Portland Community College 2008 Campus Sustainability Leadership Award Application
Category
Community Colleges & Other Two Year Institutions
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| PCC Smart Car Photographer: Noelle Studer |
Contact
Alliyah N Mirza
Sustainable Practices Coordinator
District Physical Plant
Portland Community College
Portland, OR
(503) 977-8581
Alliyah.Mirza@pcc.edu
Governance & Administration
In December 2006, The Portland Community College Board of Directors passed the Sustainable Use of Resources Policy (Policy B-707), which commits PCC to "becoming a leader in academic programs and operational practices that model the sustainable use of resources, so that the needs of current generations are met without impairing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
In 2007, President Preston Pulliams joined hundreds of other colleges and universities as the 290th signatory of the American Colleges and Universities President's Climate Commitment(ACUPCC).
In late 2007, President Preston Pulliams convened the Climate Energy Leadership Taskforce (CELT) to act as the ACUPCC planning organization. CELT is co-chaired by the Sylvania Campus President and Director of Physical Plant, and is supported by the PCC Sustainable Practices Coordinator. It is made up of several other members, including VP of Finance, District Transportation Manager, Operations Managers, and ASPCC students. CELT hosted several experts on sustainability, each delivering cutting-edge presentations and workshops focused on building climate-positive institutions. CELT is now moving into the planning and writing phases of the ACUPCC Action Plan.
Staff positions include 1) District Sustainable Practices Coordinator 2) Rock Creek Campus Sustainability Coordinator (part time) 3) Three Sustainability Student Government positions at three campuses (part time) 4) Soon hiring a Sylvania Sustainability Coordinator to work from the Sylvania Environmental Center. 5) Several work study positions at three campuses
PCC Green Teams are volunteer based groups that help support and develop campus sustainability. Green Teams are chaired and attended by faculty, staff, and students. The teams have been active at all campuses. PCC Green Teams organized events and held regular meetings to keep updated on ‘pockets of sustainability' that pop up on all PCC campuses. The Rock Creek Green Team developed a ‘green team' webpage that is is still in the works. Sylvania and Rock Creek Green Teams supported the learning gardens, recycling, and many other sustainability initiatives on campuses. Green Teams at all campuses came together strongly to organize around Focus the Nation and Earth Week.
Grounds space has been allocated for three learning gardens. Within PCC buildings, Sustainability has two cubicles at Rock Creek campus, one cubicle in district physical plant, and the Sylvania Environmental Center, which was opened with the support of the Sylvania Campus President.
PCC is a member of AASHE and Natural Step. PCC supported dozens of employee attendees travel to attend the Lane Conference on Sustainability in Eugene, OR. PCC supported three employees in attendance of an Renewables and energy conservation conference in New York State. PCC supported several employees in attending the Columbia Gorge Community College conference on wind energy technical programs.
Operations
PCC has achieved two of the three ACUPCC requirements. First, PCC has achieved several of ACUPCC's interim targets. This includes a commitment to LEED Gold design on all new building construction and a potential $375 Million capital expansion program that will be presented to voters in November, 2008. All capital construction estimates include these standards. Additionally, we are currently in design of a new facility that is LEED Gold. Second, in 2008, the PCC Carbon Audit was completed and is now available to the public. The PCC Carbon Audit was calculated using the "Clean Air, Cool Earth" carbon calculator.
PCC purchasing rules mirror the State of Oregon's Administrative Rules requiring the purchase of Energy Star efficient appliances.
Solar Thermal panels are installed on the veterinary kennel at Rock Creek.
PCC has an active Transportation Demand Management Program that consists of intra-campus shuttles, carpooling and mass transit subsidies. PCC also provides free electric car recharging stations Rock Creek campus. PCC Cascade used a flexcar fleet for one year. PCC South East Center installed bike lockers. Transportation purchased a smart car as a fleet vehicle.
Food Services have been involved in sustainable purchasing, waste reduction, and campus-based food sourcing. Food Services now purchases Non-GMO sunflower oil, Shephard's Grain sustainable flour, and organic bottled beverages. Food Services continues to support the Rock Creek and Sylvania Learning Gardens by providing food scraps for vermicomposting bins, providing seeds and starts for the gardens, and using campus-grown food in the cafeteria. Food services has provided staffing and dishwasher space for a district-wide "Mug Board" program aimed at reducing paper mug usage. Food services is also offering reusable stainless steel travel mugs filled with coffee for $5. The deeply discounted price is wholesale pricing, which means that the cafeteria has chosen not to take profit and instead take a purchasing risk that will strongly incentivize mug use.
