University of Puget Sound

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The University of Puget Sound's Sustainability Advisory Committee promotes environmental stewardship on campus. The university also employs a full-time student sustainability coordinator, and multiple other staff members work part-time on sustainability initiatives. President Thomas has signed the Presidents' Climate Commitment, and the university is a signatory to the Talloires Declaration.

The university has conducted a greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The school has purchased meters to measure the electricity consumption of individual buildings to encourage conservation through behavioral change.

Dining services purchases from between five and ten local farms, including local dairy and cage-free egg farms. The university allows students to use reusable dishware when taking food out of dining facilities in order to discourage use of disposables. Dining facilities compost preconsumer food waste and recently began composting postconsumer waste as well. The university recycles traditional materials and electronics.

The University of Puget Sound is committed to sustainable design and incorporates many LEED standards into construction projects. Two new buildings on campus will receive LEED certification in late 2009. The university aims to achieve a minimum diversion rate of 85 percent for construction materials.

The university's Live Green House is a sustainability-themed housing option for students. A series of zero-waste events are held at new-student orientation and throughout the academic year. The university employs 15 student sustainability staff who coordinate and perform work, including recycling and utility use reduction and campus education. The student organization Students for a Sustainable Campus works to implement sustainability initiatives on campus and partners with the Sustainability Advisory Committee.

The university is replacing its gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles. The university provides a free security shuttle around campus and subsidizes public transportation passes. Preferred parking spots are offered to carpoolers. A bicycle-sharing program is run by students.

The university makes a list of external managers available online to the public. Information about all holdings is available only to trustees and senior administrators. The university does not make public the proxy voting record of its commingled funds.

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 does not have the ability to vote proxies, as the entire endowment is invested in commingled vehicles.