Agnes Scott College

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

The sustainability office at Agnes Scott, created in 2008, works in partnership with the local community. The college employs a director of sustainability and a sustainability fellow. The 22-member Sustainability Steering Committee has drafted a climate action plan for the college, passed a green purchasing policy, implemented a zero waste plan, and published a “green issue” of the alumnae magazine.

The school purchased renewable energy credits to offset emissions from its renovated Alumnae House and has performed energy efficiency upgrades such as system tune-ups and replacement of inefficient equipment. Energy reduction campaigns encourage community members to turn off lights and computers and to unplug appliances. A climate action plan will be released in fall 2009.

The college is launching a campus-wide food waste composting program, which will include compost bins in both dormitories and food service locations. All to-go containers are either reusable or made of postconsumer content. Dining halls serve herbs from a campus garden and offer some local and organic foods. Bread and milk are purchased locally.

Agnes Scott has developed a green building policy, and green building principles are highlighted in the school’s strategic plan. Renovations to the Alumnae House have achieved LEED Silver certification. The school is in the process of completing a water audit.

The Green Earth Organization raises student awareness through conferences and seminars. Student Environmental Residents are a resource on sustainability in residential halls. Incoming students attend events that highlight recycling and food composting, and participate in discussions about global, local, and campus sustainability. A sustainability liaison within the student senate collaborates with the sustainability office.

Faculty, staff, and students receive heavily discounted public transit passes, and an agreement with Emory University extends their biodiesel-fueled shuttle service to the Agnes Scott campus. Faculty and staff who carpool receive preferential parking spaces, reduced parking fees, and are eligible for prizes from the region’s Clean Air Campaign. A bike-sharing program began in fall 2008, and the college introduced a car-sharing program in 2007.

Agnes Scott makes information about endowment holdings available only to trustees and senior administrators. The college does not make its shareholder voting record public.

The college aims to optimize investment return and is exploring, but not currently invested in, renewable energy funds and community development loan funds.

The college asks that its investment managers handle the details of proxy voting.