Florida Gulf Coast University President’s Climate Commitment: Collaborative Ventures Campus and Community Sustainability Conference October, 2008 Orlando, FL 2008

University Colloquium (QEP) – Academic Affairs College of Arts & Sciences Nora Egan Demers Environmental Health & Safety- Administrative Affairs Lewis Johnson & Kathleen Crawford –Environmental Stewardship Management Plan –President’s Climate Commitment 2008

FGCU- 10th in Florida SUS Opened fall, colleges President’s Climate Commitment signed 2007 by interim President Pegnetter, embraced by (3 rd ) President Bradshaw (arrived Nov ‘07) 2008

Conceptual basis for University Colloquium Adopted January 15, 1997: Dean’s Council Meeting We have made a commitment as a university to make environmental education an integral part of our identity. One of our university-wide outcomes is that all students will develop “an ecological perspective.” A way to accomplish this perspective is to devise a course, or group of experiences, with an environmental focus that all FGCU undergraduate students must complete, and in which faculty from all five colleges would be involved. Because “ecology” applies to our total living space and interrelationships, human and natural, it is relevant to all our disciplines and professions. Thus, an ecology course would touch on all nine of the university-wide goals and outcomes, and more. Students would not be introduced to FGCU values, they would participate in them. We have made a commitment as a university to make environmental education an integral part of our identity. One of our university-wide outcomes is that all students will develop “an ecological perspective.” A way to accomplish this perspective is to devise a course, or group of experiences, with an environmental focus that all FGCU undergraduate students must complete, and in which faculty from all five colleges would be involved. Because “ecology” applies to our total living space and interrelationships, human and natural, it is relevant to all our disciplines and professions. Thus, an ecology course would touch on all nine of the university-wide goals and outcomes, and more. Students would not be introduced to FGCU values, they would participate in them.

2008 Sustainability Sustainability Sense of Place Sense of Place Environmental Education Environmental Education Civic Engagement- Service Learning requirement since 2007 Civic Engagement- Service Learning requirement since 2007 Experiential Experiential Required of ALL students- “Sustained Discussion” Required of ALL students- “Sustained Discussion” diverse with students from all majors, attitudes and backgrounds diverse with students from all majors, attitudes and backgrounds

2008 Field trips- nature, agriculture, urban, campus, marine, historical, (waste to energy, recycling) Readings- Dewey, Leopold, Orr, (Our Common Future) State of World, Floridiana, (Environmental Health, Risk, Earth Charter) Writing- Educational Autobiography, EE in Higher Ed, Creative Journaling Civic Engagement- Service Learning Equivalent 10 hours

Summer 2007 Service Learning- “help implement” Management Plan Colloquium requires SL have ‘Environmental Focus” 6 week session especially challenging (‘07 pilot)Colloquium requires SL have ‘Environmental Focus” 6 week session especially challenging (‘07 pilot) Lewis (EH&S) introduced Plan to class- has a section for students- variety of “ideas” were presented, few action items were completedLewis (EH&S) introduced Plan to class- has a section for students- variety of “ideas” were presented, few action items were completed 2008

Summer 2008 SL REQUIRED President Climate Commitment Inventory Phase Underway- many of Management Plan goals in the Climate Commitment Class Projects offered as way for students to complete their SL requirement Lighting and Air QualityLighting and Air Quality Air Travel data collectionAir Travel data collection 2008

Carbon Footprint at FGCU Purchased electricity 64% Transportation 36% Student commuters 83% Faculty/staff 7% Air travel 8% University fleet 2% 2008

Lighting and Air Quality Data Easiest of collaborative effortsEasiest of collaborative efforts Student enrolled in class also worked for EH&S – was conscientious and enthusiastic prepared data entry sheetStudent enrolled in class also worked for EH&S – was conscientious and enthusiastic prepared data entry sheet Equipment owned by EH&S; easy to operate and difficult to breakEquipment owned by EH&S; easy to operate and difficult to break Students able to work in pairs at their convenience (with some constraints)Students able to work in pairs at their convenience (with some constraints) 2008

Hallways, Offices and Classrooms (However), summer session so campus was quiet and relatively unoccupied so data may not be representative of regular campus terms.(However), summer session so campus was quiet and relatively unoccupied so data may not be representative of regular campus terms. Readings often collected at open doorway rather than at work station (computer screen) for ease not to disturb occupantReadings often collected at open doorway rather than at work station (computer screen) for ease not to disturb occupant Collected data on air temperature, humidity, overhead light, task light, shades open or closed, carbon dioxide readingCollected data on air temperature, humidity, overhead light, task light, shades open or closed, carbon dioxide reading Took only a couple of minutes to collect data from each spaceTook only a couple of minutes to collect data from each space 3 Academic Buildings (offices and classrooms)3 Academic Buildings (offices and classrooms) 3 Administrative Buildings (Student services, Student Union)3 Administrative Buildings (Student services, Student Union) 2008

Lighting General Observations- Offices 2008 Often shades were closed and lights were on— Possible reasons: Possible reasons: Privacy- walkways look into offices Glare on computer screens Possible solutions (with physical plant) use opaque cover on (bottom half ) windows (re)-arrange furniture to reduce glare on monitor

2008

Classrooms and Hallways –Only 14 classrooms surveyed –Average lighting level 36 f.c –(recommended is 50 f.c. for standard) 9 hallways in 3 classroom buildings surveyed Average lighting level 22.6 f.c. -(recommended is 20 f.c.) 2008 Carbon dioxide level average 594 (suggest not to exceed 1000) Temperature and RH stable- 74 degrees +/-2 and 44% +/- 4%--even though they adjusted the thermostats upward?! – several have heaters at desk, some have fans… (award-winning cooling plant) Little complaint about too warm

Classrooms and Hallways Improvements for future All new buildings LEEDS certified (AB7 Science)- Silver Halls open to outside for natural light- especially helpful during power outages Classroom lights may have one switch up and one down (for on) to help alter behaviors 2008

Successful partnership with students collecting data for EH&S about environment & learning about habits affecting energy use and sustainability

Air Travel was more challenging- more offices involved, gnarly data, timing challenges more intense! 2008

Air Travel Inventory- (8% of transportation) Business students who were good with numbers and spread sheets volunteered to collect and analyze these data (Climate Commitment Inventory would use models for Carbon footprint of daily commuting to campus; wanted some baseline of 10 year historical record of air travel foot print) Air Travel Inventory- (8% of transportation) Business students who were good with numbers and spread sheets volunteered to collect and analyze these data (Climate Commitment Inventory would use models for Carbon footprint of daily commuting to campus; wanted some baseline of 10 year historical record of air travel foot print) er 2008

The best laid plans… 2008 Data was to be collected from travel desk We thought finance records were straight forward And ready for data mining But scheduling timing for students to access was challenging And state auditors had other ideas – end of fiscal year coincided with class And this was not a priority for anyone but my students who ‘needed the hours”. The data was simply piles of TAR records that needed to be mined page by page! It did get collected, but not analyzed by students

Lessons/Goals for next year Improve reciprocity of experience for students perhaps by expanding on reporting/finish product on projects selected Have several projects more well-planned that can be started and completed in 6 weeks? But how does this fit with student driven SL projects? A dilemma! 2008

Ride to FGCU web link 2008 EH&S SGA Campus Safety Alignment of issues: Parking President Climate commitment Rising gas prices!