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| Our Success Stories |
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| A compilation of the recent sustainability projects and programs implemented on Aquinas College’s campus. They are improvements to our campus with a Triple Bottom Line (environmental, social, and financial capital) approach to doing business. |
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| Local Innovations |
| Local innovations occur informally through and at different departments on campus, where campus community members take their own personal initiative to green their department. Some of this personal initiative is sparked by tabled (formal) initiative proposals. |
| Aquinas' Earns LEED Certification for the Academic Building and Ravine Apartment D |
| Aquinas has two more LEED certified buildings on campus: the second floor of AB and Ravine Apartment D. The Apartment building earned basic certification, while the AB project obtained silver certification from the USGBC. For more information on the green features of the buildings, click here. |
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| Creative Dining Services Sustainability Program |
| Creative Dining Services is a Michigan-based company contracted to provide Aquinas College’s food services and catering. Beginning in the Fall of 2009, the company removed all trays from Aquinas' cafeteria, saving water and reducing food waste quantities. Creative Dining also has implemented a Locally-Grown program, buying as many turkeys and as much produce as possible from Michigan farmers (through Van Eerden). The food service provider also use select Surety green seal certified cleaning products, and are planning to expand the program. |
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| Light Bulb Recycling |
| In February 2009, Aquinas' Physical Plant Department began recycling all campus light bulbs with Voss Lighting. |
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| Rolling in the Green: AQ’s New Paper Towel Dispensers |
| Aquinas’ Housekeeping Department is installing new paper towel dispensers during the remodeling of every bathroom on campus. The new “controlled-use" dispensers have two major advantages. According to the manufacturer, they typically reduce paper towel use by 15-20%. The dispensers also reduce the spread of germs, due to the "touch less" design of the unit. |
| Not only is the new dispensing system notable, but the Bay West paper purchased for the units also has some green credentials. The “Ecosoft” paper contains 100% recycled content (40% post-consumer and 60% post-industrial), and it is Green Seal certified. The paper towel retrofit is another example of Aquinas "walking the talk" of sustainability in our purchasing decisions. |
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| Sustainable Business Graduate Forum |
| Implementation Status: Fully implemented. A facebook group called "Aquinas College Sustainable Business Alumni" was set-up in May 2009 for alumni to network with one another. |
Full Proposal: Aquinas student Bobbi Parmer submitted the following proposal in February 2009: "Development of a forum and/or website for Sustainable Business program graduates. This would allow SB grads to interact with each other and network." |
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| Provide an Incentive for Utilizing the Rapid Bus System |
| Implementation Status: Fully Implemented. A lunchtime event was held on April 22nd, 2009 (Earth Day) featuring a representative from the Rapid and avid bus users from Aquinas. This idea came up through a formal proposal submitted by Kim Quigg. Because of ease of implementation, the proposal did not traverse the entire process. |
Full Proposal: I had to take the RAPID bus for the first time in the 16 years I have lived in Grand Rapids earlier this week. I was thinking since it only costs 40 cents for Aquinas employess could we do some sort of an incentive for riding the bus? Perhaps a ride to work day? Incentives for people who already ride the bus, walk or ride a bike? |
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| Sustainability Information Plaques in Jarecki/Lacks/Library |
| Implementation Status: The information displays are completed and posted in the Grace Hauenstein Library entryway. |
| Rebecca Kirk, an Aquinas alumnus, submitted a formal proposal in March of 2007 to have education displays developed to highlight the green components of the Grace Hauenstein Library. To assist with LEED certification of the building and to education visitors, the college decided to develop these displays, independent of this proposal. |
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| Direct Deposit |
| Implementation Status: Fully available to all students, staff, and faculty |