Detailed waste audits have been completed at all PCC campuses. PCC has district and campus funding for a new district-wide recycling bin infrastructure. PCC has active food waste diversion and composting programs at two campuses and learning garden programs at three campuses. These include vermicomposting and hot rot systems. Two PCC Campuses feature LOOP programs - food waste is diverted from the kitchen, composted, and then used in learning gardens that grow food for use in our kitchens. Gardens have watering systems and irrigation. Rock Creek's garden features a straw bale shed and a cobb oven constructed by Building Construction Technology. Rock Creek campus purchased campus-wide recycle bins. Some new outdoor 'waste stations' have been purchased district wide. PCC Sylvania held an Electronics Recycling Event funded by the Sylvania Campus President.
The Grounds department has been testing some environmentally friendly landscaping methodologies. For example, grounds keepers are experimenting with planting ‘naturalizing' (i.e. invasive) plants in parking lot islands to reduce the need for water and herbicides. Grounds uses a biodegradable clove based herbicide near the learning gardens and has supported the learning gardens with tilling, water installation, etc.
Curriculum & Research
Renewable Energy Systems (Pending State Approval). Renewable Energy Systems (RES) is an Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) option intended to address the needs of both two-year graduate technicians and transfer students. Currently, the core EET program and all of its options transfer completely to Oregon Institute of Technology. EET baccalaureate program. Moreover, many of the PCC EET RES credits transfer to OIT's recently established RES baccalaureate program.
Upon completion of the RES option graduates will have a solid understanding of the basic principles of design/manufacturing/operation of renewable energy technology and will be able to apply those principles to a wide variety of systems and applications such as but not limited to: Hydro-electric power generation, wind energy, solar powered/thermal/PV, Biomass/Bio-fuel, fuel cell, and hybrid renewable systems.
The RES option aligns with PCC's vision of supporting emerging "Green-Collar" jobs in support of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency industry clusters.
Solar Manufacuturing (Pending Approval). Microelectronics has two new programs geared toward preparing PCC students for technical careers in the solar industry. The more rigorous option is an AAS Degree program in Microelectronics Technology with a Solar Voltaic Manufacturing Technology option that includes core curriculum such as Introduction to Semiconductor Manufacturing. The COC in Solar Voltaic Manufacturing Technology is a short program consisting of approximately 13 credits, the majority of these credits are transferable to the Solar Voltaic AAS degree (which consists of 95 credits). The COC will satisfy the hiring needs of the new solar cell industry established in the Portland Metro area for entry level operator positions, and ideally lead to the transition into the AAS Degree in Solar Voltaic Manufacturing Technology (designed for technician positions in the solar industry). This curriculum was developed in conjunction with Solar World, so that students will be properly prepared for the needs of this newly booming industry, and more specifically, for direct employment at the new Solar World manufacturing plant.
Sustainable Building Certificate (Pending State Approval). The sustainable building certificate provides course work from architecture, interior design, building construction, social sciences and science as it relates to sustainable, or "green" building issues. This program will focus on creating buildings that are sited, designed, constructed, operated, and maintained for the health and well being of the occupants, while minimizing impact on the environment.
NSF Grant Award. The National Science Foundation recently awarded PCC a $698,095 grant focused on "Sustainability Training for Technical Educators." This three-year grant will infuse sustainability content, practices, tools and techniques into PCC programs that impact the built environment by providing a variety of professional development and training activities to faculty. Participating departments are Building Construction Technology, Architectural Drafting & Design/Interior Design, and Facilities Maintenance Technology. As part of the grant, a Summer Sustainability Institute will provide training for PCC faculty, as well as instructors throughout the state.
Northwest Earth Institute. During the last two years, PCC Campuses have offered several courses through their Teaching and Learning Center.
Campus Culture
The Sylvania Environmental Center opened its doors in October 2007. The Environmental Center is an active space for meeting, planning, and educating on campus sustainability. Last year, the Environmental Center was home to three work study students, the District Sustainability Coordinator, one faculty member, and numerous volunteers. The Environmental Center also served as meeting space for discussions and committees on environmental issues. The E-Center houses books on sustainability and informational brochures such as bike maps, gardening guides, and general issues on climate change. The Environmental Center is a highly visible space and has grown quickly in popularity among students. Several work study students are exited to continue on sustainability projects next year.
