Sustainability Committee

The purpose of the Sustainability Advisory Committee is to help advise the Office of Sustainability. The advisory committee makes recommendations on the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives, policies, practices, research, and curricula across Valparaiso University.  The committee will help with decisions in long term sustainability goals and identify ways to achieve these goals.

The most common definition of sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Responsibilities

The committee is in charge of advising the Office of Sustainability on matters pertaining to the campus environment and sustainability as it directly relates to Valparaiso University.

• Promote the Office of Sustainability’s mission statement and vision and its successes throughout the university.
• Foster linkages among and within campus departments.
• Develop comprehensive ways to help adopt sustainability matters on campus.
• Recommend, develop and maintain adopted sustainability goals.

Membership

The Sustainability Advisory Committee members shall consist of a diverse perspective of the University’s faculty, staff, and students. The committee is expected to arrive at its recommendations by sense of body rather than consensus or vote. Members are comprised of both permanent members and members with specific terms and will be appointed on an annual basis.

Meetings

The Sustainability advisory committee will meet at least once a month. The chair will provide a minimum of two (2) weeks advance notice of meeting schedules, but can call special meetings with shorter notice to discuss urgent issues. Additional meetings may be added quarterly on an “as needed basis.”