Pomona College

College Sustainability Report Card 2007

The administration recently adopted an environmental policy, which makes a public commitment towards sustainability, but does not commit the College to concrete deadlines or goals. The subsequently-formed Environmental Policy Implementation Committee—a group of faculty, students, and staff—has been charged with putting this policy into action.

Pomona has made steps towards energy conservation, sparked both by its institutionalization of sustainable practices and also by the California energy crisis, during which the College experienced extremely high energy costs. Efforts have included better control of the air conditioning system, particularly during summer evenings and weekends, as well as the installation of several solar panels.

A compost center at the College’s farm is being built, and the recycling program is being expanded. Limited effort is being made to incorporate local and organic foods into the dining hall.

The College uses LEED certification as a guideline during the construction process, and a new 93,000 square foot academic building is seeking Silver certification.

The president’s decisions are made known to the Ad Hoc Committee on Social Responsibility and are available to any trustees or senior administrators who ask. A list of endowment holdings is made known only to trustees and senior administrators.

The University prioritizes investing to maximize profit and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Social Responsibility, consisting of three students, three staff and three faculty members, makes recommendations to the President, who then makes the decisions in regard to proxy voting.