University of San Francisco

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

At the University of San Francisco, some residence hall directors and senior staff sign a statement committing to sustainability. Facilities has some green cleaning products and the procurement department purchases some recycled products. A few part-time employees work on sustainability initiatives, and the director of community relations chairs the campus Green Team, which meets monthly and is comprised of students, faculty, and staff.

The new Kalmanovitz Hall will be designed to conserve energy. The school's cogeneration plant, combined with electricity produced by a large photovoltaic array, meets the energy needs of 75 percent of lower campus peak demand. Solar thermal panels heat 50 percent of the water used in residence halls. New solar panels are being installed atop several buildings.

Dining services works with 30 to 40 local producers, including a dairy, in addition to purchasing fair trade coffee and cage-free eggs. Compostable containers are available for take out. A comprehensive recycling program diverts 67 percent of the university's waste. Additionally, clothes, furniture, and art supplies are donated to local nonprofit distribution centers, and food waste is given to homeless shelters. Landscaping and food waste are composted.

The new Integrated Science Center, which is currently in the design stage, will achieve LEED certification. A recent renovation emphasized recycling materials from other buildings, such as reused concrete, steel, and light fixtures.

Students have the opportunity to reside in an environmental living learning community on campus. The recycling program has ten student employees. EnVision is the environmental student group on campus, and another group, Back to da Roots, promotes using sustainable methods to preserve the earth.

Students receive unlimited access to mass transit in San Francisco with their ID cards. Full-time faculty and staff without parking permits may receive a $40 monthly subsidy from the transit pass subsidy program. There is a local car-sharing program. The university also owns 30 electric carts.

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.