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Below
is a brief description, provided by the institution, describing
their efforts toward Sustainability in Higher Education
(SHE).
Broward
Community College instituted a Committee on Environmental
Sustainability last fall "to coordinate the college's
efforts to increase the environmental literacy of students,
faculty, career employees, and administrators; to reduce
the environmental impact of campus operations; and to create
a culture of environmental stewardship at BCC." The
first year focused on educating faculty through a workshop
series "Educating for Sustainability", participation
in the October SCUP teleconference, and teaming with Office
Depot to provide faculty and staff samples of green alternatives
to increase procurement of environmentally preferable products.
The college has adopted a policy to turn off all computers
at night and has purchased software to remotely shut down
the computers in student labs and other public areas such
as registration. Math and science students took the lead
as the educators on Earth Day by researching various environmental
issues and presenting their findings in displays. The English
Department sponsored an Earth Day writing contest. Many
community groups such as Audubon, the county parks, a local
wildlife care center, and the Whole Foods Market participated
with information and displays.
Broward
Community College has made great strides in reducing
energy waste (retrofiting lighting, replacing old mechanical
equipment, etc.) and is focusing on water conservation through
such projects as retrofitting with water efficient plumbing
fixtures. The Facilities Department is committed to achieving
LEEDS certification in new construction. This fall a comingled
recycling program will be instituted in hopes of reducing
the campus waste going to the landfill or incinerator. Students
have been very active participants in creating areas landscaped
with native plants on the North Campus. For the coming year
the committee has developed an educational plan that targets
all parts of the campus community -- including the president
and his cabinet as well as the Board of Trustees. The orientations
for both new employees and new students will include information
about our sustainability focus beginning this fall. BCC
includes an environmental science course in the general
education curriculum and offers an AS degree in Environmental
Science. Many faculty across the disciplines who have participated
in environmental literacy workshops are infusing sustainability
into their courses.
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