Rhodes College

College Sustainability Report Card 2008

In 2001, the Environmental Planning Cooperative (EPC), a sustainability advisory committee composed of student, faculty, and staff members, was incorporated into the administration and charged with exploring ways to institutionalize sustainable practices at Rhodes College. Funding for the EPC has remained steady or increased since its creation. Recently, President Troutt signed the Presidents Climate Commitment.

Rhodes purchases green energy from Memphis Light Gas and Water, although less than 1 percent of all electricity on the grid comes from green power. Faculty and staff are encouraged to buy green power in their homes and are given one compact fluorescent lightbulb for every unit of green power they purchase. On campus, lightbulbs have been replaced with compact fluorescents in many dorm rooms, and the college has installed Energy Star equipment, motion sensors, and high-efficiency boilers, chillers, and pumps. A solar panel project has been proposed.

Local and organic produce is purchased when available. Most fish is obtained from closely regulated farms that are environmentally responsible, except when cost is prohibitory. Dining services has been exploring alternatives to Styrofoam, and a reusable mug program offers beverage discounts. The college spent $40,000 to overhaul the recycling program last year. The comprehensive recycling program is supported by a paid recycling staff.

While Rhodes does not have a green building policy, the newest building, the Paul Barret, Jr. Library, was constructed using “environmentally friendly measures,” including sunlight-sensitive lighting controls that respond to the amount of natural light in a room.

The award-winning Rhodes College Bike Program, established in 2005, which lends bikes at no cost to students, has recently acquired more bikes due to its popularity. A work-study position oversees the Bike Shop.

The college has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record. Therefore, there is no known ability to access this information.

The college aims to optimize investment return and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The comptroller is responsible for voting proxies, while following certain guidelines—for example, voting in favor of disclosure of a company’s policies and practices in areas such as ecology and human resources policies—and keeps the Committee on Investments informed of proxy issues involving moral and social concerns. On particular issues where the college community has strong concerns, individual members are invited to express their views to the Committee on Investments.