Sustainability
Charge
The Sustainability Committee is charged with reviewing current and proposed sustainability practices, providing oversight in the implementation of such practices, raising awareness of sustainability practices and devising the appropriate communication of such practices. Working collaboratively, the Committee will entertain proposals from various campus constituencies. The Committee functions in an advisory capacity to the President.
Membership
The Committee is composed of the Assistant Vice President for Facilities Management; the Director of Environmental Health and Safety; the Associate Dean for Residence Life; the Dean of Admissions; the Assistant Director Capital Projects, the Assistant Director Facilities Operations and Maintenance; the Food Service Director; a minimum of two, regular, full-time (not Visiting) faculty members; three students; staff members nominated by the VPHOD; a staff member from Institutional Technology; and a staff member from Human Resources.
2018 - 2019 Committee Members
Viron Lynch - Chair
AVP for Facilities Management
Facilities
The way we build and maintain our facilities matters. So we take care to consider every detail, including:
- 90% of cleaning products are Green Seal Certified
- Green cleaning disinfectant instead of chemical-based products
- Post-consumer bags from local vendors
- Campus wide recycling, including fluorescent bulbs, ballasts, and batteries
- Green waste disposal for Grounds Dept
- Low VOC paints used
- Organic fertilizers used
We’re proud to report that from 2013 – 2018 our Goodwill donation drive has diverted over 88,000 lbs. of reusable goods from our local landfills for the benefit of those in need.
Food Service
Sustainable practices are especially important in food service, an area that affects every person on our campus every single day. To reduce waste, we use:
- Cage-free eggs
- Fair trade coffee
- Reusable to-go boxes
- Local sources for produce
- Paper straws
- Recycled cardboard and aluminum
To make good choices, we also consult the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program to protect our oceans and participate in the Waste Not program to reduce overproduction and minimize the cost and environmental impact of food waste.
Human Resources
People are at the heart of Ringling College, so we work to support our employees in a way that supports the environment, such as the use of paper-free:
- Payroll processing and reports
- Timekeeping
- Time off requests (for non-exempt – soon for all employees)
- Direct deposit payment, vouchers, and check stubs
- (soon) Pay cards to eliminate paper checks altogether
- Systems for updating employee information
- Open enrollment for benefits
- Onboarding processes
- Faculty and staff recruitment system
- Benefits + faculty/staff information
Although some systems still require the use of paper by the government, we provide online systems where possible and shred and recycle confidential documents to further limit negative impact.
Students Commit to Sustainability
Green Ambassadors Student Organization
The Green Ambassadors are a Ringling College Student Club focused on environmental awareness on campus and proactive efforts to promote healthier and greener living for students to help protect the environment. These proactive efforts include Green Week, a week of events focused on promoting sustainable living, and other smaller-scale activities. Moreover, we have a Composting Program that is fully run and utilized by students. Our organization also works with different departments on campus, such as food services and facilities, to give our student input on how to improve their services in terms of sustainability. We believe that artists and designers have the power to change mindsets and this is why our efforts in an art school such as Ringling are so important. We are looking at how we can expand our efforts, improve outreach on campus, increase visibility and become easily recognized within the student body.
Awards
Ringling College of Art and Design
Is hereby recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education as a STARS Bronze Institution based on its reported accomplishments in campus sustainability.
Awarded on Jan. 10, 2017 and valid for three years.