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On Nov. 16, the Vice Presidents Council of the University adopted the Environmental Sustainability Policy drafted and presented by the Sustainability Team of the VQI Environmental Team. This was a very timely event, demonstrating the University’s leadership in environmental responsibility, because in January 2005 the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development commenced. With UNESCO as its lead agency, the United Nations is striving to involve governments, non-governmental and civil organizations and the private sector worldwide in developing awareness of the need for sustainable development and in fostering the necessary changes to bring it about at all levels.

The adoption of this policy is significant in that it was achieved in record time. Michael Russell, biology, and chair of the VQI Environmental Team commented: “I was most impressed by the efficiency of the administrative channels that functioned to facilitate the adoption of the Environmental Sustainability Policy. It really only took a couple of months from the time the team produced a draft of the policy, until it was approved by the Vice Presidents Council.”

This is also testimony to the effectiveness of VQI, its members and committees, and its policies and procedures. According to Russell: “My involvement with the VQI Environmental Team provides tremendous personal and professional satisfaction because it gives me the opportunity to work with colleagues who are outside my academic discipline in an area that we have a deep and abiding commitment to. The Sustainability Policy represents the real fruits of our labors and it is rewarding and energizing to have official recognition of these efforts by the University.”

Established in October 2003, the VQI Environmental Sustainability Team worked for nearly a year researching and formulating this document that allows the University to seize an opportunity and fulfill “an obligation to exercise leadership in promoting and reinforcing environmental responsibility by integrating the ethical, social, economic and ecological values of environmentally sustainable development into institutional policy and practice.” With a commitment to sustainability “the current needs of Villanova are met today, without compromising the mission, longevity and prosperity of the institution or the ability of its students, faculty and staff to meet their future needs.”

The policy was first presented by Dr. Jameson Chace, biology and chair of the team, and Jessica DiLisi, a student, at the September 2004 VQI Council meeting. The members of the Council voted in support of the policy as presented and urged the team to take the policy to the Vice Presidents Council for its ratification. Three members of the team, all respected faculty members, Dr. Chace, Dr. John Olson, biology, and Dr. Robert Traver, civil and environmental engineering, presented the policy at the October meeting of the Vice Presidents Council. After a full discussion of the policy, a decision was put off and a sub-committee formed to resolve several areas of concern. A slightly revised version of the policy which stressed environmental sustainability was adopted by the vice-presidents at the November meeting.

The policy states that “Villanova University will strive to conduct its activities in an ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable manner, and will continue to do so for future generations.” In addition, it “will support the concepts of sustainability in its curriculum, research, and related activities, preparing all members of the Villanova community to contribute to an environmentally sound and socially just society.” Furthermore, “The institution will strive to function as a sustainable community, embodying responsible consumption, promoting ecological literacy and environmentally sound practices among its students, faculty, staff, and graduates, and supporting these values in the local community.”

Among the goals set forth in the policy is for the University to make concerted efforts to conserve resources, including but not restricted to the promotion of water and energy conservation, waste reduction and the conscientious use of materials, the acquisition of sustainable modes of campus transportation and the adoption of green building standards. According to Dr. Chace, “Villanova has been making tremendous efforts to conserve energy and resources, with an award winning recycling program and successful Green Purchasing Program, as but two examples; the environmental sustainability policy begins by calling attention to all the good things we are doing already, and outlines where we can make further progress in the future.”

A second goal of the policy is that the University will “engage in appropriate learning opportunities with the intention of creating a community whose members, student, faculty, staff and graduates, are environmentally literate and responsible” by “integrating social and environmental responsibility into curriculum development, fostering further research and a deeper understanding of environmentally sustainable development, and creating and promoting an informed network of Villanovans committed to the principles of environmental sustainability.”

Jim Chace noted: “Many of the conservation activities take place behind the scenes at Villanova, by dedicated staff in the Facilities department, and here we have an opportunity to provide a real learning experience for Villanova students. The stormwater wetlands project of Dr. Traver by the law school parking lot is a great example of providing a hands-on engineering project that reduces Villanova’s impact on the Delaware River watershed, and has gained Villanova University regional and national recognition.” Traver and his colleagues and students are studying three other areas on campus that have been constructed as part of a watershed plan: an infiltration traffic island on West Campus, a porous concrete facility in the quad between Sullivan and Sheehan, and an infiltration trench to capture run off from the St. Augustine Center parking deck.

