Indiana University

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

The Indiana University administration has formed a task force on campus sustainability consisting of faculty, staff, and students. It is currently conducting an assessment of campus sustainability, including both academic and operational issues. Interns worked on a series of initiatives over the summer and continue to work into the semester. A Volunteers in Sustainability project is being initiated by the students that will engage student-community collaboration on sustainability issues.

IU is in the process of upgrading their central heating plant so that it is fuel flexible and more energy efficient by replacing two old coal boilers with a high-efficiency gas boiler, and adding pollution control equipment. The university has been working on other plans for energy reduction, including a comprehensive lightbulb exchange program for the students in the residence halls.

IU has begun a local foods program in one of the dorms, as well as an Eat Local publicity campaign. They are working with local farmers to determine how much local food is actually available. The recycling program, with collection bins across campus, accepts paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic. Surplus stores process used computers and furniture so they can be either sold or disposed of properly.

The Multidisciplinary Science Building Phase II will be a LEED-certified research building. The Griffy Woods research building, the Teaching Preserve laboratory building, and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs building, all in the planning and design stages, will be LEED-certified. The task force plans to recommend that IU change its building standards so that all new buildings are LEED-certified.

Universal access to both the university and the city bus systems has been available for all students, staff, and faculty for the past three years. Subsequently, ridership has increased significantly in that period. The university has also started offering incentives to faculty and staff to carpool, and is working with the city to create better bike and pedestrian pathways to campus.

Endowment holdings are available primarily to the university community, but are also available to the public, and are accessible at the treasurer’s office by request. The university has not made proxy voting records available since there have been no requests for this information.

The university aims to optimize investment return and currently holds investments in renewable energy initiatives.

Both the treasurer and the foundation will consider input from groups in terms of investments. However, there is no formal engagement process or policy.