Task Forces

The Sustainability Institute works in collaborative ways to identify innovative pathways that accelerate the transition towards sustainability across all aspects of our mission and practice and to track and report our progress. The work of sustainability requires collaboration across fields, disciplines and sectors of society 鈥 and it requires us to work in creative and often unconventional ways. Critical to our success is a variety of university-wide task forces and committees. The Sustainability Task Force is the overarching coordinator, and it ensures that this work is guided by a shared vision. 

In 2020, we also created an external Sustainability Advisory Board, which ensures that the Sustainability Institute and 易胜博官网 have the resources to advance and achieve key initiatives and invest in the future.

Student involvement

Student involvement and input is critical to the success of the goals of the task forces. Students can apply to serve as a representative on a task force and make an impact on the university.

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A vote to establish this committee was made by the Asset Allocation Committee of the 易胜博官网 Foundation Board in spring 2017, and the first meeting of the committee was held in July 2017. Its charter is as follows:
Sustainability is a core value at the University of 易胜博官网 and it underpins our academics, research and practice. As part of 易胜博官网鈥檚 ongoing institution-wide commitment to sustainability, the 易胜博官网 Committee on Investor Responsibility (CIR) shall be formed to help support the Foundation in sustainable, socially responsible investment practices and policies.

Operating Principles
  • The 易胜博官网 Endowment Fund is capital of the University of 易胜博官网 Foundation (易胜博官网F) created by donors, invested and managed for the benefit of the University of 易胜博官网, and providing funding to support the academic, research, and public service missions of the University.
  • The primary investment objective of the Endowment is to achieve the highest long-term return on investment assets that is compatible with the University鈥檚 risk tolerance and time horizons and consistent with prudent investment practices.
  • 鈥淪ustainable investment鈥 practices are consistent with that objective in that they entail consideration of short- and long-term risks of environmental and social harm鈥攚hich can present financial risk for investors.
  • By acting in an advisory role to the Asset Allocation Committee (AAC), the CIR can increase the AAC鈥檚 capacity for making informed and prudent decisions regarding the management of the Endowment. The role of the CIR is purely informational; all decision-making authority will continue to rest with the AAC and 易胜博官网F Board of Trustees
Roles and Responsibilities of the Committee
  • Research opportunities relevant to the sustainable investment of the Foundation鈥檚 endowment monies鈥攊ncluding opportunities that may arise for increased shareholder engagement or proxy voting, as well as specific investment strategies or opportunities.
  • Consider proposals from the 易胜博官网 community (e.g. students, staff, faculty, alumni, etc) relevant to sustainable investment of Endowment monies.
  • Make recommendations to the Asset Allocation Committee (AAC) of the 易胜博官网F Board of Directors on possible courses of action.
  • Help educate and inform the broader 易胜博官网 community about sustainable investment practices in general and about 易胜博官网鈥檚 sustainable investment practices in particular.
Operational Processes
  • The Committee shall meet quarterly, or as called by chair/s.
  • The initial work of the committee will be to set goals and identify priority actions or research questions for the Committee鈥檚 work during AY17-18 (i.e., to create an AY17-18 work plan.) Thereafter the Committee鈥檚 priority goals/issues will be revisited and updated annually.
  • 易胜博官网 community members may submit concerns/suggestions regarding sustainability issues and the University's investments to the Committee on Investor Responsibility. The 易胜博官网 CIR will consider and vote on what recommendations (if any) to make to the Foundation's Asset Allocation Committee and/or Board regarding proposals brought to them.

CIR Chair

  • Julie Gorte, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Investing, Impax Asset Management (Industry Professional, Parent of 易胜博官网 Alumnus)

