The Place of Sustainability in the Strategic Plan Dr. James Montgomery Associate Professor, Department of Environmental and Studies Co-director: Sustainability Initiatives Task Force Dr. Scott Kelley Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Office of Mission and Values Co-director: Sustainability Initiatives Task Force

“It is not enough to do good. It must be done well.” St. Vincent DePaul

The Sustainability Story at DePaul 3 June 2009 Sept Oct. 2009Nov Dec Exploratory meeting Exploratory meeting Follow-up meeting Follow-up meeting “What Must Be Done” - White Paper Request to President to formalize committee Join AASHE!!! Jan. 2010April 2010 Nov Dec Sustainability Initiatives Task Force (SITF) created President’s formal charge to SITF Faculty survey on curriculum and research C.O.R.E. Working Groups populated; Guidance Document created Apr Faculty roundtables June 17, 2011Oct. 5, 2011 SITF report sent to Strategic Planning Task Force STARS audit completed October 24, 2011 Sustainability Plan submitted to President

Can Sustainability Be An Organizing Principle in Higher Education? Question: How can DePaul infuse “sustainability” into its various curricula? Question: Is sustainability an important aspect of DePaul’s Mission? Question: What is your area currently doing with regard to sustainability? Question: What would you like your area or the DePaul community to do with regard to sustainability in the future?

The Sustainability Story at DePaul 5 June 2009 Sept Oct. 2009Nov Dec Exploratory meeting Exploratory meeting Follow-up meeting Follow-up meeting “What Must Be Done” - White Paper Request to President to formalize committee Join AASHE!!! Jan. 2010April 2010 Nov Dec Sustainability Initiatives Task Force (SITF) created President’s formal charge to SITF Faculty survey C.O.R.E. Working Groups populated; Guidance Document created Apr Faculty roundtables June 17, 2011Oct. 5, 2011 SITF report sent to Strategic Planning Task Force STARS audit completed October 21, 2011 Sustainability Plan submitted to President

Sustainability Initiatives Hierarchy

“If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it.” Abraham Lincoln, “A House Divided” June 16, 1858

© CORPORANTES, 2004 Strategic Thinking

Charge to the SITF To coordinate and report on initiatives to develop and recommend a Sustainability Plan, using the organizing framework of “C.O.R.E”. As members of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE; the SITF may use the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS ® ) to audit and gauge the progress of sustainability related activities, or other tools as they prove helpful. To coordinate and report on initiatives to develop and recommend a Sustainability Plan, using the organizing framework of “C.O.R.E”. As members of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE; the SITF may use the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS ® ) to audit and gauge the progress of sustainability related activities, or other tools as they prove helpful.

Three Pillars of Sustainability Tavanti - SIC 2010 ECONOMIC Profit Cost Savings Economic growth Research and Development SOCIAL Standards of living, Education Community Equity for all Socially responsible leaders ENVIRONMENTAL Natural resources use, Environmental Mgt, Pollution Prevention (air, water, land, waste) ENVIRONMENTAL Natural resources use, Environmental Mgt, Pollution Prevention (air, water, land, waste) INSTITUTIONAL CULTURAL VALUES Environmental- Economic Energy Efficiency; Incentives for use of natural resources Economic-Social Business ethics, Fair Trade, Human Rights, Labor Rights Social- Environmental Environmental Justice, Natural Resources Stewardship Locally and Globally Adapted from the 2002 University of Michigan Sustainability Assessment

DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT DESIGN LIVING FOOD ORGANIZATIONS PLANNING ENERGY EDUCATION ETHICS COMMUNITIES

SITF Definition of Sustainability “””Sustainability is a force that moves beyond environmental initiatives. It recognizes the interdependence of environmental, human and economic systems so that people around the globe may enjoy a healthy and fulfilling quality of life now and into the future. It views sustainability as a way of thinking and acting that respects the Earth’s ecological limits.” Click on View, Headers and Footer to change text footer.

Survey of Faculty on Sustainability in the Curriculum and in Research –Survey conducted by DePaul’s Social Science Research Center in November 2010 –Survey sent to all 1931 FT and PT faculty –426 responses; 22% response rate –Self-identified key themes concerning sustainability Community Environmental justice/ethics Education for sustainability Interconnectedness Click on View, and Footer to change text footer.

GHG emissions reduction and building a more sustainable food service system. Expand and develop sustainability-related and sustainability- focused curricula. Devote more resources to train faculty and staff in sustainable practices, especially in purchasing and procurement. Establish infrastructure necessary to create opportunities for collaborative, sustainability focused research. Create opportunities for enhanced co-curricular engagement that is focused on sustainability, and develop and expand existing activities focused on community food systems. SITF Recommendations to Strategic Plan

So, how do we institutionalize sustainability?

James Montgomery Scott Kelley James Montgomery Scott Kelley