| Largely encouraged by student workers around campus, direct deposit was made available to Aquinas students in February 2008. The idea was also submitted as a formal sustainability initiative by students Carol Parsaca and Chris Meyer in March 2007. However, the timing was not ideal to implement such a program, as the online time sheet program was recently introduced. There are many advantages to the utilization of direct deposit in place of paper check payments. First, direct deposit transactions are fast, reliable and safe. For individuals who drive to the bank to deposit their check, they may reduce their carbon emissions with direct deposit. Most importantly, direct deposit is a more convenient method to pay our student workers and helps build social capital on campus. |
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| Campus-Wide Recycling Program |
| Implementation Status: During the first phase of roll out, about 20 sets of recycling bins were placed around campus. The second phase was completed spring of 2008, with the addition of 20 sets, and 8 single green recycling bins. The third and most recent phase (November 2008) involved the addition of 9 more sets. |
| Expanding Aquinas College’s recycling program was spurred by student pressure to have bins available for their use. Before the bins were out, many offices on campus were only recycling office paper and cardboard. However, students had no real avenue to recycle, even though they wanted too. Also, a collection system for plastics and metal waste was not made available to the campus community. Therefore, a new recycling program was launched in January 2008, with more bins in accessible areas for students, faculty and staff. A student was hired by the Housekeeping Department to empty the bins regularly, provide feedback on the program, and keep the recycling areas clean. The volume of recycled material will be tracked and recorded.>>More information and bin locations* |
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| Synergy |
| Implementation Status: A system of measurement is currently being developed by the Student Sustainability Committee. |
| This local innovation was spurred by a sustainability initiative proposal submitted by Bradley Vandenbroeck & Colin Knue in October, 2007. Vandenbroeck and Knue realized that as the number of initiatives increase on the Aquinas campus, a triple bottom line measurement system should be set in place. Such a system will help to accurately manage passed proposals and provide appropriate feedback to the community. Providing an evaluation on each enacted proposal would validate them by assuring that the proposal is doing what it first set out to accomplish. The Initiative Proposal received a 4 in the Joint Sustainability Committee on November 30, 2007, but did not traverse the entire process due to ease of implementation and cooperation. >>More Information (pdf)* |
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| Changing the Way We Clean |
| Implementation Status: Currently in trial period |
| "Changing the way we clean" was submitted as a formal initiative proposal by students Becky Brown and Bryant LaPres in October 2006. The suggestion called for the addition of manual floor sweepers to the fleet of traditional vacuum cleaners in the Dorms and Apartments. The Joint Sustainability Committee assigned this proposal a value rating of 5, but it never continued on the process because of departmental cooperation and initiative. Randall MacGeorge of Residence Life purchased two manual cleaners for Regina and St. Joes for use during the Spring semester (2008). Randall has agreed to purchase more after an official measurement of the two he purchased has been conducted. >>Download (pdf) the original proposal* |
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| AQ Saint Now Available Online |
| Implementation Status: Fully Implemented |
| As Aquinas College continues to its journey toward sustainability, the campus newspaper, “The Saint,” is now available online. The website, www.aqsaint.com, provides students, faculty and staff with the latest news, blogs, photos and more. The online newspaper allows students to view articles in paperless form, hopefully resulting in fewer paper copies printed in the future. The website also allows students to comment and express their feelings toward articles, activities, and events. Furthermore, the online availability of Aquinas’ newspaper may be more convenient for some students. |
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| “Kool-Aid” Chemistry Lab |
| Implementation Status: Fully Implemented |
| Each year the Chemistry Department performs Spectrometer Experiments. In past years the chemical solutions used for the experiment were nickel nitrate, copper sulfate, and cobalt chloride. These compounds are hazardous to human health and the environment among other things. Nickel nitrate is a cancer causing compound that is extremely toxic to aquatic organisms (MSDS). Copper sulfate is “very toxic to aquatic organisms and may cause long term damage in the environment” (MSDS). Cobalt chloride “may cause damage to the upper respiratory tract, skin, eyes, and teeth” (MSDS). The chemistry department has taken a new approach to this experiment most recently, thanks to Dr. Beth Jensen. This year the department decided to replace these harmful chemicals with Kool-Aid. Kool-Aid is a non-hazardous mixture that provides color just as well as the previously mentioned compounds. Kool-Aid does not negatively affect the environment or human health providing for a more environmentally and socially friendly experiment. |
