A four-step process that has awakened The Pennsylvania State University to its ecological impact and is moving it toward sustainable resource-use policies is presented as a general model for ecological reform in universities.
- The first step was to frame the problem by conducting a high-profile ecological assessment of the institution using sustainability indicators.[1]
- This created both the justification and the momentum necessary to persuade the university to adopt an ecological mission. [2]
- Next, a detailed ecological and economic analysis of a university facility was made to establish concrete socio-techno solutions [3]
- That could then be extrapolated to form specific sustainable policies for the entire university - to implement Green university policy.
For a detailed discussion of these steps see: "Getting It Done: Effective Sustainable Policy Implementation at the University Level." Joshua M. Pearce and Christopher F. Uhl.(2003). Planning for Higher Education 31(3): 53-61.
Notes
- ↑ "The Penn State Indicators Report." 2000. This report gauges sustainability, or lack thereof, at Penn State using 33 sustainability indicators. [1]
- ↑ "Penn State's Emerging Ecological Mission." 2001. Green Destiny Council. This document lays out a comprehensive ecological mission for Penn State. [2]
- ↑ "The Mueller Report: Moving Beyond Sustainability Indicators to Sustainability Action at Penn State." 2001. This study reveals how the "ecological footprint" of Mueller Biology Building could be reduced by half while saving $45,000/year. [3]