Willamette University

College Sustainability Report Card 2009

President Pelton signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. In 2007, the president and trustees created and endowed the Willamette Center for Sustainable Communities. A sustainability council oversees sustainability initiatives on campus. A purchasing policy requires the use of green cleaning products, as well as paper and carpet with recycled content.

The university has installed solar panels on one building and will place a 40-kilowatt solar array on another. The university has also installed motion sensors and high-efficiency lighting, and has begun a retrocommissioning process for HVAC and lighting control systems that will restore or raise levels of efficiency.

Food items such as meat and vegetables are purchased from local, organic farms whenever possible. Local food accounts for 35 percent of the food budget, and includes dairy. Dining services has reduced postconsumer waste by 35 percent and composts 50 percent of all food waste for use at local farms. Facilities maintains a comprehensive recycling program.

The university has green building guidelines for all new construction and renovations, and all future buildings will be built to LEED Silver standards at a minimum. A residential building has achieved, and a new building under construction will seek, LEED Gold certification. The university reuses building materials and installs double-glazed windows and low-flow plumbing in renovations.

Students are integral to the Sustainability Council and the Center for Sustainable Communities, which hires student interns. Each year, the council and the center fund competitively selected projects, led mostly by students. Several student groups are involved in sustainability initiatives on campus, including a Focus the Nation chapter and the Environmental Community Outreach Society.

The university uses hybrid campus security vehicles and is replacing work vehicles with electric vehicles. The Bike Shop provides free services and bicycle rental to the community. The university offers employees and students free access to the city transit system and sponsors a commercial car-sharing program.

The university makes a list of endowment holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community, but does not make its shareholder voting record available.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds.

According to policy, the university will typically ask that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting, but the endowment committee may instruct them otherwise on a case-by-case basis.