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| Residence Life Switches to Survey Monkey |
| Implementation Status: Fully Implemented |
| During the 2006-2007 academic year, the Residence Life Department replaced three major paper surveys with electronic versions. The department utilizes the SurveyMonkey.com web resource to send the survey via e-mail to resident students. The initial cost of the web resource is offset by the decrease in student labor cost. Student worker time can now be dedicated to other office functions, rather than preparing, mailing, compiling, and reporting the results of the survey. Furthermore, copy paper used for the actual survey instruments, promotional posters, and reports have been reduced by over 94%, saving approximately 4.5 reams of paper each year. Finally, the quality of the survey responses have improved. More students actually choose to add comments on the electronic version, compared to the paper versions of the surveys. |
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| Lighting Retrofits on Campus |
| Implementation Status: ALTO lights are being installed throughout campus and the LED exit signs purchase is being negotiated. |
| In light of the recent waste regulation and the detrimental effects of mercury on the environment, Penny Blickle (Physical Plant) decided to research alternatives to the mercury-containing fluorescent lamps used on campus. The two main alternatives to fluorescent lighting are halogen and sulfur lights. Although halogen lamps do not contain any mercury, their use is discouraged by the EPA due to their relatively high energy use. Since we are motivated both by environmental responsibility and economic factors, halogen lamps are not an attractive choice. The Phillips ALTO has the least amount of mercury compared to the other fluorescent products that were researched, and the lowest price. Because of Penny Blickle’s leadership, Physical Plant is beginning to phase in the Phillips Alto bulb. This simple switch has allowed Aquinas to save money within its built environment, decrease energy costs, and lessen our negative impact on the environment. |
| Another success story from our Physical Plant Department is in the selection of LED exit signs as a replacement for existing exit signs and future signage. Exit signs must be lit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This can compounded quickly in terms of energy costs when you consider the number of signs used on a typical college campus. The highly efficient LED exit signs can offer lifetime savings of up to $300 per sign in reduced energy, materials, and labor costs as compared with incandescent models. The bulbs on the units purchased are rated for a 20 year life and require very little, if any, maintenance. |
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| Clean and Green |
| Implementation Status: Clean by Peroxy is the only "green" cleaning product currently used by the housekeeping department. However, Doug Greenslate is working hard to incorporate more sustainable cleaning products into the product lines used at Aquinas. |
| The housekeeping staff at Aquinas College is starting to run out of some of their cleaning chemicals. Even though they have a large inventory of standard cleaning products to use up, housekeeping is using a general multi-surface cleaning solution known as "Clean by Peroxy." Cleaning by Peroxy uses environmentally friendly raw materials, and is Green Seal Certified. It replaced 3M’s heavy duty multi-surface cleaner, which is mostly made up of 1-Methoxy 2- Propanol. 1-Methoxy 2- Propanol is a flammable liquid and vapor, that is harmful if inhaled, may affect the central nervous system, may be harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin, and causes irradiation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. For more information on 1-Methoxy 2- Propanol, click here. Clean by Peroxy earned Green Seal Certification by have low amounts of human and water toxicity and smog production. It is also an extremely versatile cleaner and therefore, may replace many other (more harmful) chemicals in the future. Clean by Peroxy is a proprietary surfactant blend combined with hydrogen peroxide. This all-purpose cleaner is environmentally compatible and formulated to quickly remove everyday soils, including greasy residues. This product meets Green Seal’s environmental standard for industrial and institutional cleaners based on its reduced human and aquatic toxicity and reduced smog production potential.This idea was originally a formal sustainability initiative proposal, submitted by Carol Parsaca, Veronnica Towne, and Sarah Koval on October 10, 2006. The idea was modified slightly to include Spartan rather than BioSolutions, but is currently being implemented by the Housekeeping Department. It was not necessary for the idea to traverse the entire process because of departmental cooperation. |
