Rowan University

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

President Farish signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. Rowan's master plan aims to incorporate sustainability into university practices by addressing energy conservation, natural resource and watershed protection, and pollution prevention. The facilities director acts as director of sustainability, and the President's Council on Sustainability includes students, faculty, and staff.

A new cogeneration plant will enable the university to cut emissions by 8,000 tons per year. The university purchases 25 percent of its electricity from wind sources, and photovoltaic systems have been installed on two buildings. Energy conservation is a priority in planning, and Rowan intends to complete an emissions inventory shortly.

The university recently converted to single-stream recycling and uses this program to divert 13 percent of the waste stream. Move-in Cardboard Capture is an annual event that saves three tons of boxes from being thrown away. Dorm Rescue is an annual event that saves nearly one ton of clothing, books, and other items from going to the landfill.

Master planning decisions aim to follow sustainable development principles, including LEED standards. The Rowan Boulevard project is a pilot program for the new LEED Neighborhood Development rating system. All renovations incorporate the most efficient design affordable to the institution.

Sustainability is incorporated into homecoming, which is a zero-waste event, as well as into Clean and Green Day during which students, faculty, and staff clean up campus. The Glassboro Environmental Organization has worked to strengthen the recycling program. Student employment opportunities include recycling coordinator and research analyst positions. A chapter of the National Wellness Institute organized Greenfest, a major event to raise environmental awareness.

University staff increasingly uses electric carts, and landscape and sanitation pickup trucks are being replaced with more fuel-efficient vehicles. Master planning aims to make the campus more bike- and pedestrian-friendly.

The university has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record.

The university aims to optimize investment return and has not made any public statements about investigating or investing in renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

The university has not made any public statements about active ownership or a proxy voting policy.