AN EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVE STRUCTURES FOR CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION Lauren Edmonds Dr. John Swaddle

Sustainability in Higher Education  Increasing number of campus sustainability “programs” of every shape & size Number of Sustainability Officer Positions Created, data from AASHE

Goal  To identify the institutional structures most strongly associated with positive campus sustainability outcomes in order to recommend feasible, sustainable solutions to The College of William and Mary

Research Approach  Comparative case study  Case selection  Brandeis University  Clemson University  Rutgers University  University of California – Irvine  University of California – Santa Barbara  University of Georgia  University of New Hampshire  Wake Forest University  Virginia Military Institute  Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University

Research Approach  Data collection  Interviews  Further research

Data Analysis  Variable Identification  Institutional make-up  Programmatic characteristics  Involvement and initiation  Funding  Participation in sector-wide organizations/commitments  Variable Measurement

Data Analysis  Measuring Outcomes  Recalculated SEI Green Score For the College of William and Mary Year Climate Change & Energy Food & Recycling Green Building Student InvolvementTransportation Modified Score New Grade 2007n/a n/a0.01.0D C B B+

Results

Principal Component Analysis Component Matrix Component Endowment Public/Private Enrollment Involvement, Staff Involvement, Faculty Involvement, Students Funding, Relative Amount Funding, Reliability Student Fee Top-down Initiation Bottom-up Initiation Physical Space Scope Program Size Age AASHE STARS PCC Climate Action Plan Sustainability Action Plan

Quantitative Analysis  Principal Component 3  + enrollment  - top-down initiation  + bottom-up initiation  Principal Component 2  + faculty involvement  + existence of planning documents  Principal Component 1  + student involvement  + relative funding  + reliability of funding  + bottom-up initiation  + physical space  + program size  + participation in STARS Principal Component Percent of Original Variation Explained 135.0% 219.9% 314.0% 412.7% 57.94% 67.38%

Qualitative Analysis  Brandeis University  Clemson University  University of New Hampshire  Rutgers University  Virginia Military Institute  Virginia Tech  Wake Forest University  The College of William and Mary

The College of William & Mary President Committee on Sustainability Sustainability Fellow

The College of William & Mary Green Fee instituted Committee on Sustainability created Sustainability Fellowship created

Qualitative Support of Principal Component 1 School Funding Amount Funding Reliability SizeSpace Bottom-up Initiation Brandeis+000+ Clemson+++0- New Hampshire Rutgers++++0 VMI+++++ Virginia Tech+++++ Wake Forest++++0 William and Mary ----+

Qualitative Support of Principal Component 2 SchoolFaculty InvolvementPlanning Documents Brandeis00 Clemson++ New Hampshire+0 Rutgers00 VMI++ Virginia Tech0+ Wake Forest00 William and Mary++

Qualitative Support of Principal Component 3 SchoolEnrollment Bottom-up Initiation Top-down Initiation Brandeis0+0 Clemson0++ New Hampshire 0+0 Rutgers000 VMI0++ Virginia Tech++0 Wake Forest000 William and Mary 0+0

Qualitative Support of Variables Not in Principal Components SchoolScopeAge Participation in PCC Brandeis-0- Clemson00- New Hampshire -00 Rutgers000 VMI000 Virginia Tech000 Wake Forest000 William and Mary 000

Discussion  Characteristics of Most Effective Institutional Structures  High levels of funding  Reliable funding  Large program size  Dedicated physical space  Bottom-up initiation

Discussion  Unrelated characteristics:  Scope  Age

Broader Implications  Application to develop recommendations for institutions of higher education  Potential for future research

Acknowledgments  My interview participants  My advisor, Dr. John Swaddle  My thesis committee, Dr. David Feldman and Dr. Randy Chambers  The Committee on Sustainability and the Student Environmental Action Coalition at William & Mary  My friends and family

FOR QUESTIONS ON MY RESEARCH: LAUREN EDMONDS, FOR QUESTIONS ON THE WM SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM: SARAH HANKE, QUESTIONS?