Indiana University–Bloomington

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

Indiana University–Bloomington's administration has formed a task force on campus sustainability consisting of faculty, staff, and students. It is currently conducting an assessment of campus sustainability operational issues. The university's Statement of Sustainability Principles and its purchasing department both have strict guidelines emphasizing green purchasing.

The Sustainability Task Force has proposed a plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Facilities has upgraded to more efficient boilers and there are energy-savings programs in place for computers, as well as a lightbulb exchange campaign. This year, the university will purchase a limited number of renewable energy credits.

The administrative residential life department and dining services are working to provide more local food options on campus. In 2008 the university began serving produce from a student-run garden. The university recycles traditional materials and fluorescent lightbulbs, and disposes of computer equipment according to strict environmental standards.

The governor of Indiana issued an executive order in 2008 requiring public buildings to be built to LEED Silver standards when possible. One section of student housing is LEED-certified and an optometry building set to open in fall 2008 will be certified as LEED Silver. A number of other buildings in the design phase are expected to achieve LEED certification.

New students receive a brochure about cycling on campus. There are multiple student environmental organizations on campus and the Volunteers in Sustainability program engages students in community collaborations and campus internships.

The university's extensive bus system is free to all students, faculty, and staff, as is the municipal bus system. The university is developing a campus master plan that includes a focus on alternative modes of transportation, and is working with the city to create better bike and pedestrian pathways to campus.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings and shareholder voting records available to the school community and the public at an office on campus. However, the Indiana University Foundation does not make its endowment holdings or voting records public.

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

The university provides its investment managers with guidelines to determine proxy votes. Feedback from the university community is incorporated into proxy voting decisions, but there is no formal engagement process for soliciting this feedback.