Climate Advisory Board

Advisory Board

Climate Advisory Board


 

Collage of pictures on the UCCS campus - biking, solar panels, green house, clean the stream and Bestway Recycling


 

UCCS Climate Advisory Board

The Climate Advisory Board was designated by the chancellor to provide guidance and help shape and promote UCCS strategies to meet the university's climate commitment. Members of this board will increase coordination, innovation, and leadership across the campus in pursuit of UCCS climate strategies and will connect with and encourage regional climate initiatives. 

UCCS Climate Goals

As delineated in the 2010 UCCS Climate Action Plan:

      • Twenty percent reduction in emissions from 2006 baseline by 2020 = 14,083 mtCO2e
      • Fifty percent reduction in emissions from 2006 baseline by 2030 = 8,802 mtCO2e
      • Eighty percent reduction in emissions from 2006 baseline by 2050 = 3,521 mtCO2e
      • Actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students
      • Actions to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality
      • Actions to support culture of sustainability and to be known nationally as a green school 

*mtCO2e = metric tons of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (includes all greenhouse gases) 

Board Members

The Climate Advisory Board consists of administrators, faculty, students and staff who will explore ways UCCS can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Jerry Wilson, Chief Information Officer
Peter Braza, Dean Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Ramaswami (Dan) Dandapani, Dean College of Engineering and Applied Science
Julie Albertson, Senior Instructor Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Linda Kogan, Sustainability Director
Kevin Gilford, Assistant Sustainability Director

COMMITTEE MEMBERS 
Mary Coussons-Read, Provost
Fred Crowly, Associate Director Southern Colorado Economic Forum, Senior Instructor College of Business
Jeff Davis, Executive Director Auxiliary Service Operations
Rob Dougherty, Director Physical Plant
Holly Kaspar, Director Auxiliary Services Marketing
Cynthia Norton, Chemical Management, Public Safety Department
Janel Owens, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department
Kimberly Reeves, Sustainability Programs Manager
Gary Reynolds, Executive Director Facilities Services
Jim Spice, Executive Director Parking and Transportation
Susan Szpryka, Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance
Kee Warner, Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusiveness

Matthew Driftmier, Student Government Association, Sustainable Transportation Assistant - student
Angela Martel - student
Alexandra Sinchak - student
Tracy Jacobs - student
Monica Rodarte - student
 

Broad Goals for the UCCS Climate Advisory Board

Resources

Address campus organization infrastructure to support climate strategies and goals. This will include human, monetary, and educational recommendations. - Jeff Davis

  • Analyze 2010 Climate Action Plan in conjunction with 2012-2020 Sustainability Strategic Plan and identify necessary resources to pursue strategies recommended in plan
  • Develop prioritized list of recommendations for leadership - this may include additional strategies/opportunities that have been created since the 2010 plan was completed
    • Where possible, utilize tools such as Life Cycle Analysis and the time value of carbon in analyses to make recommendations
    • Increase process and technology standardization where appropriate
    • Innovate and utilize sustainable and responsible technology
  • Develop support for staff position for utility or energy manager
  • From partnerships to leverage goal achievement (e.g. businesses, schools, government)
Culture

Ingrain sustainability and climate strategies in academic and operational culture - Jim Spice

  • Educate and model sustainability and climate mitigation strategies in all committee member's roles and interactions
  • Commit to continuous education of all by all committee members
  • Support and strengthen Greening of the Office Program
  • Promote voluntary behavior change
    • Provide more opportunities for students to get involved
  • Develop economic incentives to reduce carbon
    • Different types of hub permits
    • Rebates to students for resources use reductions
    • Feedback for students in housing on utility use/cost (e.g. fake bills, shower monitors)
    • On the spot recognition programs
  • Explore possibility of adding sustainability as core value
  • Increase paperless practices
Academics

Pursue and support programs or processes to increase climate and sustainability within the curriculum and in research - David Havlick 

  • Support training workshops for faculty to incorporate sustainability in their coursework (2 per year)
  • Develop sustainability literacy assessment for students to monitor progress
  • Support incentive structure for faculty to pursue sustainability research
  • Develop online resource center for faculty research on sustainability
  • Identify projects that can be funded and subsequently conducted by faculty
Marketing

Communicate and market UCCS climate commitment and progress - Linda Kogan

  • Develop webpage to document Climate Advisory Board progress
  • Document progress across the campus that assists with climate goals
  • Work with marketing/communications faculty and staff to determine successful messaging and education
  • Provide public updates to campus on climate progress
  • Host green conferences
  • Incorporate sustainability into UCCS 50th year celebration