Program History
The KU Center for Sustainability opened its doors in January 29, 2007. The center is the result of nearly two and a half years of work by dedicated students, staff, faculty, and administrators with a common interest in a sustainable future for KU.
In the spring of 2004, a student senate backed environmental initiative was presented to the Provost's office. Following additional research into the concept, a task force was appointed by the Office of the Provost that fall. The group was charged with the task of researching the feasibility of developing a hub for research and project implementation that would address environmental issues and work to make campus operations more environmentally sustainable.
Throughout the 2004-2005 academic year, this Sustainability Task Force gathered information about existing campus resources and developed recommendations on creating a structure to better coordinate these resources with student and faculty research. This included evaluating the Campus Environmental Policy, examining existing resources, and gathering information from faculty and staff. Following this investigation, the task force presented their recommendations to the Office of the Provost.
Although the project was not funded at that time, efforts to seek funding continued and the momentum behind the sustainability initiative grew. Additional staff and faculty, along with student groups such as KU Environs joined the discussions in support of the Task Force's recommendations. In Spring 2006, a proposal based on those recommendations was submitted for Tuition Enhancement funding.
Funding was identified for the project in Spring 2006. Following a review by new Provost Richard Lariviere which included the development of five major performance goals, the center began to take shape. With supporting signatures from over 1000 students, funding for the Center for Sustainability was approved.
Sustainability Task Force 2004-2005 Report
2006 Sustainability Proposal
2006 Sustainability Proposal Summary
In the spring of 2004, a student senate backed environmental initiative was presented to the Provost's office. Following additional research into the concept, a task force was appointed by the Office of the Provost that fall. The group was charged with the task of researching the feasibility of developing a hub for research and project implementation that would address environmental issues and work to make campus operations more environmentally sustainable.
Throughout the 2004-2005 academic year, this Sustainability Task Force gathered information about existing campus resources and developed recommendations on creating a structure to better coordinate these resources with student and faculty research. This included evaluating the Campus Environmental Policy, examining existing resources, and gathering information from faculty and staff. Following this investigation, the task force presented their recommendations to the Office of the Provost.
Although the project was not funded at that time, efforts to seek funding continued and the momentum behind the sustainability initiative grew. Additional staff and faculty, along with student groups such as KU Environs joined the discussions in support of the Task Force's recommendations. In Spring 2006, a proposal based on those recommendations was submitted for Tuition Enhancement funding.
Funding was identified for the project in Spring 2006. Following a review by new Provost Richard Lariviere which included the development of five major performance goals, the center began to take shape. With supporting signatures from over 1000 students, funding for the Center for Sustainability was approved.
Documents
The recommendations presented by the original task force in 2005, as well as the final proposal submitted in 2006 are available for download in PDF. The 2005 report has been shorted to reduce file size. For a copy of the document, contact Jeff Severin, Director of the Center for Sustainability.Sustainability Task Force 2004-2005 Report
2006 Sustainability Proposal
2006 Sustainability Proposal Summary
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