Goucher College
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Education and Research:
Goucher has embarked on a far-reaching campaign to promote environmental sustainability through both its academic programs and its co-curricular activities. Goucher offers an environmental studies minor that provides students with basic tools for understanding global and local environmental issues. A requirement was launched in Fall 2006 that every undergraduate student must complete at least one course in ecology or environmental policy. These courses span the disciplines, including such classes as Consumer Culture and the Environment, Environmental Economics, Ecology and Evolution, and Quantitative Reasoning and the Environment. Because the college requires all students to study abroad, there are also international environmental programs, including Brazilian Ecosystems, Tropical Marine Biology in Honduras, and Sacred Space: The Forbidden Forest and Nature's Place in Contemporary Japan.
Cocurricularly, student commitment to environmental issues has also helped the college to become more green. There are three main student environmental groups: The Campus Agricultural Co-op, Earthworks, and the Goucher Climate Action Group.
The ag co-op started a herb garden on campus in 2005; the products of the garden are sold for use in the campus dining halls. In spring 2008, the co-op expanded its garden and gave seven of its plots to Goucher community members for their use, creating the Goucher College Community Garden. The group also co-sponsors at least two farmers markets on campus each year. The club has also held an environmental resource fair to educate students about Goucher’s environmental efforts and promote the environmental clubs on campus. Earthworks raised money to purchase and install two solar street lamps on campus. The Goucher Climate Action Group organized the college’s first Earth Day festival in 2007. The festival has continued.
These student groups have joined together to successfully rally the college’s administration to create the Goucher Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council. The council consists of students, faculty and staff. It advises the president and administration on environmental issues and policies on campus. It also researches and explores solutions to environmental issues raised by members of the Goucher community and report its findings to the president. And it helps implement campus environmental programs and monitors the college's progress in fulfilling the requirements of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
Outside of the classroom, students have developed programs and projects to monitor and enhance the college’s recycling program; to raise awareness about the importance of carbon-neutrality policies on campus; and to start a composting program, organic garden, and greenhouse production. Each year student groups also spearhead the college’s participation in Recyclemania, a 10-week competition that inspires college and universities to reduce and recycle more.
Campus Operations:
Goucher’s Facilities Management Services (FMS) has pioneered efforts to conserve energy and lessen the college’s environmental impact. FMS has built specialized heating and cooling plants; updated the campus’ stormwater management system; switched to integrated pest management; removed underground oil storage tanks; and installed energy-efficient materials, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, in campus buildings. This year FMS began using environmentally friendly cleaning products and landscaping methods. The college also recently began purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to match 25 percent of its projected electricity consumption for the next three years.
When completed in 2009, the Athenaeum—a signature building that the college envisions will become a vital point of connection between the academic, cultural, and social pursuits for community members—will hold a silver-level LEED rating. Goucher College, in collaboration with Hillier Architecture, has approached every aspect of the Athenaeum project with an eye toward sustainable design strategies. The Athenaeum will employ energy-saving features, such as the use of recycled building materials; the inclusion high-efficiency mechanical systems; the restoration of native habitats; and the addition of two green roofs, which will reduce heat gain and alleviate stormwater runoff.
Bon Appétit Management Company, Goucher’s food services provider, has also worked with the college to help bring principles of environmental sustainability and social responsibility to the college’s dining halls. Our students, faculty, and staff are served meals that reflect a concern for environmentally sustainable agriculture practices, fair trade policies, and strengthening the local economy by supporting local growers and artisans. Bon Appétit is committed to supporting local farmers and food producers who provide organic fruits and vegetables, hormone-free dairy products, and free-range meats to Goucher’s dining facilities. The company also has initiated the use of eco-friendly food containers on campus. In the dining halls, a lot of information about the “low-carbon” diet, the “farm to fork” movement, and other environmentally food practices is posted, and there is also clear signage indicating vegan, vegetarian, organic, and locally grown food items. Food service workers are also very knowledgeable about “green” food practices and are very willing to help educate students.
Goucher joined the Zipcar University Partner Program. Two hybrid zipcars became be available to Goucher community members in August 2008.
In addition, Goucher’s Information Technology department launched its own environmental initiative this year, encouraging students to use less paper, save power, and recycle their electronic equipment.
Administration and Finance:
During the next few years, Goucher College’s main environmental goal is to institute the provisions set forth in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) that President Sanford J. Ungar signed in summer 2007. The commitment requires signing institutions to create and implement a step-by-step plan to become climate neutral. Many of the following environmental initiatives were launched in response to the president’s signing of the climate commitment.
In accordance with the ACUPCC, the college created the Goucher Environmental Sustainability Advisory Council (GESAC). The council – comprised of faculty, students, and staff from the college’s various departments and divisions – advises the president and administration on environmental issues and policies, researches and explores solutions to environmental issues raised by members of the Goucher community, and reports its findings to the president. It also helps implement campus environmental programs and monitors the college’s progress in fulfilling the requirements of the climate commitment. GESAC recently put forward a policy that all new buildings and any renovations to existing buildings meet the silver level of criteria established by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. This policy has been approved by the board of trustees.
Goucher recently contracted with Environmental Health and Engineering (EH&E), Inc., a Massachusetts-based environmental and engineering consulting firm, to complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory. Goucher’s administration will work closely with EH&E over the next few months to gather the data necessary to complete the greenhouse gas emissions inventory. EH&E will examine the college’s energy consumption; its direct, mobile, and fugitive greenhouse gas emissions; purchased energy; and indirect emissions, which includes commuting, air travel, waste disposal, contractor operations, and purchased goods and services. EH&E will also examine the college’s composting practices, as well as its purchasing of carbon offsets and/or Renewable Energy Certificates as part of the process.
To help spur public awareness about and participation in environmental sustainability, the college offers free public lectures by leaders in the field, including Thomas Friedman, author of Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution, and Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, the Kenyan environmental and political activist. Outside community members are invited to attend events such as our on-campus farmers’ markets, Earth Day Celebration, and other environmentally themed events.
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