1/13/10
Sustainability Council (SC) Minutes
10:00am-11:00am
Killian 104
Facilitator:
Lauren
R. Bishop
Attendees:
Lauren R. Bishop
See attached sign-in sheet
Please read:
UNC Sustainability Policy
Please bring:
Your ideas!
Minutes
Agenda item:
Develop mission statement for the SC.
Discussion:
We broke up into groups of four or five people to generate ideas for our mission statement. These
were turned into the facilitator at the end of our meeting.
Conclusions:
Small group mission statements:
1) To establish, support and facilitate sustainable practices as a leader in our university, local
and regional communities and ecosystem.
2) To increase awareness of the current environmental situation and implement specific
actions to improve the quality of life for the surrounding community and prevent disaster
for future generations.
3) Enhance and further establish the degree to which sustainability is a core value of
Western Carolina University, as a means of improving the lives of campus and community
members, and minimizing any negative environmental impact of the university. These
goals will be achieved through community outreach, enhanced educational awareness,
active energy management practices and participation in the process by all segments of
the campus community and other regional stakeholders.
4) - Focus our community spirit towards the advancement of our future
Moral Character.
Small changes in present to create large advancements for our future.
Action items
Person responsible
Deadline

Please review these ideas from the groups.
SC
2/10

Mission statement will be decided upon via vote at the next meeting.
SC
2/10

Need to find out if we must receive approval for this mission
statement. Do we submit to administration or Executive Council?
Lauren Bishop
2/10

It was mentioned that submission of the statement, regardless of
approval, will act as notification to campus of our existence and
purpose.
Agenda item:
Creating Sub-Committees
Discussion:
-
-
Conclusions:
Dependant on our mission statement.
No smaller than four people per committee.
Don’t create too many committees.
Sub-committee groups to consider: waste reduction, academic curriculum,
transportation, operations and maintenance (O & M), communication & outreach,
dining services (might fall under O & M).
Need Eco Cats Representative at every SC meeting.
Need more faculty involvement and input. Especially for academic curriculum subcommittee.
o What research is being done on campus?
o What courses are offered?
o Answers to these questions will be the responsibility of the academic committee.
Looked at UNC-G SC website to committee ideas. http://sustain.uncg.edu/
SC members to think about appropriate selection of sub-committees.
Action items
Person(s) responsible
Deadline

SC Members
02/10
Select of sub-committees needs to be determined. Please bring
additional input to next meeting.
Agenda item:
Funding opportunities for SC initiatives
Discussion:
-
Conclusions:
Not on the January agenda but the topic brought up by members.
Karrie Joseph, Wellness Coordinator, mentioned there are grants available for
students that support Wellness Council mission and Healthy Campus objectives.
SC members to keep notice of grants in perspective areas.
Talk to Advancement about fundraising.
Work study students available?
More discussions to follow
Action items
Person responsible
Deadline

SC Members
Ongoing
None taken. SC members to keep notice of grants in perspective
areas
Agenda item:
Sustainability in Higher Education Resources
Discussion:
-
-
Conclusions:
Presenter:
Lauren Bishop
Two dominant resources for information
Green School List Serve
o Good source for posting questions and learning about other institutional activity.
o Managed by Brown University
o To join go to: http://listserv.brown.edu/?A0=GRNSCH-L
AASHE – Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
o Subscribe to a weekly bulletin that provides news on higher education
sustainability related events, resources and jobs. To subscribe go to:
http://www.aashe.org/publications/bulletin.php
o New blog & discussion forum plus more.
o Website: http://www.aashe.org/
none
o
Action items
Person responsible
Deadline

n/a
n/a
none
Other Information
Special notes:
none