Community Colleges and Sustainability
Eugenia Proulx, President
Jeff Julian, Director of Communications and External Relations
Joliet Junior College
June 4, 2009

As a college president, I sign my name to many documents, mostly letters to students, alumni, faculty members, colleagues, editors, donors, and legislators. Although all of the documents have some level of importance, it is rare when I have the opportunity to sign one with historic significance. That moment came recently when the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment came across my desk.

Signing the Presidents Climate Commitment is more than a simple act of endorsement. It is recognition of the important role higher education plays in affecting climate change. With more than 11 million students enrolled in two-year institutions throughout the country, community colleges are in an unprecedented position to reach and influence their students on the issue of climate change.

By signing this commitment, college presidents do more than just bring sustainability issues to the forefront of the campus discussion. They also guide their institutions as they join a group of leaders united in their commitment to minimize the effects of climate change while educating and training the workforce to help achieve this.

Along with signing the commitment, here are a few ways to inspire the sustainability movement on your campus:

Support campus efforts. Be an active voice and participant in sustainable practices on your campus. One of the most important things we can do as presidents is support our college’s sustainability efforts by educating our trustees. A board’s endorsement is important to the long-term viability of the work of staff and students in this arena. Many institutions already have committed to creating new positions such as sustainability coordinators, and trustee support is critical when it comes to funding.

Integrate sustainability into your planning processes. Green efforts on campus too often evaporate when it comes time to discuss funding. Making sustainability a part of your planning processes—strategic, budget, and master planning—ensures that resources will be allocated and green initiatives will be achieved. Joliet Junior College has made sustainability a goal in its strategic plan and has set a goal to achieve LEED certification for its new building projects.

Partner with peer institutions. Creating partnerships and working collaboratively is key to bridging the gaps in knowledge and resources. In our state, community colleges work collaboratively as part of the Illinois Community College Sustainability Network to develop “green collar” training programs, create new funding sources, and share statewide resources.

Incorporate sustainability into your academic initiatives. Traditionally, community colleges have trained and developed America’s workforce. As the demand for skilled workers in green collar job fields increases, so will the need for academic and training programs to support these emerging industries. Jobs in alternative energy, energy efficiency, and green building are just some of the fields coming to the forefront that will require our faculties to design new curricula.

Celebrate your successes. Community colleges are very good at celebrating accomplishments, so it is important to incorporate your college’s achievements in sustainability into your celebrations. Take time to recognize the hard work so you can build on those successes.