Last week, Higher Education Board member David Yaden sent this message to stakeholders throughout the Oregon University System, describing recent action by a Board subcommittee:
The Board of Higher Education has accepted the final report from the Sustainability Initiatives Committee and adopted the proposed Sustainability Policy for OUS. The policy establishes sustainability as a core value and focus for the universities and places responsibility for stewardship and collaboration squarely with the presidents. While fiscal realities constrain big new initiatives it is gratifying to note the commitment of the presidents and the extent of teaching, research and public service around sustainability going on at each campus. Thanks to help from the Chancellor’s Office, all Oregon’s public universities now participate in the STARS rating system of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education–a first for any state system.
I am very grateful to you for your help in getting us here. Hopefully our report and the Board’s policy will give further impetus to the inspiring work that students, faculty and staff are already doing.
As David mentions, the SIC report recommends policies and practices that advance sustainability throughout the Oregon University System. A key part of this movement is the adoption of the system policy that articulates sustainability as a priority for the university presidents.
Thanks to David and the Board for moving forward with several of the SIC recommendations!
CATEGORIES: Uncategorized