| >>Download (pdf) the original proposal* |
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| Online Time Sheets for Hourly Employees |
| Implementation Status: Fully Implemented in 2007 |
| In 2007, Aquinas College implemented an Online Time System that performs much better than the conventional punch-in time system. The system saves at least 700 sheets of paper per pay period, or approximately 18,200 sheets of paper a year. It also saves on associated printing costs, such as toner purchases and wear/tear on the printer. Hourly employees with paid time off can more accurately track the number of hours used and available, as well as request time off online. Finally, the new time system saves time- approximately 100 days of processing. (This figure was adjusted to account for additional supervisor time required to manage the online system.) This time can now be allocated to more productive areas of work. |
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| Aquinas College Signs the Talloires Declaration |
| Implementation Status: The Declaration was signed Summer 2007 |
| As one of his first official acts as Aquinas College president, C. Edward Balog recently signed the Talloires Declaration. In 2002, the College launched its commitment to sustainability through the establishment of an undergraduate major in Sustainable Business and expanded its outreach to the community in 2005 with the creation of the Center for Sustainability. The recent signing of the Talloires Declaration further supports Aquinas College’s institutional pledge to educate, implement, and live the principles of sustainability. Established in 1990, the Talloires Declaration is an official commitment by presidents, rectors, and vice chancellors of universities and colleges to integrate environmental sustainability into the curriculum and processes of higher education. It includes ten specific actions, such as fostering environmental literacy for the entire campus, and involving all stakeholders in the process. Aquinas College joins approximately 356 institutions in over 40 countries which have made a commitment to the Talloires Declaration. |
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| Specialty Paper Advancements |
| Implementation Status: Fully Implemented, as stated below |
| Aquinas College continues to strive for sustainability, most recently greening a part of the paper procurement process on campus. The following are recent paper achievements, mostly attibutable to Sally Reeves in the College Relations Department: |
- The 2007-2008 Aquinas Course Catalog was printed on paper that is fifteen percent post-consumer recycled content.
- The cover of the catalog is printed on Forest Stewardship Council sources, which means that the paper for the cover came from exceptionally managed forests.
- Both the Aquinas College letterhead and business cards are composed of thirty percent post-consumer recycled content.
- Aquinas business cards are also Green Seal Certified, as the card stock is bleached using a chlorine-free process. The card stock is also manufactured using wind power and printed with inks that do not contain heavy metals.
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| Grace Hauenstein Library Exhibits Green Features |
| Implementation Status: The structure received LEED Certification, at the Silver Level, in 2008. Construction was completed in 2006. |
| The Grace Hauenstein Library is Aquinas College’s most recent construction project to received LEED certification from the USGBC. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing sustainable buildings. Since the library is seeking LEED certification, there are many notable green features of the project. All paints, carpet, and padding are low-VOC, meaning that there is only a small concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds in these products. All particle and board used in the building were also low-VOC. Through the use of low flow faucets and toilets, the library decrease water use by thirty-two percent. |
| >>Download (pdf) information on the Jarecki Center photovoltaic system |
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| Initiative Proposals |
| Initiative Proposals go through a formal sustainability process, starting with a sustainability committee and ending with Provost review and possible approval. |
| Provide a Subsidy for the Rapid Van |
| Implementation Status: The program details are currently in development |
Faculty member Dr. Kathy Kremer proposed an Aquinas subsidy for the Rapid Van Program in February 2009. The program subsidizes $22.00 of the monthly rideshare fee. Check back for more information. |
