Connecticut College
Campus Category
Four year and graduate institutions under 5,000 student FTE
Contact Information
Amy Cabaniss
Campus Environmental Coordinator
Goodwin-Niering Center for Environmental Studies
Education and Research
Connecticut College (CC) has one of the oldest Environmental Studies programs in the U.S. In 1969, the program, then titled Human Ecology, began under the direction of faculty members and renowned ecologists, Drs. Richard Goodwin and William Niering. The Environmental Studies program is a cornerstone of the College's commitment to environmental sustainability. The Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies offers a 3 year academic certificate program for accepted sophomores, juniors and seniors in any major to concentrate on contemporary sustainability challenges. Goals of the center include fostering an understanding of: fundamental environmental issues both in the College community and the public sphere; and the interaction between people and environmental systems, with special emphasis on the political, social and economic factors that influence natural resource use. Additionally, several courses integrate sustainability issues into the curriculum. Examples include: ES 493C-The Impact of the World's Population on Our Environment; ES/Botany 493M-Sustainable Agriculture; Gov260-Problems of Environmental Policy and Law.
Campus Operations
Connecticut College (CC) recently contracted with consultants in 2008-09 for a campus-wide environmental sustainability baseline assessment of operations, championed by President Lee Higdon, who is also a charter signatory of the ACUPCC.
Sustainability leadership has been demonstrated in all aspects of campus operations from the hiring of a full-time campus environmental coordinator and summer sustainability intern to LEED-certification being sought for lecture hall renovation and construction of a new fitness center. Dining services now offers organic, local and Fair Trade products with its traditional fare. They also purchase produce from the student-run campus garden. Dining services contributes compostable food remains to the College's two commercial compost bins and food which should not be included, is sent to a local piggery.
Regarding transportation, CC entered into a 3-year lease with ZipCar to offer this ride sharing option to students, faculty and staff. The van service was also enhanced in 2008-09. The College's Environmental Model Committee has established a Transportation Subcommittee that is considering issues such as increased accomodation for bicycles (e.g. more bike racks) and banning cars for freshmen.
Renewable energy is a priority for CC. The College has a 10 kW array of solar panels atop a residence hall, has undertaken a wind feasibility study, and is considering other on-site renewable options. For 3 years, CC has offset nearly 100% of its electricity purchase with Green-e certified wind Renewable Energy Certificates. CC has been recognized by EPA for its REC purchases and by CT DEP for its climate action leadership.
For three years as well, CC has been a front-runner in RecycleMania ranking in the top 25 of an increasing number of enrolled U.S. colleges and universities. The College has a steady 30-40% recycling rate for bottles and cans and mixed paper and waste diversion measures such as a 'May Move-out' collection of student discards for donation.
Administration and Finance
Leadership in environmental sustainability has been a hallmark of Connecticut College for many years and on many levels. The establishment of the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies created a central place for students interested in environmentalism to develop their skills and awareness in an academic context while also providing a focus for all campus efforts at fostering environmentalism and sustainability.
An Environmental Model Committee (EMC) comprised of appointed students, faculty and staff, was created to initiate, support and provide other sustainability leadership (i.e. projects, programs and policies). The EMC recently initiated a campus-wide comprehensive environmental sustainability baseline assessment undertaken by a consulting firm. The Student Government Association created the board position of Environmental Liaison to the EMC to ensure enhanced and continued communication and cooperation on sustainability issues and initiatives. Further, there is a designated House Environmental Representative for each student residence along with 2 student House Environmental Rep Coordinators.
The student body agreed to a 10-year, $25 surcharge on their student comprehensive fee to support renewable energy, the annual funds from which are used in accordance with a Renewable Energy Policy established by the College. This money has been used to purchase Green-e Certified Renewable Energy Certificates to offset our electricity purchases (upward of 100%) and to fund a large wind feasibility study. Student groups, with administrative support and encouragement, have demonstrated tremendous sustainability leadership through their involvement in Powershift, RecycleMania and other national events, creating an organic farm that provides produce for the campus dining halls, sponsoring Earth Day events, providing low-energy compact fluorescent light bulbs cost-free to the entering first-year class, and promoting energy conservation contests in residence halls, among other activities.
In addition, staff have been involved in sustainability activities in administrative and classroom buildings and faculty and students have collaborated to develop such campus features as solar panels and an independent student study on small wind feasibility. In short, the college’s environmental leadership has involved all segments—students, faculty, staff, and administration—to create an environmentally-aware and more environmentally sustainable campus community.
Sustainability leadership extends to new employees of Connecticut College through the Human Resources Department initiative of including “College Environmental Concerns and Sustainability Issues” in the Employee Handbook. They also receive the Green Living Guide, a booklet that details environmental practices on campus.
Financial aid at Connecticut College provides access to a quality educational experience for students who could not otherwise afford the full cost of tuition, i.e. financial aid is awarded on the basis of need. The College is making efforts to reduce loan debt for our highest need students. In some cases, loans will be replaced by institutional grants.
