"Pathways to a Green Campus" Report

III. Environmental Council

In 1977 the President of Middlebury College, Olin C. Robison, formed an Energy Council to address problems of rising energy costs and the threat of shortages in the international oil supply. Over the years the programs designed by the Energy Council have enabled the College to achieve significant reductions in energy consumption and advances in energy efficiency. The College disbanded the Energy Council in 1985, but five years later, David Ginevan, the Vice President for Administration and Treasurer, reestablished the Council. Three years ago in the light of an expanding agenda of environmental concerns, the Energy Council was renamed the Environmental Council.

In recent years the Environmental Council--formerly the Energy Council--has been organized and given its charge by David Ginevan. Its membership has included faculty, staff, and students, and it has been chaired by a faculty member. With David Ginevan's strong support, the Council has made many recommendations and coordinated efforts that have initiated and strengthened environmental programs on campus and heightened environmental awareness among faculty, staff, and students.

The following recommendations are designed to give the Council an even greater role and influence as the College seeks to renew and deepen its commitment to the purposes that the Council serves. Considering its long history and its many and expanding responsibilities, the time has come to establish the Council as an official standing College Council, involving faculty, staff, and students working together to address important problems and opportunities that are of critical significance to both the future of the College and our society. It is, therefore, recommended:

A. that the Environmental Council become a standing College council whose chair is appointed by the President of the College.

B. that the Environmental Council be composed of up to fifteen members and no fewer than eleven members, including two faculty members (appointed by the Committee on Committees), seven students (appointed by the SGA, EQ, and Weybridge House), and six staff members (appointed by the Vice President for Administration and Treasurer, who is an ex officio member of the Council).

C. that the Mission of the Council shall be:

1. to promote environmental awareness on campus among faculty, staff, and students.

2. to make recommendations to the President of the College designed:

   • to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all who live and work on the College campus.

   • to maintain biodiversity and wildlife habitat, restore damaged ecosystems, prevent pollution, safely manage hazardous waste, and safeguard the beauty of the landscape in the outdoor environment directly under the care of the College.

   • to promote throughout the College community conservation of resources, energy efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, pollution prevention, increased reliance on renewable resources, and other measures consistent with sustainable living.

   • to further long-range environmental planning by the College.

   • to assist the College in carrying out its civic responsibilities in the area of the environment.

3. to ensure that the College undertakes a Collegewide environmental audit on a regular periodic basis (every two, three, or four years) and that the audit is shared with appropriate College administrators.

4. to encourage faculty to provide students opportunities within the framework of academic courses to conduct research on campus and local environmental issues; and to ensure that such research is shared with the Environmental Council and appropriate officials within and outside the College so that it can be used to formulate improved policies and programs.

5. to design and coordinate environmental programs on campus as directed by the President.

D. that the Environmental Coordinator (presently Recycling Coordinator) be an ex officio (staff) member of the Council who serves as Vice-Chair of and Project Coordinator for the Council.

E. Budget for 1995-1996: $6,000?

Proceed to 4. Environmental Coordinator

Back up to 2. Administration and Business Management

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