Resolution 38

A RESOLUTION TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO STATE STUDENT SENATE’S POSITION ON THE SUSTAINABILITY FEE REQUEST

Short Title: Sustainability Fee Proposal

Sponsors: Senators Hoynacke (Corresponding)

Signatories:

Referred to:

Version: Initial

First Reading: September 26, 2012 Second Reading: [Fast-track intended]

WHEREAS, students, with staff support from the University Sustainability Office, are proposing a new sustainability fee of $5 per semester ($10 yearly), which will take effect in the 2013-2014 school year, and will create a Sustainability Fund; and,

WHEREAS, the Fund proposes to enable further education of students on sustainability as well as implement actual sustainability changes to campus; and,

WHEREAS, this Fund proposes to create multiple ways for students to become involved in sustainability, while reducing the University’s costs and greenhouse gas emissions and realizing other resource efficiencies; and,

WHEREAS, the Fund seeks to do so by establishing a Sustainability Fund Board, which is to have the following members (4 students and 3 faculty/staff): one Student Government representative, one Wolfpack Environmental Student Association (WESA) representative, one University Graduate Student Association (USGA) representative, one student leader from a sustainability student organization (appointed by Co Sustainability Officers), one Student Affairs representative (appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs), one Campus Environmental Sustainability Team representative (appointed by Co Sustainability Officers), one University Sustainability Office representative (appointed by Co Sustainability Officers), and other Ex Officio members that will be added as subject matter expertise is needed; and,

WHEREAS, this Fund Board will (1) regularly review grant priorities for campus that align with NC State’s Sustainability Strategic Plan, (2) annually, create and offer a request for proposals (RFP) for sustainability project ideas from the NC State community, using “Think Outside the Brick” as a model, (3) vote, by a simple majority, on projects to fund that represent both campus priority projects and campus community project ideas, (4) establish project monitoring to insure accountability of the funds spent, and (5) annually submit a summary of the projects funded, which will include evaluating the projects’ financial status and impact, and which will also be published on the Sustainability web site and in the Annual Sustainability Report for public consumption; and,

WHEREAS, $256,000 of the revenue generated by this fee will fund, through sustainability grants, both the educational and operational costs of small, mid-sized, and larger scale projects, which will include projects such as funding renewable energy installations, sustainable transportation, green buildings and space, expanded recycling and composting, research grants and internships, bringing speakers to campus, and distributing project seed money (in a manner similar to “Think Outside the Brick”); and,

WHEREAS, the remaining $30,000 of the revenue generated by this fee will go towards sustainability education through mechanisms such as student internships, a green ambassador program, and a peer-to-peer education program; and,

WHEREAS, at least five of our peer institutions, including the University of Arizona, the University of Illinois – Urbana, Rutgers University, the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and the University of Maryland, have at least a $6 sustainability fee per semester, and other universities in North Carolina, such as Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, have at least a $4 sustainability fee per semester; and,

WHEREAS, the Sustainability Fund proposes to be a low cost way to assist NC State in meeting state laws as well as the University’s mission, vision, goals, and strategic plans; and,

WHEREAS, the Fund proposes to bring students to the decision-making table and empowers them to be involved in creating a sustainable campus through both sustainability education and the implementation of physical changes to campus; and,

WHEREAS, this Fund proposes to play a role in imbedding sustainability into the campus culture, and make a lasting impact across the financial, environmental, and social aspects of the University; now therefore be it,

RESOLVED, the Student Senate, although very aware of the benefits of a fund of this sort, cannot support that it be funded by student fees, as the direct benefits and outcomes of the fee will go to cost savings for the University and its facilities, and will, unlike other student fees, only indirectly impact the lives of NC State students; and be it further,

RESOLVED, the Student Senate believes that if the benefits of this fee for the University’s facilities costs are as clear as the fund proposers believe, then the University should establish this fund using other revenue sources; and be it further,

RESOLVED, the Student Senate believes that during these times of economic recession that university costs should not be passed onto students, via student fees, unless there is a dire need to do so, and that every office, program, and department on campus, should look to use their current budgets more effectively by thinking carefully about their programming and mission, and reorganizing their budgets and spending habits to align with that thinking; and be it further,

RESOLVED, that the Student Senate requests the Chancellor and Fee Review Committee give strong consideration to these recommendations.