| The proposal received a 4 in the Joint Sustainability Committee on September 28 and was approved by the Provost on November 13, 2009. |
| Click here to view the full proposal |
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| Motion Sensor Light Switches |
| Implementation Status: The switches were installed during summer of 2009. |
| The Student Sustainability Committee submitted this idea as a formal proposal in November 2008. The proposal called for the purchase and installation of motion sensor light switches in twenty bathrooms on campus. The proposal received a value rating of 5 in the Joint Sustainability Committee (11/20/08) and was approved by the Provost during March of 2009. |
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| Campus Community Garden |
| Implementation Status: The garden was installed during summer 2009 near the Browne Center. |
| Proposed by the Student Sustainability Committee, the Campus Community Garden idea calls for the establishment of a community garden on campus for growing vegetables and herbs for the Aquinas Community. Not only does it provide opportunities for growing local, organic food, but also opportunities for community outreach. An example for the use of the produce is to have the volunteers that work the community garden have a farmers market. The proposal received a value rating of 4 in the Joint Sustainability Committee (11/20/08) and was approved by the Provost in March 2009. |
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| Reduce Paper Consumption and Use Process-Chlorine Free (PCF) Copy Paper |
| Implementation Status: Fully implemented, as described below. |
| Lara Fulton and Ali Svendsen (Sustainable Business students) submitted this proposal in the spring of 2007. The proposal aimed to reduce paper consumption on Aquinas' campus and switch to Process-Chlorine Free (PCF) copy paper. |
| In August 2008, Aquinas began purchasing paper with the following characteristics: 30% post-consumer recycled content; Process-Chlorine free; Forest Stewardship Council Certification; and Green Seal Certification. While the Center for Sustainability always strives to reduce paper use on campus, specific recent efforts toward that goal include: |
- Using the Moose and Acorn to advertise specific personal choices to help reduce paper use.
- Educating on the importance of reducing paper use on the Sustainability Initiative web site
- Through the online knowledge base (ITS Department), students, staff, and faculty have access to specific instructions to change default margins in MS Word and print double sided.
- Incoming freshman and select returning students are specifically targeted with pertinent facts and information in the Student Sustainability Handbook.
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| The formal proposal received a value rating of 5 in the Joint Sustainability Committee, and passed the Student Senate on February 27, 2008. |
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| Community Bikes |
| Implementation Status: The specifics of the program are being worked out, led by the Student Senate Sustainability Committee. |
| Lead by Chair Brad Vandenbroeck, the Student Sustainability Committee submitted this proposal to allow for the rental of bicycles to all campus members (October 2007). Campus Safety will coordinate the rental process through the utilization of the Moose as a web interface. On the web site, students will have the ability to reserve a bicycle for a particular amount of time after signing a rental agreement. The individual would then travel to the campus safety office to pick up a key to the bicycle lock. This proposal was originally tabled in the Joint Sustainability Committee on October 25, 2007 for further development. On November 30, 2007, the updated proposal received a 4 in the Joint Sustainability Committee. The student senate voted "yes" on January 16, 2008 and Provost Chaffee gave the final approval in April. |
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| E-Waste Not, E-Want Not |
| Implementation Status: Currently available to all campus community members |
| Submitted by the Staff Sustainability Committee (Feb. 2008), the "E-Waste Not, E-Want Not" proposal called for a regular electronic waste recycling program for all Aquinas staff, faculty, and students. Chad Buczkowski of Aquinas' Media Center generously offered up space in the Jarecki/Lacks Center for the collection and storage of unwanted and broken electronic equipment. At the end of each semester, a regular collection program in the dorms was also started with this proposal. All e-waste is donated to Comprenew Environmental, a local non-profit electronic waste recycler. The proposal received a value rating of 4 in the Joint Sustainability Committee, passed the Staff Sustainability Committee on April 2, and received provost approval shortly thereafter. |
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| Bike Rack Initiative |
| Implementation Status: 20 bike racks from Cycle Safe (Ada, Mich.) were installed summer of 2008.
