Margie S. Fyfield, PhD, Dean Science and Tech.
Rock Creek Campus
Kate Dins, PhD, Dean of Arts and Professions
Cascade Campus
Portland Oregon: Home of
Sustainable Practices
Columbia Gorge Wind Farms
Portland Gets it right!
9/23/2009 census finds
21,921 people in the
Metro area rode their
bikes to work
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF), PCC
Student Commitment and Engagement
 Administered through a student majority governance board.
 Provides funding for projects which “Green” our campuses and
help to reduce PCC’s environment footprint.
Created under the leadership
Of Mandy Ellertson,
Rock Creek Student
Leadership Coordinator
Portland Community College: Commitment
TGIF
Contributed
Over $80,000
Last year!
It doesn’t fly…
It does, however, turn disposable tableware and half-eaten tacos into crumbly,
fertile soil in two weeks -- rocket speed compared to the campus's composting
worms, which take three months to do the job.
The 8-foot-long metal composting chamber, which resembles a hybrid between a
missile and a trash can, is the pride of the campus's already ambitious
sustainability initiative.
PCC, Leading On The Path To A Sustainable
Future in Education and Community
 Establishment of Board Policy: Sustainable Use of Resources
Policy B-707
Adopted by the Board on December 7, 2006
 Becoming a signatory of the American Colleges and
Universities Presidents Climate Commitment:
Signed September 15, 2007
 District President, Preston Pulliams, submits PCC’s Climate
Action Plan to the American College and University President’s
Climate Commitment:
September 15, 2009.
PCC’s Commitment: B-707
Portland Community College is committed to
becoming a leader in academic programs and
operational practices that model the
sustainable use of resources, so that the needs
of current generations are met without
impairing the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
Establishment of the Climate Energy
Leadership Taskforce (CELT)
Dr. Pulliams convened the CELT shortly after he signed the
American College and University Presidents Climate
Commitment in 2007. The goals for CELT were:
 Meet regularly to educate members about global warming issues
and the approaches that different organizations and businesses
have taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 Establish a date by which the college will be climate neutral and
develop strategies and a timeline to reach this goal.
 Meet the goal of submitting the Climate Commitment plan by
September 2009.
Leading On The Path To A Sustainable
Future in Education and Community
Creation of PCC’s Climate Action Plan:
www.pcc.edu/sustain
Report divided into 7 sections:
1. Buildings and Energy,
2. Transportation, Consumption and Solid Waste,
3. Food and Agriculture,
4. Sustainability in Education and Community Outreach
5. Tracking Progress and Financing
Establishment of A District Sustainability Manager
2010: Alexander de Roode
Under the direction of Facilities Management Services
Day-to-day Operations of PCC’s sustainability programs
Develops: Procedures and processes in support of academic
programs and college operational sustainability efforts
Implement PCC’s Climate Action Plan
Collaboration and coordination with academic, business and
operations support of PCC’s campuses
Work to align the college with the goals of the President’s
Climate Commitment, the vision of the Climate Leadership
Energy Taskforce (CELT)
Academics: Sustainable Practices
for Academics and Resources
Council (SPARC)
 Encourage the active sharing of information for all
curriculum related initiatives
 Coordinate potential grant efforts
 Coordinate the design and development of curricula
 Maintain a historical record of PCC’s efforts in green
technologies
Climate Action Plan:
Sustainability in Education
SPARC
Sustainable Practices for Academics and
Resources Council
 Committee of faculty across all programs and disciplines
 Serves as an advisory board to faculty for sustainability-
related academic curricular and program development
 Provides periodic updates to the President’s Cabinet
 Funded through the office of the VP of Academic and
Student Affairs (OASA), Christine Chairsell, as well as
existing funding for curriculum and program
development.
Sustainability in Education and
Community Outreach: Sampling
 Architecture
 Automotive – Alternative Fuels
 Building Construction – Residential, Design/Build Remodel,







Construction Management
Facilities Maintenance
SPARC
Community Education
Interior Design
Civil/Mechanical Engineering Technology
Electronic Engineering Technology – Renewable Energy
systems
Engineering
Chemistry
Objectives for SPARC by 2012
Funded by curriculum and campus-based funds:
 SPARC, Sustainable Practices for Academics and
Resources Council, will convene for the first time Fall
2009
 Explore the development of a graduation requirement or
outcome in sustainability
 Offer Environmental Studies Sustainability course by
Spring 2010
Objectives for SPARC by 2012
continued:
Implement the following degree options:
 Green Roof/Wall Construction and Maintenance (Building




Construction Technology and Landscape Technology)
Building Commissioner Training (Facilities Maintenance
Technology)
Green Inspection (Building Inspection Technology)
Civil and Mechanical Sustainable Engineering (Electronic
Engineering Technology)
Sustainable Management (Business Management)
SPARC will Explore the following by 2012
 Development of an Energy Efficiency Technician
degree/certificate
 LEED certification education and accreditation course
 Infusing sustainability throughout the curricula
 Revising the college’s strategic plan, review measurable
outcomes that comply with Board Policy B707
Short-term and Long-term goals identified by
SPARC in Academic Year 2009-2010
Short-term Goals:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Educate the PCC community about SPARC and the goals of SPARC.
1. Become visible, recognized
2. Clarify the role of SPARC in the Climate Action Plan
3. Provide support to the college in achieving Climate Action Plan
Share Goals of SPARC
Establish guidelines for topics brought to regular meetings
1. Identify appropriate pathway for topics directed to the committee.
Establish working subgroups for topics brought to the committee
Identify regular guest speakers for the committee
1. Support creative thinking in achieving long and short term goals.
Long-term Goals:
1. Certify individual courses across the curriculum
• Obtain Educational Advisory Council (EAC) blessing
• Identify “mechanics” associated with identifying individual courses
with “Green Leaf” signature in printed and online course schedule and
the college catalogue.
• Meet with Administrative stakeholders responsible for printed materials
• Meet with EAC Leaders to establish a process within the current system for
endorsing and supporting Green Leaf Certification in the college
curriculum process.
SPARC Committee members agreed that meetings around
Short-term and Long-term Goals will include the following:
•Action Items
•Timelines
•Benchmarks
•Assignments/Responsibilities
SPARC will report out regularly to the VP for Academic Services
and the District President’s Cabinet
Origins of Sustainability at the
Rock Creek Campus
Portland Community College
Portland Oregon
The Rock Creek Environmental Studies Center (RCESC) is a natural area within
Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus that is considered to be an
important natural history area by both the Portland Audubon Society and the
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The natural area, which comprises the RCESC, includes about 44 acres of woodland,
11 acres of wetland and 44 acres of grasslands. Several smaller unique ecosystems
are also present in this site, including several springs and a small pond ecosystem.
Photo Points
We wanted to create a pictorial record of both seasonal and yearly transitions that
occur at the Rock Creek Environmental Studies Center. This is being accomplished with
seasonal photos taken at nineteen photo points located throughout the site.
NSF ATE
Framing Student Success
2004
Alternative Building Design and Construction,
gave students a chance to design a weather
station for the Environmental Studies program
at PCC.
Sustainability is infused in the curriculum…
PCC – LAT Sustainability Matrix (May
2008)
Sustainable Landscaping – LAT 272, 3 credits
Storm Water Quality & Management class, 3 credits
Landscape
Technology
Questions and Discussion
Thanks for
Coming