Wake Forest University

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

The president’s strategic plan for the university incorporates sustainability as a major goal. The campus master planning process has heavily integrated sustainability considerations in the new plan, which will be completed in October 2008. WFU will hire a sustainability director in fall 2008 to lead efforts on campus. The faculty sustainability committee works with the administration to promote sustainable practices on campus.

The administration has provided an additional $700,000 to retrofit buildings with energy-efficient lighting and occupancy sensors. WFU has instituted an aggressive setback program, using the energy management control system to cycle off buildings during low-occupancy and holiday periods. The administration is undertaking a campus-wide awareness program to encourage behavioral changes to reduce energy consumption.

Dining services purchases local and organic products from 13 producers and offers biodegradable to-go containers in the main dining hall. A faculty-student initiative converts more than 2,000 pounds of used vegetable oil each week to biodiesel fuel for use in campus vehicles. The comprehensive recycling program diverts 22 percent of the university's waste.

Wake Forest will consider LEED certification in the design and construction of all future buildings. The university established a LEED Silver goal for two new buildings and LEED certification for another that will be designed in 2009 and operational in 2010. The university also recently completed a major storm water improvement project.

A recently formed student sustainability committee is increasing the student voice for sustainability initiatives on campus. The Student Environmental Action Coalition also promotes sustainability efforts on campus. A sustainability awareness campaign will be held during orientation in fall 2008.

Wake Forest has initiated a program to replace current vehicles with electric and hybrid vehicles, beginning in 2008 with the purchase of five electric vehicles. The university provides free shuttle buses for students. The new university master plan will address expanded pedestrian and biking alternatives, and reduce on-campus parking as expanded mass transit and shuttle options are implemented.

The university has no known policy of disclosure of endowment holdings or its shareholder voting record. Therefore, there is no known ability to access this information.

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.