Social, Ethical, and Environmental Responsibility
Build an institution that is socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible.
- Create opportunities for civic engagement and community service with particular emphasis on citizens historically underserved by higher education. Demonstrate through university sponsored initiatives and academic programs a commitment to ethics, inclusiveness and diversity.
- Affirm the university’s public responsibility to play an essential role in building civic relevance and vitality by serving as a stimulus to educational, cultural, environmental, community and economic development in the greater Chicagoland area and beyond.
- Encourage and demonstrate the active pursuit of sustainability and environmental stewardship through university development, organizational responsibility and governmental compliance.
- Integrate sustainability broadly into academic programs, campus operations and student life.
The University should recommit to the 2008 American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Also commit to the sister pledge, the 2016 Second Nature Resilience Commitment.
Set goals to be Carbon Neutral by 2050. This could be done by having a Climate Action Plan created.
All campus buildings to be built or remodeled to LEED silver or gold certification minimum whether Capital Development Board or GSU funded.
Go after energy reducing grants, and use the savings to fund other energy reductions or sustainability projects.
On board with these items as they provide a framework for commitment, accountability, and ground work for action.
As a campus on 750 acres of land, with 7% wetlands, a sculpture garden, a butterfly garden, a biology field station, and ponds, we can emerge as a leader in the southland on issues pertaining to the environment. We should take this opportunity to differentiate ourselves as leaders who can partner will local and state organizations and student groups to demonstrate through practice how we are making measurable (qualitative and quantitative) steps towards sustaining our campus and teaching our students/faculty/staff about sustainable practices and perhaps, most of all, environmental literacy. We have a number of initiatives already in place. We live and work in nature. Let’s start leveraging our greatest natural asset, our campus. We can do this. We must do this. It is our legacy.
The social aspect of this goal speaks to GSU’s responsibility to the public good. As a public institution, we have the mandate to promote ideas and take action that benefits all citizens of the State of Illinois.
If we want to be a socially responsible organization that contributes to the public good, we must have goals that promote service to the communities that we serve. Does GSU allow community members paid time to participate in community service initiatives? Does GSU integrate community service as a critical component of its curriculum? Do we instill community service values in our students?
This means that we have to be an example to the community and other institutions in terms of ethical, environmental, and social issues. We also have to be an active participant in these areas.
If GSU wants to promote ethics, it should start by defining an ethical code of conduct for itself, and then making sure that ethical decision-making is part of any of its processes. In any community, the definition of what is ethical varies with each member, so we must come together and agree on what is ethical as an organization. As educators we must also promote ethical thinking and ethical decision-making in our community by holding conferences, offering training, and generating research/publications.
Environmental responsibility should mean more than just recycling. It should mean that when we act, we should consider the environmental impact of our actions and build sustainability into what we do. If we build new facilities, how do they impact the environment? How do we integrate sustainable components into it? Sustainable materials and technologies have a cost premium, but if we value the environment, then we must be ready to invest in it.
Environmental responsibility can also mean raising awareness about the environment through the curriculum, community service (such as clean-up efforts), and through research and publications.
Of the goals, this is represents the one with the least institutional support and infrastructure. Examples of this are episodic at best. Unless the institution commits to this goal, I would not suggest keeping it for Strategy 2025.
I appreciate your cynicism. However, we do not need permission from anyone to practice ethical, social, and environmental responsibility. With all due respect to all, we might approach this goal from the bottom up and reinvigorate a community of personal responsibility. That means you, me, and all of us. Start with the practices of sustainability such as refusing to use one-use plastic – bring your own cutlery, water bottle, coffee mug, and re-usable napkin. Rethink about your dependency on the photocopy machine. Pick up a piece of trash on your way into the building or into a classroom. Refill your water bottle at the filling stations. Say no to balloons and glitter in your marketing, projects and in classrooms. Appropriately reuse and recycle what is left. Go for a walk in the sculpture garden. Talk about your practice. Show your practice. Be the ethical, social and environmental responsible community you want to see.
Together, we are legion.
I would say 70% of people on campus have no idea what they can recycle and can’t. 50% of people don’t care to recycle at all.
There is not ongoing push for sustainability, it seems to be an after thought. Facilities should be a leader for sustainability and it is not. It used to be 10 or so years ago.