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If you will, three overlapping circles: one representing environmental needs, one representing economic needs, and one representing community social needs.
The area where the circles overlap is the area of sustainability, the areas of livability – the area where all the threads of quality of life come together. If we are to have it all, we must recognize that these three circles are not separate, unrelated entities.”
~ former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber (2000) -
What is Sustainability?
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For more information about Sustainability at Ithaca, please contact:
Marian Brown 607-274-3787 mbrown@ithaca.edu
Sustainability
The embrace of sustainability at Ithaca College as a formal initiative may be relatively recent, but the move towards sustainability as a central principle in the life of the College is hardly novel.
In April 2001, President Peggy R. Williams approved the Comprehensive Environmental Plan, which was developed as a guiding framework by the Resource and Environmental Management Program (REMP). REMP, a coalition of students, faculty and staff collaborates to meet a number of broad-ranging campus environmental objectives, including integrating environmental education, increasing environmentally preferable purchasing, and improving waste management and resource reduction systems.
The underlying framework of sustainability emerged organically from the grassroots conversations among all constituencies of the College that led to the creation of the Ithaca College Institutional Plan, completed in the spring of 2001.
Some elements at the heart of the plan are:
- Fiscal stability and stewardship
- The continuing importance and role of four-year residential colleges that focus on the development of intellect and character
- Full recognition of the changing world of higher education
- Sense of community
- An appreciation for and investment in our learning environment, both our physical plant and our natural surroundings
In Spring 2005, the Sustainability subcommittee of the Planning and Priorities Committee completed an assessment of the strong interlinks between tenets of sustainability and our institutional plan; this report is entitled "The Institutional Plan and Sustainability."
In February 2006, President Peggy Williams, flanked by all members of the President’s Cabinet and other campus representatives, signed the Talloires Declaration, an internationally recognized pledge of commitment developed by University Leaders for a Sustainable Future. The 10-point action plan called for in the Talloires Declaration further commits Ithaca College and our campus community to a path toward campus sustainability. In May 2006, a progress report was prepared by the Office of Academic Affairs which detailed the campus’ achievement of goals called for in the Talloires Declaration during 2005.
In May 2007, President Williams signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging the Ithaca College community to develop a comprehensive plan and timeline to mitigate our negative impact on climate change. We will be reporting on our progress toward becoming “climate neutral.”
Intercom Story on AUPCC signing
We invite you to learn more about some of the areas where progress is clearly being made in our ambitious goal to forge a vibrant, creative, and sustainable community.
Publications
- Positive Growth January – August 2006
- Positive Growth – Academic Year 2006-07 (coming soon)
- Collective Impacts Winter 2006 Vol. 1 No. 1
- Collective Impacts Winter/Spring 2007 Vol. 1 No. 2
- Collective Impacts Summer 2007 Vol. 1 No. 3
- Collective Impacts Fall 2007 Vol. 2. No. 1
In the News
College breaks grown on Gateway Building which will be LEED Gold
Two - Count 'em, Two - Platinum Buildings at Ithaca College
Towards a Sustainable Campus
Ithaca College included in KIWI 2007 Green College Report