CIR Members

  • Paul Anderson '90, Director, Institutional Sales, Cboe Global Markets (Alumnus, Industry Professional)
  • Molly Betournay '05, '09G, Director of ESG Research, Invesco Ltd. (Alumna, Industry Professional)
  • Erik Gross 鈥97G, Treasurer, 易胜博官网 Foundation (Staff)
  • Greg Jansen '81, Chair, 易胜博官网 Foundation Investment Committee (Alumnus, Industry Professional, 易胜博官网 Foundation)
  • Samantha McCafferty 鈥04, Assoc. Director, Sustainable Investing, Harvard Management Company (Alumna, Industry Professional)
  • Brett Schulz 鈥26, Finance and Entrepreneurship Studies with Sustainability Dual Major (Current Student)
  • Fiona Wilson, Executive Director, 易胜博官网 Sustainability Institute / 易胜博官网 Chief Sustainability Officer (Staff)
  • Sarah Wilkinson 鈥22, Relationship Analyst, Americas Institutional Group, Wellington Management (Alumna)
  • Wil Wolheim, Co-Director, 易胜博官网 Water Systems Analysis Group (Faculty)

Mission

The 易胜博官网 Ecosystem Task Force (EcoTF) examines sustainability issues related to land use, development, and ecosystem management. The overarching goal of the EcoTF is parallel to that of the 易胜博官网 Energy Task Force: to serve in an advisory capacity to the 易胜博官网 President and be responsible for making recommendations on the full range of issues that relate to land use, landscaping, ecosystem health, biodiversity and development. Recommendations will be formulated taking into account the teaching, research and engagement mission of the university, its core value of sustainability, and its long-range Master Plan, including the Landscape Master Plan contained therein.

Charge of the Ecosystem Task Force

In particular, the EcoTF is charged with:

  • Developing a long-term plan for sustainable management of biodiversity and ecological integrity of 易胜博官网 lands including the core Durham campus.
  • Developing tools for assessing, evaluating and managing ecosystem function and services within the Oyster River and Lamprey River Watersheds including approaches to landscape design and management in support of the Campus Landscape Master Plan and in accord with knowledge and best practices of sustainable ecosystem management.
  • Identifying mechanisms that support professional development opportunities for 易胜博官网 faculty/staff to contribute to the goals of the EcoTF including related curriculum, research, operations and engagement activities.

The EcoTF complements and integrates the work of related 易胜博官网 groups including:

EcoTF Chair
 

  • Doug Bencks, Director of Campus Planning
  • Former Co-Chair, John Aber, University Professor Natural Resources and the Environment

EcoTF Members

  • Cheryl Smith, Extension Plant Health State Specialist
  • Cathy Neil, Extension Nursery & Landscape Horticulture State Specialist Emeritus
  • Jim Malo, Grounds Supervisor and Arborist
  • Matt O鈥橩eefe, Director of Energy and Utilities
  • Jamie Houle, Research Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Tom Ballestero, Director 易胜博官网 Stormwater Center
  • Shawn Herrick, Campus Planning GIS Specialist
  • Michelle Shattuck, Research Scientist Natural Resources
  • Stephen Eisenhaure, Office of Woodlands Land Use Coordinator
  • David Bowley, Utility Systems Manager
  • Glen Tuttle, Utility Distribution Technician
  • Brian Mead, Grounds Supervisor

Mission

Chaired by the Associate Vice President for Facilities and coordinated by the Sustainability Institute at 易胜博官网 and 易胜博官网 Facilities, the ETF began in 2005 to develop new ways to reduce energy consumption in response to fast-rising energy prices. The mission of the ETF soon broadened to serve in an advisory capacity to the 易胜博官网 President and make recommendations on the full range of issues that relate to climate change and energy.

These issues include energy generation, demand management, and efficiency and conservation; to greenhouse gas mitigation policy and action; to participation in energy and carbon markets; to campus adaptation planning, to prepare for the increasingly-evident impacts of a changing climate; to curriculum, research and outreach opportunities related to climate and energy. The overarching goal is to guide 易胜博官网 toward a systematic and integrated energy policy that emphasizes health and integrity, climate protection, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and stability, fairness for all University constituents, and consistency with priorities set by the 易胜博官网 Strategic Plan and 易胜博官网 Campus Master Plan.

The ETF鈥檚 role in advising the campus administration on climate and energy issues took on even greater prominence when 易胜博官网 became the first land-grant university in New England to sign the (ACUPCC) in February 2007. A member of the leadership circle of ACUPCC signers, 易胜博官网 pledges to take immediate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to develop a plan to move the University toward carbon neutrality.

