1. Lead Green Council
University of Pittsburgh
A Proposal for an Office of Sustainability
Abstract
The University of Pittsburgh’s missions is to advance teaching, research, and public
service. This three-part commitment highlights how the University of Pittsburgh
enhances the quality of life in Western Pennsylvania and beyond. As an institution
of higher learning, it is the ethical responsibility of this university to create an office
that educates it students on the issues of environmental protection and
sustainability in order to assuage the present and pending effects of global climate
change. In order to be a sustainable institution, it is our responsibility to be mindful
of how we utilize our resources, and it is essential that we have the ability to analyze
our needs versus our wants. The Office of Sustainability provides a tremendous
opportunity to harness the University of Pittsburgh’s academic and research
strengths in order to become a leader in the increasingly competitive field of
sustainability.
The University of Pittsburgh’s Lead Green Council proposes the creation of an Office
of Sustainability. The implementation of an Office of Sustainability will consist of a
Student Affairs Sustainability Coordinator. The Student Affairs Sustainability
Coordinator will direct, coordinate, and oversee environmental efforts on campus.
The Office of Sustainability will operate within the Division of Student Affairs to
foster environmental awareness within the Pitt community. This office is essential
in order to provide students with an understanding of sustainable practices and it
will empower them to implement this knowledge in their daily lives. The Office of
Sustainability will increase the quantity and quality of sustainability initiatives on
campus by enabling easier communication and organization among faculty, students
and the community. It will provide services and support to the campus community,
advocate and assist with sustainable innovations on campus, and ensure fulfillment
of institutional commitments to sustainable initiatives.
Goals of the Office of Sustainability
As an institution of higher learning, the University of Pittsburgh serves as a
powerful model for sustainability. The Office of Sustainability would create an
environment that actively engages students, faculty, administrative staff, and alumni
in the goal of making the University of Pittsburgh a sustainable college. With a larger
picture in mind, five overall goals were created for the Office of Sustainability
Proposal:
● Goal 1: Infuse sustainability into the culture, core values, and administration
decision-making process at the University of Pittsburgh.

2. o Objective: Become top-ranked in the Princeton Review’s Green
College Honor Roll.
▪ Measurements: Pitt becomes one of a select number of schools
on the “Green Rating Honor Roll” by achieving a high score of
99.
o Objective: Establish Student Affairs Sustainability Coordinator as the
advisor for SORC certified student environmental organizations (see
Appendix A). Set office hours as a time for members of student
organizations to seek advice on organizational management and
various initiatives.
▪ Measurements: 90% of surveyed campus environmental group
executive boards report that they feel supported by the
sustainability coordinator and see the coordinator as a
valuable resource (semester survey).
● Goal 2: Use existing resources at the University to coordinate new programs
as needed to build a more sustainable campus.
o Objective: Work with RSA, Housing, and ResLife to implement student
Eco-reps in every dorm (see Appendix C).
▪ Measurements: 80% of surveyed students living in residence
halls claim they gained a better understanding of
environmental issues.
▪ Measurements: When surveyed, every floor resident can name
their eco-rep.
▪ Measurements: 80% of surveyed seniors claim to see
themselves as environmentally conscious by year 4 of the
program.
o Objective: Work with Facilities Management, Housing and Dining
Services, ResLife, and RSA to develop and implement a campaign to
improve composting and recycling rates through marketing, events,
and activities.
▪ Measurements: Achieve the following in Recyclemania
Competition by 2016: Rank #1 in the Grand Champion
Category (Greater than 85 percent recycling rate), produce less
than 15 lbs. per capita of waste, produce more than 6 lbs. per
capita of composted matter.
o Objective: Enhance communication between relevant Pitt
departments by hosting monthly meetings to discuss progress on
sustainability initiatives and share new ideas. These meeting should
be chaired by the Student Affairs Sustainability Coordinator and, at a
minimum, include the student sustainability interns in the
departments of Housing, Facilities, Sodexo, and Student Life.
▪ Measurements: All involved departments report that monthly
meetings are beneficial and facilitate communication on
sustainability topics with other business units at the
University.