Chace noted: “Following Dr. Traver’s model, there are many opportunities for faculty to explore the dimensions of sustainable development in their courses and research. Hopefully this policy will encourage more student and faculty involvement.” More information about the Environmental Team, the Sustainability Policy, links to courses, websites and articles on sustainable development can be accessed at the Environmental Team’s website: www3.villanova.edu/environment/index.html.

The Sustainability Subcommittee, in cooperation with appropriate University officials, will submit a report to the Vice Presidents Council each May documenting the achievements of the policy and making recommendations for the next year.

The adoption of this major policy by the Vice Presidents Council was a significant event. It reflects the “spirit and mission” of the University, enhances its “legacy of social and environmental justice,” and “promotes the development of the total person: intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, socially and physically, and the development of a more respectful relationship with the environment.” By adopting this policy Villanova has taken a leadership role in Sustainable Development.

In addition to Jim Chace, the members of the Sustainability Team are students Emily Brault, Erin Brault, Jessica DiLisi, and Joseph Goessling; Erica Allen Lynch, Environmental Health and Safety; Donna Chadderton, Falvey Library; Vikram Iyengar, biology; John Olson, biology; Graham Sinclair, MBA program; Rominder Suri, civil and environmental engineering; and Robert Traver, civil and environmental engineering.

According to Dr. Chace, Villanova has been making tremendous efforts to conserve energy and resources, with an award winning recycling program and successful Green Purchasing Program, as but two examples, the environmental sustainability policy begins by calling attention to all the good things we are doing already, and outlines where we can make further progress in the future.

Many of the conservation activities take place behind the scenes at Villanova, by dedicated staff in the Facilities Department, and here we have an opportunity to provide a real learning experience for Villanova students. The stormwater wetlands project of Dr. Traver by the law school parking lot is a great example of providing a hands-on engineering project that reduces Villanova’s impact of the Delaware River watershed, and has gained Villanova University regional and national recognition. (cross check this with Rob Traver).

Following Dr. Traver’s model, there are many opportunities for faculty to explore the dimensions of sustainable development in their courses and research.

Hopefully this policy will encourage more students and faculty involvement.

Website on VQI homepage provides links to courses, websites and articles on sustainable development

By adopting this policy Villanova has taken a leadership role in Sustainable Development.

	Blueprints - February 2005 Edition
Homepage Back February 2005 Archives Our Partners	Blueprints - February 2005 Edition

