NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT SENATE

88^TH SESSION, 2008-2009

Senate Resolution 62

A RESOLUTION TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN NC STATE UNIVERSITY AS A LEADER IN CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY

Short Title: Campus Sustainability Continuous Improvement Act

Sponsors: Senators Herting, Webb, Varner, Crabtree, Clark, Robinson, Demanovich, Stewart

Signatories: Student Centers President Barnes, Student Body Treasurer Smith, Student Body President Dawkins, Student Senate President Pro Tempor Rogers

Referred to:                        

Version: (insert either committee version, as amended by Senate, etc.)

First Reading: March 11th, 2009                  Second Reading: March 25th, 2009

WHEREAS, of 2008, North Carolina State University joined more than 550 other institutions when signing the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC); and,

WHEREAS, the Chancellor’s signing of the agreement requires North Carolina State University to develop an institutional action plan, pledging to work toward climate neutrality; and,

WHEREAS, the ACUPCC recommends the following actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while developing a comprehensive action plan:

1.      Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver standard or equivalent. 

2.      Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.

3.      Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution.

4.      Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution

5.      Within one year of signing the ACUPCC, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution’s electricity consumption from renewable sources.

6.      Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is invested.

7.      Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste; and,

WHEREAS, the Chancellor's signing of the agreement commits North Carolina State University to "make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students." and,

WHEREAS, the university must exercise leadership in the community and society by modeling ways to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and provide the knowledge to educate students to achieve climate neutrality; and,

WHEREAS, other universities provide course credit to students for sustainability-related data collection and analysis related to greenhouse gas emissions of campus facilities and operations; and,

WHEREAS, providing students with course credit for solving sustainability-related problems on campus by performing data collection, analysis, and design solutions related to campus facilities and operations which enhance the marketability of skill-sets in every discipline upon graduation; and,

WHEREAS, there are currently university standing committees that address important campus issues using input from student, faculty, and staff; and,

WHEREAS, there is no standing committee for campus sustainability; now therefore be it,

RESOLVED, by the North Carolina State University Student Government that NC State should establish a University Standing Committee on Sustainability consisting of representatives from colleges, students, faculty and staff to address current and future sustainability improvements and renovations, and be it further

RESOLVED, by the North Carolina State University's Student Government to support the ACUPCC by:

1.      Acknowledging that while NCSU has required new or renovated campus construction to be LEED Silver certified, we encourage the aspiration to achieve higher LEED certification or equivalent when funding and scheduling allows.

2.      Advocating the adoption of a university-wide purchasing policy that gives the students a right to buy local, non-toxic and recycled products, decreasing the overall carbon footprint of the university's facilities and operations.    

3.      Encouraging the Appropriations Committee to consider the importance of reducing carbon emissions through trip travel requests.

4.      Promoting the utilization of public transportation infrastructure such as the Wolfline and WolfProwl systems, by all faculty, staff, students, and visitors. Promote and encourage the bike rental program on campus.

5.      Giving students the opportunity to aid in the transparency of the university’s progress towards a goal of purchasing or producing at least 15% of NCSU's electricity consumption from renewable sources and work on collaborative projects to solve the problem with the Office of Energy Management.

6.      Persuading the University’s Office of Sustainability to utilize the service-learning programs within each of NCSU's 12 colleges, developing a partnership with the Entrepreneurship Initiative program, and other key university departments, for funding student project opportunities and scholarships in exchange for promptly proposing a $3 student sustainability fee.

7.      Encouraging faculty members and Waste Reduction and Recycling staff to collaborate in developing courses that provide students with course credit toward major, minor, graduate, and doctoral degrees.

RESOLVED, by the North Carolina State University’s Student Government to assist with the development and implementation of sustainability-related coursework that does the following:

1.      Generates its own funding through cost-savings within the university’s facilities and operations.

2.      Has a clear transition period between academic years.

3.      Involves the students in efficiency verification of sustainability and energy related projects.

4.      Utilizes the service-learning opportunities available within Facilities Operations, Dining, Housing, Waste Reduction and Recycling, ect.

RESOLVED, by the North Carolina State University Student Senate that we request that faculty members from all disciplines be provided with opportunities to incorporate real-world, campus sustainability improvement projects into their curriculum.

RESOLVED, by the NC State Student Senate that the promotion of students to work with the Office of Sustainability to create their own certification standard/program for the improvement of on-campus buildings for sustainable improvements/renovations.

RESOLVED, by the NC State University Student Senate that the Student Government's Chair of the Sustainability Commission work with the Sustainability Standing Committee to ensure simple transitions for sustainability-related projects from semester to semester.

RESOLVED, the duty of North Carolina State University's Student Government is to support university administrators, faculty, and staff as deemed necessary to provide students with the opportunities to become global leaders in the field of Sustainability Education, Monitoring, Statistics, Accounting, Analysis, Design, Engineering, Agriculture, Technology, Marketing, and Business.