Pitzer's Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee

In Fall 2007 President Laura Skandera Trombley announced that she would be forming an ad hoc committee that would serve as a body that could examine the progress the College has made in these areas as well as help direct future efforts. In addition to this work, the ad hoc committee, in collaboration with others, would document all of Pitzer’s sustainability efforts to date, as well as communicate ongoing and future work to the entire Pitzer Community.

The committee is composed of four students (three appointed by Student Senate and one at-large), four staff members (one appointed by the Staff Council Representatives and three whom President Trombley appointed based on their job function) and three faculty members (appointed by the Faculty Executive Committee). The committee officially convened in early Spring 2008 and at that time President Trombley issued her a formal charge to the committee.

President's Charge to the Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee

Document and assess the current sustainability initiatives of the College
Review reports and studies of sustainability at Pitzer and The Claremont Colleges, including those produced in ENVS 94 and ongoing summer research projects
Serve as coordinating body for reporting and implementation of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)
Investigate what other colleges and universities are doing in terms of sustainability, including practices and policies, and governance and administrative structures that have been developed
Investigate the recommendations that have been made by groups such as the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Recommend specific short- and long-term sustainability goals and practices to the President for incorporation by the College
Communicate sustainability efforts to the Pitzer community, and beyond when appropriate

Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee Members
Jim Marchant, Dean of Students (Convener)
Paul Faulstich, Professor of Environmental Studies
Melinda Herrold-Menzies, Assistant Professor Environmental Studies
Andre Wakefield, Assistant Professor of History
Scott McDermott ’08, Student
Josh Lipkowitz ’08, Student
Michael Rosenthal ’11, Student
Nicole Scheunemann ’10, Student
Lisa Rojas ’07, Post Baccalaureate Urban Fellow
Drew Herbert, Holden Hall Director
Emily Cavalcanti, Associate Director for Marketing and Public Relations
Larry Burik, Director of Campus Facilities

Sustainability Sub-Committees

1.) Governance: Explore the feasibility of transforming the ad-hoc sustainability committee into a standing committee of College, as well as the possibility of creating a sustainability coordinator position. Members: Scott McDermott ’08*, Andre Wakefield, Drew Herbert and Paul Faulstich

2.) Short- and Long-Term Goals: Recommend short- and long-term sustainability goals for the College. Use previous reports and analyses that have compiled through class projects, make recommendations and devise an appropriate timeline and budget. Members: Josh Lipkowitz ’08, Lisa Rojas ’07* and Melinda Herrold-Menzies

3.) Communications: Document and communicate current sustainability activities/initiatives and share committee’s work with the larger College community. Members: Emily Cavalcanti*, Jim Marchant, Michael Rosenthal ’11 and Nicole Scheunemann ’10

(Larry Burik serves as a consultant to all three sub-committees as needed)

* Designates sub-committee leader

Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee Meeting Minutes

The committee's next meeting will be held on April 15, 2008, at 4 p.m. in Broad Hall 204.

In the interest of time and maintaining focus, Pitzer community members are invited to attend committee meetings as observers only. If an individual would like to add an item to the meeting's agenda, he/she should contact Jim Marchant 48 hours beforehand so that time may be allotted in the meeting’s agenda to address these issues.