Introduction to Environmental Policy Administration Marissa Adlard Lauren Casterson Katie Paxton Ross Psyhogios

Goal Gauge our current administrative policies regarding climate change, how they are implemented and supported.

Methods of Collecting Information Research current policies in place Research how these policies are being carried out Conduct interviews Based on research investigate areas that could be useful on expanding our current policies and acting in accordance to them

Current Policies Research done on the internet Findings: – Sustainability commitments signed by Fr. Privett on behalf of USF American College and University President’s Climate Commitment Talloires Declaration Verification that USF has signed climate change documents

American College and University President’s Climate Commitment The Presidents climate commitment acknowledges the dangers of global warming and recognizes the need for action. Its plan can be broken up into a three parts: Initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. – Two months  create plan of implementation – One year  complete inventory of greenhouse gas emissions – Two years  develop action plan to become climate neutral Initiate two or more of the following tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases while the more comprehensive plan is being developed. – New buildings all LED certified – Encouraging use of public transportation – Adopt energy efficient technology – Participate in RecycleMania competition – Offset all emissions generated by air travel – 15% of energy must come from renewable sources Make the action plan, inventory, and periodic progress reports publicly available by providing them to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for posting and dissemination.

Talloires Declaration We, therefore, agree to take the following actions: 1. Increase Awareness of Environmentally Sustainable Development Use every opportunity to raise public, government, industry, foundation, and university awareness by openly addressing the urgent need to move toward an environmentally sustainable future. 2. Create an Institutional Culture of Sustainability Encourage all universities to engage in education, research, policy formation, and information exchange on population, environment, and development to move toward global sustainability. 3. Educate for Environmentally Responsible Citizenship Establish programs to produce expertise in environmental management, sustainable economic development, population, and related fields to ensure that all university graduates are environmentally literate and have the awareness and understanding to be ecologically responsible citizens. 4. Foster Environmental Literacy For All Create programs to develop the capability of university faculty to teach environmental literacy to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. 5. Practice Institutional Ecology Set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology policies and practices of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations. 6. Involve All Stakeholders Encourage involvement of government, foundations, and industry in supporting interdisciplinary research, education, policy formation, and information exchange in environmentally sustainable development. Expand work with community and nongovernmental organizations to assist in finding solutions to environmental problems. 7. Collaborate for Interdisciplinary Approaches Convene university faculty and administrators with environmental practitioners to develop interdisciplinary approaches to curricula, research initiatives, operations, and outreach activities that support an environmentally sustainable future. 8. Enhance Capacity of Primary and Secondary Schools Establish partnerships with primary and secondary schools to help develop the capacity for interdisciplinary teaching about population, environment, and sustainable development. 9. Broaden Service and Outreach Nationally and Internationally Work with national and international organizations to promote a worldwide university effort toward a sustainable future. 10. Maintain the Movement Establish a Secretariat and a steering committee to continue this momentum, and to inform and support each other's efforts in carrying out this declaration.

Verification that USF has signed climate change documents “... USF’s commitment goes to the very top, was the signing by USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. of the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment as well as his signing of the Talloires Declaration, a declaration for sustainability created for and by presidents of institutions of higher learning.”

How these policies are being carried out? Not very well!

Interviews Christin Anderson – Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green Team Glenn Loomis – Green Team chairman and USF community relations director. Mark Osborn Manager – Administrative Services USF Facilities Management

Christin Anderson Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green Team Background info on the Green Team from Christin: 12 years ago a Sustainability Committee was formed and met bimonthly. After six months Charlie Cross (VP of Business and Finance) banned the committee, stating that it was wasting time and interfering with work. Christin went back to school and got her MSEM degree at USF, and 3 years ago she attempted to restart the committee under the name “ Green Team”. Father Privett approved the Green Team with the exception that Charlie Cross approved it as well. Charlie allowed it, as long is they met no more than once a month for an hour during the school year only. A few months later, Charlie tried to end the committee again, however Mike London (Head of Facilities), talked Charlie into letting the Green Team continue, but with Glenn Loomis as the chair of it instead of Christin. They came to a compromise, and Glenn and Christin Co-chair together.

Christin Anderson Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green Team What are the existing policies at USF in relation to climate change? Tallories Declaration, President’s Commitment There are lots of great programs in recycling and dining services. What role does the administration play in deciding on climate change policies? The administration wouldn’t know about the sustainability report card if it weren’t for the green team. There is no social climate on campus. There is disconnect between faculty, staff and admin. It is always a “risk” to push green initiative forward. “The admins role is almost non-existent. All efforts are and have been from the bottom up.” How does the administration assure that actions are done to fulfill new policies? I don’t know that it does. Who keeps track that all policies are enforces? I think the Green Team keeps up with the stewardship, education, outreach etc. Does the university work with the Inner Richmond or greater SF in addressing climate change? We live in a very progressive city, and I don’t know that our university is up to city standards and actions on climate change. The Green Team has started a Green Ambassador program with the student Outdoor Club to work with local high schools on sustainability and community outreach. How does the administration support faculty staff and student to discuss and act on climate change? They say they support it. Faculty in particular need to be leaders on this. It needs to be a “ whole community effort”. Is it in the interest of the university to have a fulltime position focused on climate change or sustainability? “Absolutely. Not just in the interest. We must join the world on this. The city is pro-active, the school less so. We need policies.” What is your understanding of the way policies are passed and implemented at USF? The Leadership Team and the Cabinet make decisions. Glenn is supposed to communicate with Charlie Cross and Father Privett. There is no follow through, no plan for implementation.