In particular, the ETF is charged with:

  • Developing timelines, targets, and action items under a 易胜博官网 (called 鈥淲ildCAP鈥) to help move 易胜博官网 towards carbon neutrality.
  • Developing immediate and future actions to reduce energy costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy conservation through technological improvements, increases in efficiency, reductions in waste and selection of fuels.
  • Inventorying and promoting curricular, research and engagement programs intended to increase awareness of and behaviors around energy use, efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Other Resources

The ETF complements and integrates the work of related 易胜博官网 groups including the following:

Task Force Chair

  • Bill Janelle, Associate Vice President for Facilities & Operations

Task Force Members

  • Jennifer Andrews, Sustainability Project Director, Sustainability Institute
  • Dr. J. Matthew Davis, Associate Professor of Earth Sciences
  • Dr. Tom Kelly, Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Director, Sustainability Institute
  • Adam Kohler, Director of Energy and Utilities
  • Matt L鈥橦eureux, Energy Manager
  • Jubin Mathai, Building Systems Control Analyst 
  • Sam Mercer, B.S. Chemical Engineering 鈥23 (Student Representative)
  • Dr. Terence O鈥橲ullivan, Associate Professor of Security Studies
  • Dr. Zachary Schola, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology (Faculty Senate Liaison) 
  • Dr. Stephen Pesci, Special Projects Director in Campus Planning
  • Kenneth Weston, Executive Director of Campus Stewardship

Purpose

The purpose of the SEC is to ensure that our collective efforts are guided by a shared vision of the role of higher education in sustainability. Our efforts will reflect 易胜博官网鈥檚 unique contributions to the challenges and opportunities of sustainability, will communicate that sustainability is at the center of our community and will leverage our national leadership and reputation to support our mission and strategic priorities. 

Objectives

The objectives of the SEC are to ensure that 易胜博官网 continuously maintains the highest possible STARS rating, which is currently Platinum status, in all future reporting beginning in March 2021; The SEC will also reach beyond STARS to nurture a culture of sustainability at 易胜博官网 that touches and is enriched by students, faculty, staff, and all members of the 易胜博官网 community and that reflects our values and strategic priorities. 

Process

The SEC will operate as a network that connects, engages, and aligns all parts of the 易胜博官网 community through supporting a common vision, shared measurements, continuous communication, and synergistic activities. The SEC will make recommendations and report on progress to the Provost and Cabinet. The SEC process will reflect effective sustainability network governance and planning with 易胜博官网SI acting as the backbone organization and partner.

 Council Chairs

  • Fiona Wilson, Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Director, Sustainability Institute
  • Bill Janelle, Associate Vice President for Facilities & Operations

Council Members

  • Jennifer Andrews, Sustainability Project Director, Sustainability Institute
  • Kim Babbitt, Associate Dean, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture
  • Jenni Cook, Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts
  • J. Matthew Davis, Associate Professor, Earth Sciences
  • Kim DeRego, Interim Vice Provost of Enrollment Management
  • Josh Dubroff, Chief Procurement Officer
  • Luciana Echazu, Associate Dean, Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics
  • Eleta Exline, Scholarly Communication Librarian, Dimond Library
  • Diane Foster, Director, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering
  • Martie Gleason, Executive Director, Compensation, Benefits & Services, Human Resources
  • Andy Glode,  Environmental Health and Safety
  • Erik Gross, Senior Executive Director, Advancement
  • Kenneth Holmes, Senior Vice Provost for Student Life
  • E Michele Holt-Shannon, Director and Co-founder, NH Listens
  • Bill Janelle, Associate Vice President for Facilities & Operations
  • Ramonda "Monda" Kindle, Assistant Director, Office of Community, Equity and Diversity
  • Ken LaValley, Vice Provost and Online Learning Officer
  • Dovev Levine, Assistant Dean, 易胜博官网 Graduate School
  • Dorrie McClintock, Director, Conferences, Catering & Retail Services
  • Marian McCord, Senior Vice Provost, Research, Engagement and Innovation
  • Mark Milutinovich, Director, Large Center Development
  • Weiwei Mo, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty Fellow, Carsey School of Public Policy 
  • Danielle O'Neil, Chief Marketing Officer, University of 易胜博官网
  • Jayson Seaman, Chair of the Department of Recreation Management and Policy, College of Health and Human Services
  • Kenneth Weston, Executive Director of Campus Stewardship