Administrators, faculty, staff, and students throughout the university are working to research and implement sustainability. Following are the key dimensions of the collaborative governance model for sustainability at Stanford.
PROVOST'S COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABILITY (2012)
An executive committee of deans, institute leads and senior campus leadership, the Provost's Committee on Sustainability, will formally convene starting in the 2012-13 academic year. The committee will facilitate collaboration across schools, institutes, the Office of Sustainability, and students; exert leadership across campus; bring campus-wide sustainability issues to the attention of the Provost and the President; and implement leadership recommendations. Formation of the Provost's Committee is the outcome of one of the many key recommendations derived from the year-long strategic exercise, Sustainability 3.0, unveiled in May 2012.
SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP (2006)
The Sustainability Working Group (SWG) prepares policy and program recommendations to advance and implement sustainability practices on campus. Goals include:
- Continuously improve Stanford’s leadership in demonstrating environmental sustainability in campus operations.
- Use faculty, staff and student expertise in the evolving field of sustainability.
- Advance opportunities for hands-on sustainability-related learning and service in the campus community.
SWG, chaired by the director of the Office of Sustainability, meets the first Thursday of every month and involves representatives from all parts of the university. To view past meeting agendas, click here.
The Office of Sustainability connects campus organizations and entities and works collaboratively with them to steer sustainability initiatives to fulfill President Hennessy’s vision that sustainability will "become a core value in everything we do." The Office works on long-range sustainability analysis and planning, evaluations and reporting, communication and outreach, academic integration, conservation behavior and training, and sustainability governance strategy.
SUSTAINABILITY WORKING TEAMS (2008)
The Sustainability Working Teams, assembled in 2008, develop program recommendations, assess progress, and help implement policy recommendations in major operational areas related to sustainability. The teams are composed of campus subject matter experts, representatives from key Stanford community groups, and individuals with authority to take action in the relevant operational areas. Each team activates when a specific initiative is underway and may be dormant when a given project has been implemented. To view the list of teams, click here.
