The President's Advisory Council on Environmental Affairs at Fort Lewis

PACEA Representative Information

Introduction

     This is a report regarding the creation of an Environmental Council at Fort Lewis College (FLC). During the Fall semester of 99’ the Environmental Center Board of Directors (E.C BOD)at Fort Lewis College and the Campus Ecology Coordinator had a meeting with Kendall Blanchard President of Fort Lewis College.  At this meeting environmental issues at FLC were discussed, as well as the inability for the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center (E.C.) to address all the environmental needs on campus.  The E.C. is designed to be a resource for students, and in order to meet the needs of the students better the E.C. does not have the time to filter all the environmental needs of the campus.  At the meeting it was decided the President would set up a Council that would address the environmental needs on the FLC campus, and make recommendations when necessary.

The Role of the Environmental Council at Fort Lewis College

The Environmental Council at Fort Lewis College (FLC) should work towards institutionalizing sustainable management at FLC to foster a collaborative learning culture that will lead the FLC community to a heightened awareness of its environmental impact.  The Council should also work towards conserving natural resources for future generations, and establishing a formal goal for working towards the creation of a sustainable community at FLC. We envision a sustainable community as one that provides for the social and economic needs of all its members for many generations to come, without compromising the health of the environment and the needs of the present generation.

PACEA Tasks

·        To promote environmental awareness on campus among faculty, staff and students.

·        To make recommendations to the President of FLC and the President’s Cabinet:

a.       To ensure a safe and healthy environment for all who live and work on the College campus.

b.      To maintain biodiversity and wildlife habitat, restore damaged ecosystems, prevent pollution, safely manage waste, and safeguard the beauty of the landscape under the care of the College.

c.       To promote throughout the College community conservation of resources, energy efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, pollution prevention, increased reliance on renewable resources, and other measures consistent with sustainable living.

d.      To Participate in identifying strategies, resources and opportunities  to facilitate long-range environmental planning by the College.

e.       To assist the College in carrying out its civic responsibilities in the area of the environment.

·   To ensure that the College undertakes a campus wide environmental audit on a regular periodic basis (every two, three, or four years) and that the audit is shared with the appropriate people.

·   To encourage faculty to provide students opportunities to conduct research on campus and local environmental issues; and to ensure that such research is shared with the Environmental Council and appropriate officials the College so that it can be used to formulate and improve policies and programs.

·   To design and coordinate environmental programs on campus as directed by the President.

Support

·        Find a way to integrate the Environmental Council into the permanent framework of FLC.

·        Connect state funding to sustainable operations at FLC

·        Support the maintenance of the website by providing information on the Environmental Council.

·        Utilize KDUR-radio and the Independent as a media source for establishing environmental awareness.

·        Pursue funding (grants, administration) to support environmentally related projects.

·        Help create an environmental support network for groups on campus.

·        Give out rewards and incentives to faculty and students who show an interest/effort towards environmentally sustainable practices.

Education

·        Environmental Council involvement in Freshman Orientation.

·        Environmental Council Orientation of faculty, admin. and staff. 

·        Provide seminars and forums regarding the sustainability and the

environment on a regular basis.

·        Educate the larger campus community through the use of the Campus Ecology webpage.

·        Establish interactions with other groups on campus (i.e. Native American Center and Campus Ecology Club).

·        Use existing facilities to heighten campus and community awareness

(Gardens, Ag. Research Station, institutionalize ecological design in campus construction).

·        Provide recommendations regarding the General Education reform.

Outreach

·        To transfer knowledge of sustainability gained from FLC experiences beyond campus.

·        Publish materials and project results (i.e. brochure, conferences, reports, webpage updates).

·        Develop working partnerships with FLC’s surrounding community and other universities to help develop Environmental Councils at other universities.

·        Highlight sustainability of campus facilities.

renner_m@fortlewis.edu’s Environmental Council experiences and accomplishments.

·       Helped to establish the FLC's Policy on Environmental Issues.

Conclusion

     With the creation of an Environmental Council Fort Lewis College is committed to environmental mindfulness and stewardship in all its activities. This commitment arises from a sense of concerned citizenship, moral duty and from a desire to teach and lead by setting an example for other institutions of higher learning to follow. The Council will gives a high priority to integrating environmental awareness and responsibility into the daily life at FLC. Respect and care for the environment, sustainable living, and intergenerational responsibility are among the fundamental values that will guide planning and decision making on the Environmental Council.