Kansas State University

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

Kansas State University's administration is working with the Kansas Board of Regents to create a statewide sustainability policy. A sustainability committee proposes strategies, principles, and guidelines for environmental stewardship, new construction, and campus planning. A director of sustainability was hired in 2008.

The university has retrofitted its cogeneration plants and plans to perform major lighting retrofits to upgrade efficiency. The facilities department conducts routine audits on campus buildings and the university is currently negotiating for the installation of a large wind turbine near campus.

Dining services sources produce and dairy from local suppliers, including the flour in its baked goods, and local, organic lamb. Dairy and beef are purchased from K-State College of Agriculture and, starting this year, an organic student farm will provide a limited amount of produce for dining services. The university currently recycles 10 to 12 percent of its solid waste and there are plans for a new on-campus recycling facility.

All new construction and major renovation projects must meet energy conservation guidelines. There are plans for LEED certification on several upcoming projects, including a university apartment complex, a new childhood education center, a leadership studies department building, and a student-funded athletic recreational center.

Several student organizations on campus work on sustainability projects. The university's director of sustainability will facilitate sustainability internships. A student representative sits on the administrative sustainability subcommittee.

The university fleet has been utilizing E85 ethanol since 2003 and a hybrid vehicle was added to the fleet in 2006. K-State is exploring a biodiesel production program that would use waste oil from campus dining centers. The university is partnering with the city to improve bike and pedestrian transportation on campus and throughout the area.

The Kansas State University Foundation makes a list of endowment holdings available to the public and is accessible via the web as per open records laws. The university does not make its shareholder voting record available.

The Kansas State University Foundation aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds.

The Kansas State University Foundation asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.