Category

Community college or other two-year institutions

Contact

Katherine G. McGuire
Grants Manager and Development Associate
Harford Community College
Bel Air, MD
(410) 836-4102
kmcguire@harford.edu

Governance & Administration

Harford Community College is located approximately 40 miles north of Baltimore, Maryland in rural/suburban Harford County. With a physical plant of 17 buildings and a main campus of 332-acres, the College reports a credit enrollment of 5,500 and over 28,000 non-credit registrants. The College's mission to provide high quality, affordable, lifelong education, to be accountable for the efficient and effective use of resources and to promote the quality of life for area residents clearly aligns with environmental sustainability.

Building on a long history of supporting sound environmental choices, in 2002 the Board of Trustees reviewed a report from the president and approved procedures that provided a holistic approach to implementing sustainability throughout the College's operations, programs and services. Four areas continue to provide guidance for planning, actions and the commitment of resources:

Student Learning-Provide education that introduces new processes, paradigms and technologies such as renewable energy technologies, planet restoration projects and green building techniques.
Program Development-Develop programs of training and implementation to apply sustainability for an improved world.
Honoring the Environment-Create a model for a better, healthier world through cooperation, through recognition of humanity's interdependence and the sharing of one environment, one world.
Emerging sustainable practices-Demonstrate, showcase and model practical uses and benefits of sustainability and renewable energy practices, processes and technologies to higher education and K-12 school systems, local businesses, government, communities and the various decision-makers involved. Provide evidence of financial, social and environmental benefits delivered by sustainability programs.

Green guidelines are in place for: Capital Projects, Housekeeping and Grounds, Purchasing, and Building Occupancy (See Operations section for details)

Organizational structure
2002-2004 A sustainability coordinator, on a limited contract, reported to the president, established a strong campus and community network, oversaw energy audits/assessments, pursued grants, established a website, organized campus/community activities, researched new programs, presented at national and international conferences. To support the College's green building efforts this person became a LEED accredited professional. The intent of this position was to create a culture and process for sustainable practices that would thrive despite changes in personnel.

January 2005-present A Sustainability Workgroup of more than 25 employees and students, co-chaired by an administrator and faculty member, meets monthly. With a budget supported by the office of the president, the Workgroup and its subcommittees investigate and implement new projects and maintain communication to the campus community. The Workgroup is coordinating a Renewable Energy Expo in April 2007.

Organization Affiliations

• US Green Building Council
• University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
• Harford Community College is a signatory to the Talloires Declaration
• National Wildlife Federation, Campus Ecology Program
• SCUP: The Society for College and University Planning

Awards

• November 2003-Certificate of Recognition for Exceptional Campus Greening Achievements from National Wildlife Federation. Harford was one of 13 colleges nationwide, and the only community college, that received this recognition for the 2002/2003 academic year.
• April 2004-Silver PLANT Award from Maryland Department of National Resources for College reforestation efforts.

Operations

Land Use
Responsible land use is paramount in the operation and capital planning of the College because of three primary factors: the College operates on a well and septic system, it is located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and it is part of a rapidly growing county. In 2002 the College purchased 112 acres of adjacent woodland in an area slated for new housing developments.

Construction/renovation Projects
Guiding construction and renovation projects are Campus Green Building Standards, which present an overview of the integrated design process; successful green building designs strategies and materials; how to "green" RFP language; and commissioning guidelines.

• Joppa Hall (80,000 GSF) renovation completed 2006. Anticipate LEED Silver certification. Features: capture/reuse of rainwater; high efficiency HVAC equipment; high performance windows; three vegetative roofs. Further information: http://harford.greentouchscreen.com/kiosk_resolution.asp
• Bel Air Hall (37,000 GSF) renovation completed 2005. Anticipate LEED Silver certification. Features: environmentally friendly flooring; recycled building components; low VOC paints, sealants, and adhesives; natural daylighting; recycled carpet; reflective cool roof coating
• Five other building renovations incorporated environmentally friendly flooring, low VOC paint, recycled carpet, lighting upgrades, geothermal wells, rainwater collection systems and solar hot water heating.
• Parking Lot F renovation. Asphalt ground off from the top of the parking lot was recycled into other county asphalt projects. Concrete curbing and sidewalks were ground up for reuse. Approximately 80 truck loads of excavated earth were recycled into new projects.
• Outdoor amphitheater built with natural materials provides seating in a wooded area for lectures, art classes and informal discussion.

Operations
Harford Community College is committed to conducting campus operations in a manner that minimizes environmental harm, promotes an environmental ethic, and contributes to wellness.