Christin Anderson Wellness Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Green Team Other Info: Santa Clara has a lot of work done on Climate Change policies and plans. They have a sustainability coordinator, Lindsey Cromwell. Lindsey has been able to get a lot of good work done, because she takes a business approach. There is a lot of support from the Head of Facilities, and the President has been supportive of Green Movements. There is an issue of eco-literacy within the faculty and administration of campus. There was a conservation task force done two years ago, that came up with 10 ways to help the environment and save money on campus, and as of yet none of them have been implemented. This task force was implemented by Father Privett

Glenn Loomis Green Team Chairman and USF Community Relations Director 1. What are the existing policies at USF in relation to climate change? The Presidents Commitment Letter and the Talliores Declaration, which were both signed in August We were hesitant to sign the Presidents commitment, because of the commitment to climate neutrality, which is something we cannot obtain right now. We signed anyway, assuming technology will appear to make this possible in the near future. 2. What role does the administration play in deciding on climate change policies? For the climate change policies, Charlie Cross, Mike London, Father Privett and I discussed and decided on it. The idea to sign the agreements was the interest of the Green Team, and was presented by me. Depending on the topic different people would make the decision. If it were something that related to students or admissions, the provost and/or the deans would be there too. 3. How does the administration assure that actions are done to fulfill new policies? Policies are set at the highest level, how to implement them is left up to departments. For this specific topic, myself, Joe Murphy and Christin Anderson are part of the action. 5. Who keeps track that all policies are enforced? No one person in particular. It depends a lot on the policy. With green house gases, we can look at the barometers. 6. How do you the administration supporting faculty, staff, and students to discuss and act on climate change? The administration provides a framework to support faculty and staff. Also, we score well on the green report card every year. Only 1 or 2 Jesuit universities got a B plus, and less than overall 30 got an A. We are doing well in comparison. 7. Is it in the interest of the university to have a full-time position focused on climate change or sustainability? Sure, but it is a question of funding. Now, I am a part-time employee as sustainability coordinator, as well as Director of Community Relations. As the sustainability coordinator, I spend maybe 25% of my work time on it. This time is spent gathering information for the sustainability report card, and doing the green house gas inventory.

Glenn Loomis Green Team Chairman and USF Community Relations Director Other Info: It it hard to get people’s attention with the green movement, there are lots of competing interests. We are fortunate that we are years ahead of other schools in most areas. We have been recycling since before the city was. Our carbon footprint is relatively low because of geography( no need for AC or heating really), bus passes and good transportation methods, photovoltaic and other alternative energy that reduces our carbon footprint.

Mark Osborn Administrative Services USF Facilities Management Within your specific office, how do your policies and decisions affect the University's overall climate change policy? Our departmental policies and decisions are guided by the University’s overall climate change policy as opposed to affecting any change to that University policy. What is your understanding of the existing policies at USF in relation to climate change? It is our understanding that the University acts according to its Vision, Mission and Values statement; its Planning Document; and its Strategic Goals document; specifically and additionally to this topic, the President has signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment and the Talloires Declaration. What role does the administration play in deciding on climate change policies? To the extent polices are established, it is the University’s administration that creates said policy. It is not for the Facilities office to define the University administration’s role in determining climate change policy. How does the administration assure that actions are done to fulfill new policies? Who keeps track that all policies are enforced? This question is for the administration’s to reply, as the Facilities office does not enforce climate change policy. There are groups such as the “Green Team” as well as the sustainability coordinator who may have involvement in this area. When considering potential investments or contracted campus projects, is the environmental impact of the prospective company a consideration? The Facilities office does not participate in investment decisions. In addition, the term “environmental impact” is vague and as such is difficult to assess without speculation. While there is not any independent verification system of judging a potential contracted Facilities’ vendor’s environmental impact, those vendors are contractually obligated to behave in accordance with local, state and federal environmental and other law, and consideration in choosing a particular vendor is given to that vendor’s ability to provide materials and services to the University in an environmentally friendly way. Does the university work within the Inner Richmond or greater San Francisco community in addressing climate change? The Facilities office is aware of neighborhood outreach efforts from the University that include on-campus Farmers’ Market participation, campus Earth day activities and education, neighborhood tree planting, and the sponsoring of free neighborhood e-waste collection. Other departments have their own interactions in this regard with the neighborhood and San Francisco. How do you support faculty, staff, and students to discuss and act on climate change? The Facilities office maintains an open-mindedness with regard to discussions, dialogue and suggestions generated throughout the University community in regard to our department’s actions and climate change and we contribute our perspective to that process and discussion. Is it in the interest of the university to have a full-time position focused on climate change or sustainability? While the Facilities office does not have take a position on this issue, it is our understanding that the Director of Community Relations is the primary University position focused on sustainability.

Other Interviews? We did attempt to interview other with little or no luck – a lot of run around.

Findings There is a disconnect between administration and staff regarding climate change Not enough follow up on policies being made People being asked to do the work are often not given additional resources or time Not enough transparency within the administration Little or no facility or student participation

Recommendations A Green Sustainability Coordinator position More follow up and support for policies already in place More support for the current Green Team