At three campuses, students worked on developing peer to peer outreach programs and events through the Environmental Center and ASPCC student government. The Caught Green Handed program is a Peer to Peer outreach program where students who recycle correctly are 'caught green handed' and given a ticket for submission into a raffle. Winners receive an eco-friendly prize. Through the Sylvania Environmental Center and Rock Creek Sustainability Program, students give 'class raps' to promote environmental events. Organic Gardening Club, Environmental Communities Club, and Green Club are all student clubs dedicated to environmental issues. Students led, driven, and funded by the PCC Clubs program. Students developed new informational signs for the Sylvania cafeteria and Rock Creek Cafeteria.
The Paper Reduction Challenge was an interdepartmental competition to reduce paper consumption. Each participating department received a certain amount of points for completing tasks such as putting the printers on duplex, or having a second chance paper box. The paper reduction challenge was a fun way for everyone to participate and become educated on how to reduce paper use in office areas.
All four campuses educated the college community on sustainability through well organized environmental events such as Focus the Nation, Earth Week, and Fossil Fools Day.
The First Annual Sylvania Sustainability Awards Ceremony was held during Earth Week 2008. At this event, the Sylvania Campus president gave a riveting introduction. PCC faculty, staff, and administration were recognized for their hard work on building climate-sensitive institutional programs. Examples of awardees include: Food Services Manager, Biology Faculty, Campus Presidents, and an IT Manager.
The PCC Sustainability website provides a means to share information and updates on PCC sustainability: www.pcc.edu/sustain. PCC also has the Sylvania Sustain Lane newsletter and district-wide "Green Briefs" newsletter. Sustainability works closely with district PR and frequently makes intra-collegiate My PCC news releases and announcements.
Community Service and Outreach
Campus Based Service Learning. The PCC Service Learning program offers many campus and community environmental opportunities. On campus, students participated in a number of different environmentally focused projects. At Sylvania, an Environmental Biology class worked with the Sylvania Environmental Center to develop signage, and assist with planning for a new recycling bin infrastructure at Sylvania. Biology students also worked with the Habitat Restoration Team to remove invasive species on campus. Environmental Chemistry and Chemistry Intro classes worked to design a plot in the Learning Garden and utilized soil testing techniques and plantings. Environmental Sociology and Intro Chemistry students started a vermicomposting bin project in the Sylvania Learning Garden. Chemistry received a service learning grant for this project. At Rock Creek, service learning students assisted in the Learning Garden, with the vermicomposting bin, and with recycling education and outreach. Collaboration through Service Learning has proved a beneficial learning experience for students while helping to raise environmental awareness at the college!
PCC's Service Learning program provides community based volunteer opportunities. Through the Service Learning Program, faculty connect course learning objectives with community service, allowing thousands of PCC students to volunteer with community agencies, learn about social and environmental issues, and make a difference. A comprehensive list of these opportunities related to sustainability can be viewed at the PCC Website.
Recycler of the Year Award for Rock Creek Campus Vermicomposting. Association of Oregon Recyclers awarded Rock Creek with the award for best educational recycling program. Rock Creek learning garden collaborates with local schools and homeless shelters to provide tours and free food.
Rock Creek vermicomposting was featured in The Oregonian and recognized in the AASHE Bulletin. Sylvania Learning Garden & Habitat Restoration Team were featured in special Bloom Section of the local Times newspapers.
Sylvania Electronics Recycling event brought hundreds of community members on to campus.
PCC collaborates on waste audits with the City of Portland and Washington County's Recycle at Work programs. PCC also collaborates with the Office of Sustainable Development and the City's Environmental Services on educational presentations and other outreach materials. PCC collaborated with Zip Car to offer a car fleet at Cascade Campus. PCC Collaborates with Oregon Department of Transportation as a member of the electric charging station siting committee.
PCC collaborates with Northwest Earth Institute to offer dozens of sustainability courses through our Teaching and Learning Centers. PCC Participates on the American Association of Community Colleges Sustainability Group.
PCC Sylvania provides facilities and event space for the Annual Children's Clean Water Festival (fourth and fifth graders.) PCC's Smart Car is a central feature - children from schools all over the region greatly enjoy sitting in the car and learning about exhaust, car runoff and water quality.
