Clarkson University

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

The university is running an environmental sustainability initiative. The director of the Clarkson Center for the Environment and an external relations staff member coordinate sustainability activity on campus and the president's environmental policy group is drafting a declaration of Clarkson's commitment to sustainability and spearheads implementation of environmental policies.

The university has hired an assistant engineer to focus on the reduction of energy use. Clarkson purchases Energy Star appliances and has completed a campus-wide energy audit.

Clarkson's dining services department purchases from eight local producers and contracts with a local dairy. Fair trade coffee and some organic produce are served in the dining halls. All to-go containers are biodegradable and there is a reusable mug discount. Cooking oil is recycled into biodiesel. Clarkson has an active recycling program and does not purchase or use polystyrene products.

All new buildings on campus must be constructed to LEED standards. The new Technology Advancement Center is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification, and the new student center will be built to LEED specifications.

There are five sustainability-related student groups on campus, including the Environmental Conservation Organization, the New York Water Environment Association, Greeks Go Green, and the Outing Club. There are also student projects to create a garden, a wildlife preserve, and to improve the recycling program on campus.

The university has one hybrid car and is in the process of adding more electric and hybrid vehicles to its fleet. There is a carpooling program for employees and the university is investigating expanding its student ridesharing program online. Clarkson's master plan aims to accommodate pedestrians and bikers with vehicle parking only on the periphery of the campus.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community. This information is sent to individuals upon request.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds.

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