University of Kentucky

College Sustainability Report Card 2007

The University of Kentucky has no formal sustainability policy, but it does participate with the local government and the local public school system on collaborative initiatives. The University's Sustainability Task Force has proposed several recommendations with regard to green building, energy conservation, and transportation issues, and meets monthly during the academic year.

In the spring of 2006, student government voted on a fee increase of $6 to $8 to help fund renewable energy purchases for the University. The administration recently worked with the local electric provider to review options to purchase renewable energy. The University is planning to initiate a Sustainable Living-Learning Community in one of its residence halls in the near future. Work will begin to take place on the facility over the next several years. The project is intended to enhance the sustainability of the community and will include features like solar panels, rain water retention, and energy efficient lighting.

In 2005, over 29 percent of the University's waste stream was recycled. This accomplishment represents one of the University's best on-campus achievements towards a sustainable campus. The University is an active participant with the local food cooperative to purchase local food products, and local produce is being offered on a trial basis four days a week.

The University's Sustainability Task Force has recommended that building projects be identified for possible LEED certification. The University has placed a requirement in the bid specifications for new construction that the architecture firm(s) have a staff of LEED-certified personnel. Several university project managers, who are responsible for the renovations of older facilities, have been trained for LEED certification. However, the University has not adopted a formal green building policy and does not yet have any buildings certified or registered under the LEED program.

The majority of the endowment is in commingled funds, and the University does not keep a record of the proxy voting done by its endowment managers that have separate accounts with investments. The University does not make a list of endowment holdings public.

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 University asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.