		New University Policy ushers in Decade of Sustainability On Nov. 16, the Vice Presidents Council of the University adopted the Environmental Sustainability Policy drafted and presented by the Sustainability Team of the VQI Environmental Team. This was a very timely event, demonstrating the University’s leadership in environmental responsibility, because in January 2005 the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development commenced. With UNESCO as its lead agency, the United Nations is striving to involve governments, non-governmental and civil organizations and the private sector worldwide in developing awareness of the need for sustainable development and in fostering the necessary changes to bring it about at all levels. The adoption of this policy is significant in that it was achieved in record time. Michael Russell, biology, and chair of the VQI Environmental Team commented: “I was most impressed by the efficiency of the administrative channels that functioned to facilitate the adoption of the Environmental Sustainability Policy. It really only took a couple of months from the time the team produced a draft of the policy, until it was approved by the Vice Presidents Council.” This is also testimony to the effectiveness of VQI, its members and committees, and its policies and procedures. According to Russell: “My involvement with the VQI Environmental Team provides tremendous personal and professional satisfaction because it gives me the opportunity to work with colleagues who are outside my academic discipline in an area that we have a deep and abiding commitment to. The Sustainability Policy represents the real fruits of our labors and it is rewarding and energizing to have official recognition of these efforts by the University.” Established in October 2003, the VQI Environmental Sustainability Team worked for nearly a year researching and formulating this document that allows the University to seize an opportunity and fulfill “an obligation to exercise leadership in promoting and reinforcing environmental responsibility by integrating the ethical, social, economic and ecological values of environmentally sustainable development into institutional policy and practice.” With a commitment to sustainability “the current needs of Villanova are met today, without compromising the mission, longevity and prosperity of the institution or the ability of its students, faculty and staff to meet their future needs.” The policy was first presented by Dr. Jameson Chace, biology and chair of the team, and Jessica DiLisi, a student, at the September 2004 VQI Council meeting. The members of the Council voted in support of the policy as presented and urged the team to take the policy to the Vice Presidents Council for its ratification. Three members of the team, all respected faculty members, Dr. Chace, Dr. John Olson, biology, and Dr. Robert Traver, civil and environmental engineering, presented the policy at the October meeting of the Vice Presidents Council. After a full discussion of the policy, a decision was put off and a sub-committee formed to resolve several areas of concern. A slightly revised version of the policy which stressed environmental sustainability was adopted by the vice-presidents at the November meeting. The policy states that “Villanova University will strive to conduct its activities in an ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable manner, and will continue to do so for future generations.” In addition, it “will support the concepts of sustainability in its curriculum, research, and related activities, preparing all members of the Villanova community to contribute to an environmentally sound and socially just society.” Furthermore, “The institution will strive to function as a sustainable community, embodying responsible consumption, promoting ecological literacy and environmentally sound practices among its students, faculty, staff, and graduates, and supporting these values in the local community.” Among the goals set forth in the policy is for the University to make concerted efforts to conserve resources, including but not restricted to the promotion of water and energy conservation, waste reduction and the conscientious use of materials, the acquisition of sustainable modes of campus transportation and the adoption of green building standards. According to Dr. Chace, “Villanova has been making tremendous efforts to conserve energy and resources, with an award winning recycling program and successful Green Purchasing Program, as but two examples; the environmental sustainability policy begins by calling attention to all the good things we are doing already, and outlines where we can make further progress in the future.” A second goal of the policy is that the University will “engage in appropriate learning opportunities with the intention of creating a community whose members, student, faculty, staff and graduates, are environmentally literate and responsible” by “integrating social and environmental responsibility into curriculum development, fostering further research and a deeper understanding of environmentally sustainable development, and creating and promoting an informed network of Villanovans committed to the principles of environmental sustainability.” Jim Chace noted: “Many of the conservation activities take place behind the scenes at Villanova, by dedicated staff in the Facilities department, and here we have an opportunity to provide a real learning experience for Villanova students. The stormwater wetlands project of Dr. Traver by the law school parking lot is a great example of providing a hands-on engineering project that reduces Villanova’s impact on the Delaware River watershed, and has gained Villanova University regional and national recognition.” Traver and his colleagues and students are studying three other areas on campus that have been constructed as part of a watershed plan: an infiltration traffic island on West Campus, a porous concrete facility in the quad between Sullivan and Sheehan, and an infiltration trench to capture run off from the St. Augustine Center parking deck. Chace noted: “Following Dr. Traver’s model, there are many opportunities for faculty to explore the dimensions of sustainable development in their courses and research. Hopefully this policy will encourage more student and faculty involvement.” More information about the Environmental Team, the Sustainability Policy, links to courses, websites and articles on sustainable development can be accessed at the Environmental Team’s website: www3.villanova.edu/environment/index.html. The Sustainability Subcommittee, in cooperation with appropriate University officials, will submit a report to the Vice Presidents Council each May documenting the achievements of the policy and making recommendations for the next year. The adoption of this major policy by the Vice Presidents Council was a significant event. It reflects the “spirit and mission” of the University, enhances its “legacy of social and environmental justice,” and “promotes the development of the total person: intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, socially and physically, and the development of a more respectful relationship with the environment.” By adopting this policy Villanova has taken a leadership role in Sustainable Development. In addition to Jim Chace, the members of the Sustainability Team are students Emily Brault, Erin Brault, Jessica DiLisi, and Joseph Goessling; Erica Allen Lynch, Environmental Health and Safety; Donna Chadderton, Falvey Library; Vikram Iyengar, biology; John Olson, biology; Graham Sinclair, MBA program; Rominder Suri, civil and environmental engineering; and Robert Traver, civil and environmental engineering. According to Dr. Chace, Villanova has been making tremendous efforts to conserve energy and resources, with an award winning recycling program and successful Green Purchasing Program, as but two examples, the environmental sustainability policy begins by calling attention to all the good things we are doing already, and outlines where we can make further progress in the future. Many of the conservation activities take place behind the scenes at Villanova, by dedicated staff in the Facilities Department, and here we have an opportunity to provide a real learning experience for Villanova students. The stormwater wetlands project of Dr. Traver by the law school parking lot is a great example of providing a hands-on engineering project that reduces Villanova’s impact of the Delaware River watershed, and has gained Villanova University regional and national recognition. (cross check this with Rob Traver). Following Dr. Traver’s model, there are many opportunities for faculty to explore the dimensions of sustainable development in their courses and research. Hopefully this policy will encourage more students and faculty involvement. Website on VQI homepage provides links to courses, websites and articles on sustainable development By adopting this policy Villanova has taken a leadership role in Sustainable Development.