Kansas State University

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

Kansas State University's Sustainability Task Force has created a set of recommendations as a road map for university sustainability. All cleaning products are peroxide-based or Green Seal–certified. The university employs a director of sustainability.

The university has a three kilowatt solar installation on a university-owned community building. An energy performance contract resulted in central plant and lighting retrofits. The university plans to sign another performance contract for LED lighting and centralized computer power management software.

Dining services purchases as much milk and meat as is feasible from the meat and dairy science departments through the Farm-to-Fork program. A small amount of produce is sourced from a student-run farm. Preconsumer food scraps are composted in all dining halls, and the university has an electronics recycling program.

The university has installed some motion sensor lighting. There are plans for LEED certification for two buildings currently in construction.

The university offers two sustainability internships to students. The Students for Environmental Action group has started a game day recycling program, as well as a move-in recycling event to orient new students to the university's recycling system. The student director of sustainability acts as a liaison between the Student Governing Association and sustainability clubs, and works on environmental policies within student government. The Ecolympics competition encouraged students to increase recycling rates and decrease their consumption of energy and water.

Bicycle lanes and racks are located throughout campus, and car traffic is limited. The university's master planning prioritizes pedestrian and bike needs. A free shuttle runs between the campus and the K-State foundation building.

The university makes a list of all holdings available only to trustees and senior administrators. The university does not make its shareholder voting record public.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is currently invested in renewable energy funds. Some of the university's investment managers use environmental/sustainability factors in evaluating investment opportunities.

A portion of the endowment is in mutual funds or other commingled investment vehicles. For separately managed accounts, the university asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.