• Energy Related Projects include:
• Variable chillers, air handlers, and air volume units
• High efficiency condensing boilers
• Energy efficient lighting and motion sensors
• Geothermal wells
• Solar hot water heating
• Direct digital control and energy management
• Green Purchasing
  Environmentally preferred products-from furniture to equipment to supplies-are given first consideration and purchased when costs permit.
• Green Housekeeping Program specifies the preferred use of Green Seal approved cleaning products, recycled plastic and paper products, and describes cleaning performance standards that promote high quality indoor air.
• Green Landscaping/Ground Maintenance Program utilizes the principles of sustainable landscaping; maintains natural areas-woods, meadows, wetlands-and extensive flower, butterfly and rain gardens, uses chemicals only in very limited applications.
• Green Building Occupant Programs teach employees and students occupying a sustainably designed building about the building's energy use, waste generation, and improved indoor air quality.
• Recycling efforts:
• Paper, glass, metal
• Nike Reuse a Shoe project
• Construction waste
• Medical supplies
• Laser cartridges
• Informative signageis positioned near new projects-graywater collection systems, green roofs, the butterfly garden, bioswales-and in the buildings throughout campus.
• Food and Dining Service efforts:
• Sell reusable mugs at cost to campus community
• Use recycled paper products
• Serve: Fair Trade organic coffee; locally grown produce, beef, dairy products
• Eliminated use of Styrofoam cups and plates
• Audits and Assessments
• Energy/Emissions audits
• Campus sustainability assessment

Curriculum & Research

Harford offers two degrees and a certificate option in Environmental Science with the following credit hour requirements:

• Associate of Sciences (A.S.) degree in Environmental Science, 67 credit hours
• Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Environmental Technology, 63 credit hours
• Certificate in Environmental Technology, 29 credit hours.

For students seeking a bachelor's degree in environmental science, Harford maintains a dual admission program with the University of Maryland.

The dean of the sciences division vigorously supports opportunities for student learning outside of the classroom. For example, students joined faculty, staff, key off-campus partners and a team of engineers to conduct an energy audit. Over a four day period they learned about lighting and energy efficiencies, HVAC systems, sustainability principles and goals. Students also assist in the monitoring of stormwater runoff as part of a grant funded initiative.

Additionally, the College offers degrees in agriculture and building preservation which are closely tied to sustainability.

By partnering with other area colleges, Harford is able to offer students A.A.S. degree options in horticulture, agribusiness, equine, turfgrass, golf course and landscape management.

The A.A.S. degree in Building Preservation and Restoration requires 68 credit hours. The curriculum of this statewide designated program addresses many content areas related to recycling, adaptive reuse and proper land use. The coordinator for this program serves on the sustainability workgroup and is a resource for products and procedures which limit environmental harm. Students of this program assist in the ongoing restoration of the College's Hays Heighe House-an 1808 farmhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Non-credit courses are offered in many sustainability related areas such as stormwater treatment, integrated pest management, environmental technology and wellness.

International educational opportunities:
Denmark: International Perspectives on Sustainable Energy. This study abroad program with the Danish Technological Institute is organized through Community Colleges for International Development. Harford is one of four participating community colleges that bring students and faculty to Denmark in an intensive 2-week faculty-led program to study. The program is a combination of university-level lectures and tours of renewable energy sites.

Germany: Since 1999 the College has supported faculty and student exchanges with Hans-Schwier-Berufskolleg in Gelsinkirchen, Germany. German and U.S visitors participate in environmental science lectures, research and tour related sites and installations, e.g., power plants, wind turbine factories, stormwater management facilities.

Community Service and Outreach

The goals of the College's sustainability outreach efforts are to help individuals understand the underlying principles of sustainability, be well informed of the progress being made, understand their role in supporting this progress, and be afforded opportunities to be actively involved in sustainability initiatives.

Since 2003 members of the community have been active participants in the annual 5K Eco Run and Nature Hike. In College-sponsored Earth Day events, the community makes a strong showing as vendors and presenters. With donations of mature trees from a private landowner, a developer and in collaboration with the County, the College successfully reforested campus areas disturbed by construction and established a nursery for future use. This collaboration averted the destruction of nearly 100 trees. Currently, the Sustainability Workgroup is collaborating with community members, the farming community and the public schools to host the Energy Expo 2007.

College printed materials-such as the catalogue, course schedules, theater programs consistently contain messages about sustainability efforts as they educate on an environmental topic, such as riparian buffers, green roofs and carbon sequestration.

A specially designed brochure, Ecovision, is printed on recycled paper using soy inks; its message can be changed by using inserts, creating only as many brochures as needed for an event. The Publications department uses high percentage PCW paper and soy inks whenever possible.

Web based communication
Green Harford Hall is the electronic gathering spot for all things sustainable. It is designed to educate and include the campus community in its progress. One feature called "Raise Your Hand" invites participation from students and employees as volunteers for projects and/or contributors on green topics.

Informing the campus and broader community of the green aspects of Joppa Hall has been accomplished by the installation of a Green Touchscreen in the lobby of Joppa Hall. This interactive web based sign informs and educates visitors to the building. It is also accessible from remote locations.

Public Radio
Chesapeake Bay Minutes runs twice a day on the College's public radio station, WHFC-FM-the only public radio station in a five county area. The feature, written and produced by College employees, educates listeners in the Chesapeake Bay watershed about how their actions can contribute to improving the health of the Bay.

Give-Aways
The College promotes its environmental message by distributing at events and conferences rulers and pencils/pens made of recycled materials and packets of herb and flower seeds.

National/International Focus
Presentation in 2003 at Ball State University's national campus ecology conference on the topic of achieving campus wide participation in sustainability efforts.

Presentation in July 2004 at SCUP-39 conference in Toronto, by the College's president entitled: A President's Perspective on Advocacy and Sustainability in the Academy.

National Wildlife Federation features the College in its Campus Ecology section because of achievements in energy audits.

Harford Community College is featured on the August 2004 front cover of NAEB Journal.