Lawrence University

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

Lawrence University currently has no policy relating to campus-wide sustainability, however the Green Roots initiative strives to establish an institutional framework within which the university can cultivate environmental sustainability. As part of the initiative, proposals will be developed to establish short- and long-term projects that enable the university to move forward on issues of environmentally sound decision-making, daily operations, and involvement by the university community.

The university has taken some steps to address energy efficiency or conservation possibilities. The physical plant is converting the centralized heating system to a new distributed heating system that will reduce natural gas consumption by 40 percent. Window upgrades and installation of low-energy lighting are a routine part of campus maintenance.

Dining services sources produce from a few local farms, and from an organic garden on campus. The university serves fair trade coffee and local cheese. Lawrence has a recycling program that collects cans, bottles, cardboard, and other items. The university also composts preconsumer food waste for the campus sustainable garden.

Lawrence University's campus center, which is currently under construction, is targeting LEED Silver certification. The university currently has no green building policy.

A student organization, Student Activist Environmental Group, addresses sustainability issues on campus.

The university has not made public any programs or practices that encourage or facilitate the use of alternative forms of transportation.

The university makes neither a list of endowment holdings nor its shareholder voting record publicly accessible.

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

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