ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES COMMITTEE
November 11, 2003
Board Room

ATTENDEES: Dorene Steggell (chair), Bob Jones, Christine Thompson, Wayne Jewett, Robyn Hathcock, Karyn Kaplan, Ben Ferrell, Julia Heydon, Kyle Allred, Steve Mital, Kay Coots, David Kurushima, Jo Rogers, Chris Jones

Announcements
The 7^th Annual Sustainable Business Symposium will be held November 14 – 16.

Agenda Items & Subcommittees
Dorene organized the agenda items discussed at the October meeting into the following subgroups. The committee determined that the items noted with an (A) would be handled as agenda item, an (S) in subcommittee, and items not designated are undecided.

Education
Environmental Literacy Curriculum Requirement (A) (combine with possibly inviting David Orr/other guest speaker)
Sustainability Web Site – almost completed
Increase Student Involvement on Campus-wide Issues
CASL (A)
Environmental Studies Service Learning Program (ESSLP) (A) - added

Transportation
Transportation & Parking (S) - added (consider impact of new arena site)

Energy Conservation
Energy Conservation (A) – has been chosen as this year’s ESSLP campus-based project
Promote Bio-diesel Fuel

Recycling and Resource Conservation
Improve Compliance with the University’s Recycled Paper Policy
Reduce Mass Departmental Mailings
Computer Harvest – added
ESSLP EMU Food Waste Reduction and Recovery Study Follow-up (A) - added

Campus Development
Building Projects and Use of Vinyl (A) – invite a speaker to educate the committee
Requiring Building Projects to Follow Sustainable Development Guidelines (S)
Arena (S) - added

Assessment, Goal Setting, and Coordination
Establish Quantifiable Goals - (ties into Good Company Assessment) Work Toward Restorative Goals (a step beyond green campus)
Good Company Assessment & Benchmarking Update
Sustainability Coordinator Position (S) - falls under Governor’s Executive Order

Kyle Allred gave a power point presentation that provided background information and specific steps to institute an environmental literacy curriculum requirement. He covered four areas:
1) What is the need for an Environmental Literacy Curriculum Requirement?
2) What is the best option for adding an education requirement?
3) What steps does the UO require?
4) Other strategies

Some other environmental groups on campus are already looking into this requirement. Gaining student, faculty, staff, and departmental support is critical. Kyle provided a handout outlining three options and three alternatives. He hopes that EIC could help identify which option would be the most feasible and help determine ways to get support.

The first step in the process is to get departmental sponsorship. Environmental Studies is the most likely candidate and support is anticipated. The Undergraduate Council must then approve. Finally, it goes to the University Senate.

Steve suggested that EIC write a letter of support addressed to the Environmental Studies Department.

CASL Update: Jo said that a power point presentation is available. CASL is still under the umbrella of Ecological Design Center, are waiting for a house to be determined, and continue to work on funding. If needed, the university will bring the house up to living standards.

Funding Sources: Karyn had put together a brief proposal for Capital Campaign funding and presented it to George Hecht. She offered to share it with the committee next month Steve will research what environmental projects were approved. Julia suggested contacting Corporate and Foundation Relations to request that they look for bulletins from corporations who are interested in funding EIC projects.

Priority Setting: Christine believes that EIC best serves the university by focusing on broader goals, such as are found in the Comprehensive Environmental Policy or the Governor’s Executive Sustainability Order, and helps provide direction for all of the projects being discussed. Chris feels that EIC does it’s best and most effective work when taking on projects that no one else seems to be addressing. Karen suggested that agenda priorities be based on work already in progress and in need of completion, such as CASL and Environmental Literacy Requirement.

Subcommittee Signup

Governor’s Executive Sustainability Order & Sustainability Coordinator - Ben Ferrell, Christine Thompson, Karyn Kaplan, Bob Jones, Jo Rogers

Funding- Karyn Kaplan, Steve Mital

Transportation (follow-up) - Chris Jones

Education - Jo Rodgers, Julia Heydon, Kyle Allred, Robyn Hathcock

Arena - Wayne Jewett

Karyn requested that Education for Sustainability be added to the December agenda.

The next Environmental Issues Committee meeting will be held from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9^th, in the EMU Board Room.