Eight more Inverted U-Racks and 5 wall mount racks were purchased in September 2008 to accommodate the huge influx of bikes at the beginning of the school year. Another 19 U-Racks and 8 wall mount racks were installed during the summer of 2009. |
| On October 7 (2007), Dr. Matthew Tueth submitted a proposal for purchasing and installing 20 new bike rack units on campus. The proposal received a 5 in the Joint Sustainability Committee on Nov. 30th and passed the Faculty Assembly on Feb. 13th (2008). The financial benefits of installing something as simple as bike racks has a much larger impact upon the college rather than just offering a space to keep a bicycle. Cycling avoids the release of CO2, oxides of nitrogen, and other ozone forming compounds into the air. Consistent grounds elements like bike racks also help establish unity of the campus look and feel. >>More Information (pdf)* |
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| Community Carpooling |
| Implementation Status: The web site is available on the Moose. |
| Lead by Chair Bradley Vandenbroeck, the Student Sustainability Committee developed a proposal to increase carpooling among the student population. Through the Moose web site, students will soon have the ability to post upcoming trips and contact information with the hopes of finding carpoolers. By providing an avenue for ride-sharing, Aquinas hopes to decrease the need for long-term parking of cars on campus and help ease the parking burden currently faced by all members of the Aquinas community. If more students, faculty, and staff utilized alternative transportation such as carpooling, we can better use the current parking infrastructure rather than spending money to build and maintain more parking lots. In addition, more carpooling on campus means fewer cars are on the road. This change results in healthier air in and around the Aquinas Campus. The Joint Sustainability Committee assigned this proposal a value rating of 4 and Provost Chaffee approved the proposal on Nov. 27, 2007. |
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| One Saint's Junk is Another Saint's Treasure |
| Implementation Status: The web site is available on the Moose. |
| Lead by Chair Brad Vandenbroeck, the Student Sustainability Committee developed a proposal to facilitate the donation or selling of unwanted goods to other community members. Through the Moose web site, students, staff, and faculty will soon have the ability to post or search goods for sale (or donation). This proposal may decrease the amount of goods disposed of on campus, and therefore lessen the College's trash disposal expenses. Furthermore, "One Saint's Junk is Another Saint's Treasure" will result in the reuse of goods, rather than the disposal of materials or the use of valuable resources to make a new product. This proposal will increase the number of social interactions on campus and strengthen the College's connection to the community. The Joint Sustainability Committee assigned this proposal a value rating of 5 and Provost Chaffee approved the proposal on Nov. 27, 2007. |
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| Sustainable Art |
| Implementation Status:The web site is available on the Moose. |
| This initiative, proposed by the Student Senate and Deborah Eid and John Kroondyk, is to make art more widely displayed on campus. A web site is currently being developed to post on-campus locations desiring art. Art designed by students, faculty or staff can also be advertised through this web site. Art will be solicited by the Student Senate Sustainability Committee by working with art students and professors and through on-campus advertising. Art can be given as permanent donations, displayed for eventual sale or be donated temporarily. In addition to encouraging art display, the proposal encourages the use of environmentally friendly products when producing art. The web site will have a link to the Material Safety Data Sheets detailing potential harmful chemicals used in art and contact information to seek out alternatives. "Sustainable Art" was formally proposed on October 10, 2006. The proposal received a value rating of "4" in the Joint Sustainability Committee and was passed by the Student Senate on April 25, 2007. Interim Provost Don Chaffee formally approved the idea on October 2, 2007. >>Download (pdf) the original proposal* |
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| Campus-Wide Smoking Policy |
| Implementation Status: Fully implemented during the 2007-08 academic year |
| Students Claire Hogan and Thomas McBride submitted a formal Sustainability Initiative Proposal on October 10, 2006. An edited version of the proposal was passed by the Student Senate, Faculty, and Staff Assemblies in the Spring of 2007 and now stands as a campus wide smoking policy. >>Download (pdf) the Campus Smoking Policy* |
| >>Download (pdf) the original proposal* |
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| *Note: These links are only accessible from the Aquinas computer network and ResNet. |
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