The University of Oregon Environmental Issues Committee (EIC) is a working group of faculty, staff and students that serves to raise awareness about environmental issues on campus, identify problems and concerns, institute University policy for environmental issues. The EIC was formed in the fall of 1997 to:
1) Consider, analyze and report, in the form
of advisories or recommendations on environmental issues that affect the
quality of life and health of the University community, as well as on those
issues about which the University should act as an educational resource. These
reports shall include a financial impact statement for each recommendation as
well as an informative, impartial summary of the topic that outlines its
effects, the issues discussed at committee meetings, and any relevant
background information;
2) Recommend development of rules or policies directly related to
environmental issues affecting quality of life and health to be adopted by the
University administration and/or University Senate on behalf of the University
community. Such recommendations shall include a financial impact statement for
each recommendation as well as an informative, impartial summary of the topic
that outlines its effects, the issues discussed at committee meetings, and any
relevant background information;
3) Recommend, facilitate and/or implement educational programs,
training sessions, forums or workshops on environmental issues which could be
offered to members of the University community and/or the general public;
4) Recommend ways to inform the University community about
environmental issues;
President Frohnmayer recently signed the American
College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, committing the University
of Oregon to a broad effort by the nation's higher education institutions to
address global warming by neutralizing their greenhouse gas emissions and
accelerating research and educational efforts to equip society to re-stabilize
the earth's climate. This commitment will be one relevant principle in guiding
the committee's discussions and recommendations.
The Office of Sustainability provides staffing for this committee, manages communications, sets meetings, and manages the web page and other documentation for the committee.
Membership of the Environmental Issues Committee consists of:
3 faculty;
3 students who represent a cross-section of students with environmental
interests;
2 Officers of Administration;
2 classified staff members;
1 designee of the Vice President for
Finance and Administration (Director of the Office of Environmental Health and
Safety)
1 designee of the Office of University
Planning
Other persons with professional expertise may be
invited to attend meetings on an "as-needed" basis to provide information to
the committee
Ex-officio (voting) members shall be:
University Planner or designee,
Director of Facilities Services or designee,
Facilities Recycling Manager or designee,
Director of Environmental Health and Safety or designee,
Director of Printing Services or designee,
Director of Housing or designee.
REPORTING:
The EIC reports to the University Administration as an advisor to the Vice President for Administration. Additionally, this committee also reports to the University Senate through, at a minimum, an annual written report submitted by the Committee Chair to the Secretary of the University Senate no later than the final University Senate meeting in May. The committee may also make additional written or oral reports to the Senate.
