and green majors are allowing major universities to prepare their students for the green economy. With engineering and energy development focused on sustainability and green design: these majors are a great, interdisciplinary way of allowing students to study and prepare for new careers. Employment in the sustainability field is growing at a rate faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The predicted rate for the period 2008-2018 is 28%. Much of this growth is due to increased awareness of environmental problems. As of May 2008, median salaries for environmental scientists were $59,750 annually, according to the BLS.

Many of DePaul University initiatives are focusing on making the campus more sustainable. These new sustainability initiatives include reducing energy and water usage, increasing waste diversion, creating more alternative transportation options, offering sustainable dining choices, implementing green cleaning, offering eco housing, purchasing environmentally preferred products and planting native species. However, education for sustainability will be a lifelong learning process affirming values and actions which contribute to human and social transformation and ecological preservation.

This requires the institution to pay more attention to sustainability and academics curriculum. Through environmental and sustainability studies students will think deeply about the challenges and solutions to the problems of the environment and appreciate that living honorably includes protecting our environment and resources. The responsibility to educate students to think critically about sustainability issues and solutions should be embedded within the mission of DePaul University.

Posted by: Sabrina Purdis
Photo Credits: www.uwgb.edu/academics
www.treehugger.com/EcoGastronomy-major-University-of-New-Hampshire.jpg

The Importance of an Office of Sustainability

While DePaul promotes sustainability on many levels, it does not seem as if there is one central Office of Sustainability. Having a centralized office could help in even further promoting sustainable practices and methods at DePaul. DePaul’s neighbor to the north, Loyola University Chicago, has taken the initiative to create an Office of Sustainability within their Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy (CUERP). This office has several goals and initiatives, all of which are centralized under the umbrella of the Office of Sustainability.

The office has several initiatives that engage the student body, faculty, and surrounding community. One huge undertaking has been the Biodiesel program. As a graduate of Loyola, I remember when this program first started. It began very small and grassroots, but has become something quite larger. It now supplies 5% of the fuel to the campus’ shuttles. While this is just a small example of one initiative of the Office of Sustainability, there are several more. What is truly interesting about the Loyola example is how they have attempted to centralize several sustainable initiatives in one office. This makes it much easier to record and measure the successes and failures of sustainable practices and methods.

While DePaul has several sustainable initiatives, including a commission on sustainability, having one centralized office presiding over all if not most of the sustainable initiatives would make things much easier. In addition to having several different sustainable activities, CUERP and the Office of Sustainability have a degree program in Environmental Studies and Sciences. They approach sustainability through a multi-system, and multi-disciplinary approach. Loyola and DePaul have a lot of similarities. Both are Catholic institutions with similar goals, missions, and values. They are both urban campuses with several locations in the city. They have similar challenges and unique opportunities for developing sustainable living and practices.

The Office of Sustainability has the following goals: “The Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy's office of sustainability advances Loyola University Chicago's mission to create a more sustainable university community. Doing this requires the collaboration, cooperation and creativity of every department and office and of students, faculty and staff in our academic community. Together we're building awareness, taking initiative and transforming our university into one that will lead us sustainability down the path of ecological and social responsibility.” When reading this passage, it could easily be mistaken for a DePaul mission. DePaul has taken some first steps in creating a centralized office. Having a commission on sustainability is a positive step towards the centralization of sustainable activities. While it may be difficult, the formation of one Office of Sustainability could be incredibly advantageous. Loyola is just one example of a similar university to DePaul who has taken sustainability to the next level. There are universities all over the United States who have taken many extra steps to creating the most sustainable practices possible. DePaul is on a positive path to sustainability and only needs a few more things to create the framework to truly promote sustainable practices and living.

Posted by: Timothy Scheel

Photo courtesy of : Loyola University Chicago

Sustainable Procurement at DePaul University

Many organizations, including America’s most influential universities, recognize that it is their responsibility to implement initiatives which reduce their carbon footprint. What they may not recognize, however, is that they can significantly influence the carbon footprint of their vendors through sustainable procurement practices. Campuses are careful to have recycling programs, install water control systems and use low-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs for lighting in dormitories, classrooms and offices whenever possible. One practice, however, requires no retrofitting of buildings or significant upfront cost. It simply requires consciously vetting, selecting and monitoring the sustainable practices of vendors when procuring products that universities must purchase anyway. Learn more about DePaul's procurement initiatives here.

DePaul received a paltry D+ grade on the 2009 College Sustainability Report Card, which independently evaluates campus and endowment sustainability activities. Although far below acceptability, DePaul’s D+ rating was an improvement over the previous year and the University continues to make advancements in its practices. One such improvement is in the University’s green purchasing procurement policy. According to The Sustainable Endowments Institute in Cambridge Massachusetts, “green purchasing” has become a priority at many schools across the U.S. with 61 percent of schools implementing some form of a green purchasing policy. Of the schools with sustainable procurement policy programs, about half limit their green purchasing to a single initiative (e.g., buying Energy Star appliances). Far fewer have adopted more robust policies involving multiple types of purchasing areas and vendor practices. DePaul, however, takes sustainable procurement quite seriously.

In order to be good stewards of the environment, DePaul must have a holistic view of the procurement process. For DePaul, the process begins with the Request for Proposal (RFP). The university makes it quite clear when distributing RFPs that it prefers vendors that are diverse, sustainable and socially responsible. Vendors are held accountable for their practices and must evaluate their competitiveness as many other universities also adopt this practice. In addition to social responsibility inquiries, potential vendors must explain practices such as:

1. Describe any programs your organization has implemented to provide goods/services in an environmentally sustainable way. Describe both in terms of the actual products sold to the University as well as practices in place at corporate and other locations.

2. Describe any re-use and recycling programs that your organization offers.

3. Describe your packaging and shipping options and how those impact sustainability efforts.

4. List any key environmental organizations you belong or any certifications your organization carries (e.g. EPEAT, LEED, Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, Energy Star, etc.). Include the date of the last certification and its expiration.

5. Please provide links to websites that highlight your company’s commitment to sustainability (corporate statement on sustainability, press releases on specific initiatives, etc).

DePaul’s procurement department requires that all potential vendors reflect on their company’s sustainable policies and markets several vendors, including Staples and CDW-G, who have eco-friendly and sustainable products available. According to Cheryl Procter-Rogers’, Vice President, Public Relations and Communications, response to the 2010 Sierra Club “Cool School” questionnaire, the university purchases only paper with at least 30% post consumer recycled content and is endorsed by The Rainforest Alliance, the Sustainable Forest Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council. Review DePaul’s core RFP requirements here.

While it is impossible to monitor the daily sustainable practices of 100 percent of its vendors, DePaul is committed to improving its sustainable procurement practices. Requiring vendors to be introspective in the RFP process is a significant step toward emphasizing the importance of how the university values sustainable practices.

posted by: Sondra Elder
photo courtesy of Procura+