3. ● Goal 3: Enable students to have a direct impact on sustainability campus
initiatives.
o Objective: Transition the Pitt Green Fund to the Office of Sustainability
as a permanent way for students to address campus sustainability
issues by implementing their own ideas (see Appendix C).
▪ Measurements: 40% of surveyed undergraduate students can
explain a project or event that Pitt Green Fund has done on
campus.
▪ Measurements: Minimum of 10 projects submitted each year to
the Pitt Green Fund.
● Goal 4: Coordinate service opportunities that promote a healthier
environment.
o Objective: Work with Student Volunteer Outreach and local non-
profits to provide opportunities to improve the local environment,
includes working with Pitt Make a Difference Day.
▪ Measurements: At least 10 students participate in organized
environmental service events every month.
● Goal 5: Develop and maintain a website to publicize the University’s progress
on its sustainability initiatives.
o Objective: Publish a digital newsletter of campus activities, service
opportunities, internships, and other news via the website and email
subscription.
▪ Measurements: 80% of surveyed students check the website at
least once a semester.
▪ Measurements: 1,000 active newsletter subscribers by the end
of the first year.
Conclusion
In order to achieve sustainability through the campus, the University of Pittsburgh
requires a formal Office of Sustainability consisting of a Student Affairs
Sustainability Coordinator. The value of implementing a formal structure dedicated
to sustainability is evident in the success of peer institutions.
Sustainability is not limited to physical operations at the University of Pittsburgh
but it includes the degree to which environmental responsibility is intertwined into
the curriculum, the organizational structure, and the community. It is imperative
that sustainability becomes successfully integrated with other curriculums and
across all departments. A true sustainable college encourages values and skills that
lead to a lifetime commitment to a sustainable and just way of living. The
implementation of an Office of Sustainability will create an opportunity to make
sustainability an integral part of campus culture.
Appendix A: Student Affairs Sustainability Coordinator

4. Job Summary
The Student Affairs Sustainability Coordinator oversees and manages student-
focused sustainability initiatives at the University of Pittsburgh to achieve the goals
of the Office of Student Sustainability. The coordinator must possess a resolute
vision for the Office to empower students to practice the principles of well-informed
green living. He or she will organize new programs and oversee ongoing student-
lead initiatives such as the Pitt Green Fund, Pitt Eco-Reps, and the Pitt Living
Learning Community for Sustainability. The coordinator must demonstrate a
diverse skill set including experience with student organizing, event planning, and
project management.
Responsibilities
● Facilitate, plan, and implement programs and service opportunities
developed by the Office, faculty, and student groups, including but not limited
to seminars, conferences, workshops, volunteer events, and internships
relating to environmental sustainability.
● Advise the Pitt Green Fund, a student-run initiative that finances and
supports projects and programs that make Pitt’s operations more
environmentally sustainable, socially equitable, and energy efficient. More
information is available at http://pittgreenfund.com/about/.
● Coordinate the Eco-Reps program by assisting in training new environmental
student leaders in University residence halls and advise them on their duties.
● Oversee the Living Learning Community for Sustainability by organizing
interactive and educational opportunities for students committed to on-
campus green living.
● Act as a mentor and resource to student environmental organizations.
● Facilitate communication between sustainability interns in the Housing, Food
Services, and Facilities Management departments.
● Publicize initiatives of the Office and other relevant University sustainability
initiatives to the campus community and beyond. This includes maintaining
a student sustainability webpage and publishing a newsletter.
● Cooperate with other departments to complete surveys on student
engagement in sustainability that are administered by third-party college
ranking bodies (e.g. – Princeton Review).
● Research and analyze emerging environmental issues to stay at the forefront
of campus sustainability initiatives and remain competitive with peer
institutions.
● Continually assess progress toward Office goals to increase participation and
outreach.
● Be present at evening programs and events if necessary. This will require
some workdays to by 12 PM – 9 PM, and others to be 8 AM – 5 PM.
● Advise the Students Affairs Sustainability Intern and assign relevant tasks to
assist in the operation of the Office.

