College of Wooster

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

The college's environmental task force, composed of students, faculty, staff, and trustees, educates and advises the campus community about environmental issues. It has proposed a draft statement on "Institutional Commitment to Environmentally Sound Choices," which was reviewed by the president in April 2008. The chemicals used for campus cleaning are Green Seal-certified, and toilet tissue and paper towels have recycled content and are bleach free.

Energy conservation programs at the College of Wooster include computer-use management, lightbulb swaps, and a dorm conservation competition. The college also recycles 96 percent of condensate steam. No formal commitments have been made to either carbon emissions reduction or the purchase of or investment in renewable energy.

Hospitality services procures a variety of local foods, including many kinds of produce. A reusable cup program offers a discount to participants. China and stainless steel flatware are used for dine-in meals, and all to-go containers are biodegradable and compostable. The local foods subcommittee of the environmental task force has set a goal to pilot a small-scale food composting program.

A new residence hall was designed with LEED guidelines in mind, including recycled carpeting and heat recovery technologies. There is a sustainable buildings subcommittee on the environmental task force but there is no formal green building policy.

There are a variety of sustainability-related student groups, and a student is assisting the college with a water conservation project. There are multiple living-and-learning opportunities available in sustainability, and there was a dorm energy savings competition in February 2008.

The Wooster Inn catering van runs on biodiesel, and two chemistry students worked during the 2007–2008 school year to identify other convertible campus vehicles. Students run a community bike program. There is no regular public transportation service.

The college makes a list of endowment holdings available to all members of the school community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This information is available on a password-protected website. The college's shareholder voting record is only available to trustees and senior administrators.

The college aims to optimize investment return and does not invest in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

A committee of administrators and/or trustees deliberates and makes decisions on proxy votes.