Macalester College
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Education and Research:
Macalester College has a long history of incorporating sustainability in education. The Environmental Studies program started in 1973, and in 2004, the program became an official department of the college. The department has supported campus sustainability through classes, events, newsletters, internships, study abroad programs, and support of sustainability projects on campus. The growth of the Environmental Studies department in recent years is indicative of Macalester College’s greater emphasis upon sustainability in academia. In addition, the Environmental Studies senior seminar class calculated the first greenhouse gas emissions inventory of the college in 2008 and the 2009 senior seminar developed recommendations for Macalester’s climate action plan.
While the Environmental Studies program has been a cornerstone of sustainability education on campus, sustainability includes economic and social concerns and can be seen as an expression of global citizenship, a core concept at Macalester College. Other interdisciplinary majors that incorporate aspects of environmental, social, and economic sustainability offered at Macalester College include: American Studies, Environmental Studies, Humanities, Media, and Cultural Studies, International Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Macalester College also recently started new concentrations in Community and Global Health, Global Citizenship, and Human Rights and Humanitarianism. The college also has general education requirements in internationalism and multiculturalism. The Sustainability Office also posts a potential student project list on the sustainability website.
While sustainability is part of the curriculum, co-curricular sustainability education is also part of the Macalester experience. Sustainability is central to Campus Life’s educational outcomes. Highlighting sustainability in residence hall living, orientation, and student organization involvement is a primary strategy for Campus Life to educate students about how they can learn about engaging in communities on local, national, and global levels to foster justice and equity. The Civic Engagement Center provides opportunities for engaged citizenship around local sustainability projects. The office offers opportunities for student research, off-campus student employment, volunteering, and community-based learning courses related to sustainability. In addition, the Department of Multicultural Life promotes equity, diversity and inclusion at Macalester. By raising awareness of the related values of sustainability and multiculturalism, the department supports sustainability efforts.
Macalester students have been a driving force behind many co-curricular activities on campus. Students started the Minnesota Campus Energy Challenge, the Clean Energy Revolving Fund, built the green roofs and prairie, and work on numerous community projects.
Sustainability is furthermore highlighted during new staff orientation. Sustainability tours are also offered at our college reunions, and Zero Waste Picnics, as well as other activities, make reunion activities more sustainable.
Campus Operations:
Macalester College has long shown a commitment to sustainability through initiatives in operations. A commitment to green building is evident in the new Markim Hall, which houses the Institute for Global Citizenship and is designed as a LEED platinum building. In addition, the EcoHouse was a renovated student residence now serving as a living and learning laboratory for students and a model for the community. Macalester College has two green roofs, an educational wind turbine, a prairie and raingarden as well as an extensive natural history study site.
In addition, a student group operates a campus garden that sells produce to our food service, Bon Appétit. Bon Appétit also actively promotes local and organic food and is developing the “Low Carbon Diet,” an analysis of the connections between food and climate change. A reuseable take out container program started in 2008. All food waste is given to a local hog farmer.
The college also subsidizes bus passes for all students, staff and faculty, has a carpool listing service (Zipride) and supports a car-sharing program (HourCar). In the summer of 2009, preferred parking for carpools and low-emitting vehicles will be offered. The Sustainability Office sponsors a regular bike/walk to work coffee. The College’s High Winds Office also offers financial support for staff to fix up their houses within a mile of campus through the Walk to Work program.
In addition, the college actively pursues energy efficiency projects through Facilities Services and the Clean Energy Revolving Fund (CERF). CERF is a source of funding for energy-efficiency projects. Since 2007, CERF projects have saved $120,192, avoided 2,439,278 lbs of CO2, and saved 522, 262 gallons of water.
The College has been actively pursuing sustainability in procurement activities. Toilet paper and paper towels were switched to a 100% recycled paper at lower cost than the conventional product. College letterhead and business cards are now made from 100% recycled paper. An environmentally-preferable purchasing policy currently under development and is planned to launch during the summer of 2009. Only energy star appliances and computers are purchased.
Waste reduction activities are also actively pursued through the Zero Waste Committee. A MacFree Swap listing service lists free office and household supplies. A green cleaning program is underway. Unwanted graduation gowns are donated to a local school and a major Move Out program captures reusable goods for a student garage sale.
In the 2008-2009, sustainability student workers worked on departmental sustainability efforts in twelve departments on campus: Alumni Office, Café Mac, Campus Programs, Civic Engagement Center, Facilities Services, Heating Plant, Grounds, Information Technology Services, Library, Macbike, Purchasing, and Sustainability Office. The Sustainability Office hosted a regular networking meeting for all of the student workers to share information.
Administration and Finance:
Macalester College has taken a leadership role in sustainability for higher education. In 2000, former President McPherson signed the Talloires Declaration. In 2007, President Rosenberg signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
A Sustainability Office was established in 2008 with the hiring of a full-time Sustainability Manager. In the 2008-2009 academic year, the Sustainability Office engaged the diverse stakeholders of the college community in thinking strategically about sustainability by developing a campus-wide participatory sustainability strategic planning process. The outcomes of the strategic plan are currently merging with the outcomes of the students’ climate action recommendations for a full sustainability plan, due September 15, 2009.
The college has five official committees directly involved with sustainability: Sustainability Advisory Committee, Zero Waste Committee, EcoHouse Board, a Clean Energy Revolving Fund Board and Social Responsibility Committee. All of these committees have student, staff and faculty representation.
The College also has a long history of promoting other areas of sustainability. The mission statement for the College explicitly states its commitment to diversity, not only in the makeup of its student body, but also in curriculum, intellectual inquiry outside of the classroom, and in the quality of work and life across the campus. The interest in diversity also stems from the College's concern for social justice. By making the commitment to diversity, the College plays its part in reversing the impact of that history, and thereby provides new hope to succeeding generations of scholars.
The College also has a long history of promoting access and affordability. Each admitted student receives a financial aid package that meets 100% of his or her demonstrated need for financial aid. Approximately two-thirds of Macalester students receive need-based financial assistance. The College also created the Opportunities Abound program to recruit and support first generation college students. In addition, the Bonner Community Scholars are a civic engagement program targeted to first generation college students.
In addition, the College recently made a significant financial investment in University Bank, a local community bank, chosen in part because of its green lending practices and commitment to sustainability in its operations. Macalester students are also researching ways to improve their practices, such as paperless banking.
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