5. Required Skills
Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies or related field proving an advanced
understanding of environmental and sustainability topics, ability to organize and
successfully execute events related to sustainability, ability to effectively manage
multiple projects, establish priorities, and meet deadlines, non-profit campaign
experience, proficiency with social media tools, excellent verbal and written skills,
communication and public speaking skills, content generation for the web, continual
attention to detail, ability to analyze the results and efficacy of projects.
Experience
The applicant should have 2-4 years experience in a related field and demonstrated
experience in university (or similar institution’s) sustainability programming.
Supervisor
Dean of Students
Appendix B: Budget
Personnel[1]

6. Student
Government
Board
Student
Affairs
Facilities
Management
Housing Sodexo
Coordinator X
Student Affairs
Sustainability Intern
$4,640
FM Intern $4,640
Housing Intern
Student Sustainability
Coordinator
$4,640
Sodexo Intern $4,640
Subtotal: $18,560
Non-personnel
Student
Government
Board
Student
Affairs
Housing First Year
Experience
ResLife
Pitt Green Fund $10,000
Sustainable Move-In
Gifts
$30,000
Student
Sustainability
Handbook
$500
Printing,
advertising, craft
supplies
$1,000
OfficeEvents $5,000
Subtotal: $46,500
TOTAL: $65,060
IN-KIND: $44,420
GRAND TOTAL:$20,640
[1] Intern salaryis annual. Internsmaywork up to 20 hours per week at $7.25 per hour for one
academicyear (32 weeks).
Appendix C: Supplement

7. The Pitt Green Fund
The mission of the University of Pittsburgh Green Fund is to finance and support student-
initiated projects and programs that make Pitt’s operations more environmentally
sustainable, socially equitable, and energy efficient. By supporting these initiatives, The
Pitt Green Fund empowers project proposers to make a positive change on campus, and
thus helps to educate the entire Pitt community about sustainability principles that can
be applied in everyday life. The Pitt Green Fund is managed by the Green Fund Advisory
Board (GFAB), and receives its budget from the Student Activities Fee via the Student
Government Board.
Eco-Reps
The eco-representative initiative is a system for educating students about sustainability
and environmental issues within the student resident community. The Student Affairs
Sustainability Coordinator will manage the group of students with assistance from the
Department of Housing Student Sustainability Intern.
The Eco-Reps are dedicated campus-housed students committed to working with their
peers and the University staff to create a more environmentally responsible campus.
Their responsibilities include:
● Engaging students in activities to strengthen their understanding of sustainability
and their environmental impacts.
● Increasing student awareness of environmental initiatives at Pitt, and in the
community such as service opportunities, internships, grants, film screenings,
information sessions, and public hearings.
● Collaborating with the Student Affairs Office of Sustainability and Sustainability
Coordinator.
● Working to improve current practices in recycling, water usage, lighting, and on
campus dining facilities.
● Acting as liaisons between residents and University staff.
How Does the Program Work?
The Eco-Reps would submit an application for review by the Student Affairs
Sustainability Coordinator and other relevant parties at the beginning of the Spring 2015
semester. After a pilot period, the application would be during the Fall Semester and
would be a yearlong commitment. At the start of the semester, all selected Eco-Reps
would attend a training session that would provide information on both general issues -
i.e. what is global warming, what does “sustainability” mean, what are major
environmental problems - as well as Pitt-specific information, such as how the recycling
system works. From there, the program participants would report to the Student
Sustainability Coordinator bi-weekly, complete delegated tasks, and conduct special
programs. Affiliates of the Office of Sustainability can be used as resources to share
information and broaden the population involved with Eco-Rep actions and other
environmental initiatives.