Hillsdale College

College Sustainability Report Card 2010

Hillsdale College uses only organic pest control techniques, purchases some EPEAT electronics, and uses biorenewable cleaning products. The college has no known policy relating to campus-wide sustainability initiatives.

The college uses an energy management system to implement HVAC temperature setbacks and shutdowns. Emails are sent to faculty, staff, and students reminding them to turn off lights and electronics.

Dining services devotes over 15 percent of its food budget to locally produced and processed foods. All dairy products are hormone- and antibiotic-free. The dining halls serve vegan entrees at every meal. Hillsdale purchases exclusively fair trade coffee and offers a discount for using a reusable mug. The college implemented a trayless program that resulted in cost savings of 5 percent. Excess food is donated to a local food bank. A pulper reduced the amount of dumpster waste from the dining hall, and a high-efficiency dishwasher uses 45 percent less water than a conventional model.

Most buildings constructed in the last ten years have motion sensors, as well as water-saving technology such as low-flow and dual-flush toilets, automatic faucets, and low-flow showerheads.

The Students in Free Enterprise group initiated a recycling program in conjunction with the science department.

Hillsdale College is a walkable campus and offers a bank of bikes that may be checked out through the student union. The college offers shuttle services to and from Detroit Metro Airport.

The college makes a list of all holdings available to trustees, senior administrators, and other select members of the college community and sends information to the public upon request.

The college aims to optimize investment return. Investment managers are hired based on their investment philosophy. The managers determine what the college invests in and what is best for the portfolio. The college is neutral to renewable energy funds or community development loan funds.

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