University of Tulsa

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The university's sustainability committee includes administrators, faculty, staff, and students and has worked to reduce waste and energy use on campus, has implemented green purchasing policies, and has incorporated sustainability into new-student orientation.

Campus-wide temperature setback challenges were recently initiated in order to reduce energy consumption. A lights-off campaign was implemented during non-use periods to encourage campus community members to conserve energy. The university installed efficient fume hoods in some campus buildings and completed lighting retrofits. There was a switch to Green Seal-certified cleaning products, and even new floor strippers are chemical-free.

The university recycles traditional materials in addition to batteries, steel, antifreeze, waste oil, and electronics. The online Swap-N-Shop is a forum for sales, exchanges, and give-aways of used items. Clothing and other items are collected at the end of the academic year and donated to local organizations. The university is also currently piloting a composting program for landscaping waste.

TU has installed occupancy sensors in most buildings. The use of natural light has been incorporated into the design of new buildings and renovations. Half of faucets on campus have been replaced with low-flow fixtures, and low-flow showerheads are being installed in most buildings. High-efficiency laundry units have also been installed in some buildings.

First-year students view a presentation on greening the university, and four student interns are employed to work on sustainability efforts each semester. The university also offers the Green Study Abroad program. There are 13 active sustainability-related student groups on campus, which have run a variety of campaigns and events, including the development and maintenance of a campus organic garden.

A bike-sharing program makes 475 bikes available to the campus community, and each rental includes a helmet and bike lock. Bicycle repair services are also available to faculty, students, and staff. The university provides a free shuttle service, and parking is restricted in order to make the main campus more pedestrian-friendly. The campus fleet includes eight electric powered vehicles and a hydrogen-powered golf cart built by students.

The university does not make its proxy voting record public. The university makes information on all endowment holdings available only to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the school community.

The university aims to optimize investment return and is currently exploring investment in renewable energy funds or similar investment vehicles.

The university provides its investment managers with general guidelines that determine its proxy votes.