Rutgers University Senate Agenda

Review of Proposed Charge on University Office of Sustainability and Engagement- Submitted by Kathleen Parrish, SEBS Student Senator and Julie Serrano, SAS-NB, Student Senator

Kathleen Parrish and Julie Serrano submitted the following proposed charge and rationale on University Office of Sustainability and Engagement:

Proposed Charge:

Global organizations such as the United Nations have taken a holistic approach to Sustainability to address the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental sustainability. They have encouraged universities to be leaders in this movement. The Rutgers University Strategic Plan states its dedication to sustainability. Furthermore, as a land-grant university, Rutgers has a responsibility to promote, health, welfare, and economic prosperity of people in New Jersey. Rutgers Business School has signed on to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management Education, as a step towards demonstrating a commitment to sustainability. However, Rutgers still stands alone in the Big 10 as the only school that does not have an Office of Sustainability to provide leadership in benchmarking its sustainability efforts. As a result, or efforts to fulfill our Strategic Plan and land-grant mission have many gaps, as they are often siloed and unable to reach their full potential.

A Sustainability Committee of mostly faculty, created in 2005 and reinvigorated in 2014 has attempted to fill these gaps. The Committee has created a University-wide sustainability website to be released soon, and it has held the event, RU Sustainable, each semester for the last three years. Students working with the committee have formed their own coalition of close to 20 student organizations looking to address these issues at the student level. Within RUSA, the Sustainability Task Force, further research the topic and compiled their findings in a 2017-18 report, also recommending the creation of an Office of Sustainability.

Together, we have learned that understanding and coordinating our sustainability efforts across campuses is a full-time job, and cannot be left to what little time staff and students are able to contribute on a volunteer basis. What's more the information gap created by the current lack of communication and leadership in sustainability is leading us to missed opportunities. Our students are missing chances to learn and engage in an up-and-coming field. Our researchers lose out on collaborative projects, access to funding opportunities, and a seat at the table when policy solutions are being discussed. Our centers and academic schools are missing out on chances to easily collaborate across schools and disciplines. With an office, we can take action on these opportunities and more. Potential students would be attracted to study at Rutgers to network with multi-national organizations and add sustainability to their academic and professional experience. If those potential students are engaged in sustainability efforts they are more likely to stay in contact with Rutgers as alumni, and mentor other students in their sustainability journey. An Office of Sustainability and Engagement under the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement would work with stakeholders and on-going efforts on and off campus to ensure that our students, alumni, faculty, staff, administration, and our state can live, learn, and succeed in sustainability. Rutgers has the potential to become a national and global leader in sustainability continuing its lasting legacy.

At the November 2 meeting Senator Serrano spoke to the rationale for proposing the charge and answered questions of the Executive Committee. It was agreed to not issue a charge at that time and revisit the subject in conjunction with the above proposed charge on Renewable Energy.