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The Sustainability Initiative at Broward Community College Coordinated by the Environmental Sustainability Committee
Updated June 2008
Walking the Talk -- Greening the College Operations
Increase Energy Efficiency BCC has eliminated the release of tons of pollutants into the atmosphere while saving over $7.5 million dollars since 1998 by utilizing performance contracts to minimize energy consumption.
Conserve Water Through installation of waterless urinals, water-conserving commodes and faucets, and using well water for cooling towers BCC is conserving thousands of gallons of water each month, while lowering water and sewer expenditures.
Promote Recycling All types of paper, as well as glass, metal, and plastic containers are recycled on all campuses. There is a cartridge-recycling program run by the students.
Implement LEED Standards Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards are incorporated into new construction and renovation. Our first LEED-certified building (Silver level) is the joint use Broward County-BCC library on South Campus.
Create Sustainable Campus Landscapes Four years ago our Board of Trustees adopted a new landscaping policy that promotes use of native plants, phosphate-free fertilizer, melaleuca mulch, and integrated pest management while reducing need for irrigation.
Create/Restore Native Landscapes on Campus North campus has created outdoor learning laboratories by establishing native ecosystems on campus: a wetland and a tropical hardwood hammock. Hundreds of native trees planted throughout the college in the last three years absorb CO2 and air pollution, reducing the threat of global warming.
Utilize Green Purchasing Practices The Procurement Department is making strides in purchasing environmentally preferable products with recycled content, minimum packaging, and free of toxic materials.
Encourage Departments to Develop Sustainable Practices Workshops are offered to empower employees to look at the world through a sustainable lens and to use sustainable thinking in every day decisions. Understanding systems has been taught on all campuses. Instructional Technology, Human Resources, College Printing, Purchasing, and Physical Plant have all worked on implementing sustainable practice.
Seek Outside Funding to Support Sustainable Initiatives The State of Florida Wildflower Council and the Florida Wildflower Foundation have funded an educational grant that has allowed BCC to include native wildflower beds and meadows in our campus landscapes. The wildflowers are used as a springboard for teaching about the importance of using native plant material in landscaping on campus and in the community. The college received a grant in 2005 from the State Division of Forestry and Broward Beautiful to help fund the purchase of native trees.
Recognize College Employees Who Make Outstanding Contributions to the Sustainability Initiative “Sustainability Superstars” are recognized at the colleague recognition event each year. They receive a pin, certificate, and recognition on the college website. The Committee on Environmental Sustainability has involved students, faculty, administrators and staff in developing a sustainable vision for BCC. We continue to work to improve our recycling program and to increase its scope.
Sustainability in the Curriculum at Broward Community College
Infuse Sustainability in the General Education Core Curriculum The 15 competencies that all Broward Community College graduates will possess upon completion of the general education core curriculum include five that address the sustainability theme: • Demonstrate and apply environmental literacy. • Demonstrate an understanding of the physical and biological environment and how it is impacted by human beings. • Assume responsibility for and understand the impact of personal behaviors on self and society • Apply problem solving techniques to real-world experiences • Contribute to the welfare of the community Course outlines across the curriculum document which competencies are included in the course and how course objectives teach these competencies.
Offer “Educating for Sustainability” Workshops These workshops provide faculty across the disciplines with knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability principles into their courses, and encourage interdisciplinary exploration of sustainable issues.
Encourage Faculty to Embrace a Paperless Classroom The Instructional Technology Department encourages faculty to use the web to create a paperless classroom through its Blackboard Lite workshop.
Provide Graduates with the Opportunity to Sign the Graduation Pledge As a member of the Graduation Pledge Alliance, BCC students who pledge to take the social and environmental policies of a company into consideration when choosing an employer, and to work to improve those aspects of any organization for which they are members are recognized at the graduation ceremony by wearing a green ribbon.
Offer Degree and Certificate Programs that Prepare Students for Careers Needed in a Sustainable Society BCC offers an Associate of Science degree in Environmental Science Technology to prepare students for employment as laboratory technicians, environmental samplers, environmental health inspectors, pollution control technicians, groundwater contamination technicians and geology technicians to support the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project. EST graduates can earn an advanced technical certificate in geographical Information Systems. A new A.S. degree program in solar technology is under development, and green collar job training is being explored to introduce new AS and certificate programs, as well as continuing education courses on green topics.
Creating a Culture of Environmental Stewardship at BCC
Offer Workshops on a Variety of Sustainable Topics The Staff and Program Development Department supports workshops for staff, students, and faculty as well as presentations to the Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, and campus administrators to explore the environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability. For the past two years, the Will and Jo Holcombe Institute for Teaching and Learning at BCC has supported a Sustainability Fellow to develop an educational program for the entire college community.
Celebrate Events that Focus on Sustainability Campus Sustainability Day, Focus the Nation and Earth Day celebrations focus the college on issues important to a sustainable future.
Keep Sustainability in the Forefront through Articles, Emails, Web Announcements, and Student Contests Articles in campus publications, and a committee website serve to update the campus community regarding BCC’s sustainability program. Student contests such as creating a recycling logo, sustainability logo, Earth Day poem Wildflower Week poster or recycled art engage students in sustainable thinking.
Collaborate with Community Partners on Sustainable Programs BCC worked with the city of Coconut Creek, home to our North Campus, to achieve certification of the community as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Certification of two of our campuses as wildlife habitats contributed to the successful bid by Broward County to achieve recognition as one of only two counties in the nation certified as habitats by NWF. Student service learning projects have provided volunteers for area parks, wildlife care centers, and community projects such as Arbor Day celebrations and coastal cleanups.
Send Faculty, Administrators and Staff to Sustainability Conferences and Meetings BCC faculty, staff, and administrators have attended local, state and national conferences, presenting papers and networking with colleagues at other institutions of higher education. | ||
