Campus Sustainability Executive Council

Launched in December 2023 and led by Chief Operating Officer Patrick O’Rourke, the Campus Sustainability Executive Council is accountable for campus sustainability actions, progress and needs related to the Chancellor’s Call to Climate Action and the CU Boulder Climate Action Plan.

The executive council:

  • Prioritizes and aligns campus sustainability operations to meet campus sustainability goals and implement the Climate Action Plan.
  • Aligns planning and administration structures and priorities to AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) reporting metrics. 
  • Serves as a central point of engagement and communication with the CU Boulder campus and the public to accelerate progress, identify gaps and engender support for campus sustainability actions.

Goals

 

 

 

Deliver the campus road map and milestones toward carbon neutrality

 

Align campus priorities to achieve STARS Platinum rating within two reporting cycles

 

Convene biannual update forums on campus actions, gaps and needs

 

Support fundraising efforts to enable sustained investment in climate action

 

Identify and prioritize sustainability actions that support related student success, DEI, health and wellness, and employee engagement goals

Structure and Membership

The Executive Council is organizing its structure in alignment with the STARS reporting categories:

 

Executive Council: Planning & Administration

Purpose: Bring together decision-makers and leaders to make policy and resource recommendations to drive work 

  • Chairperson: Patrick O’Rourke, COO
  • Chris Ewing, vice chancellor for infrastructure and sustainability
  • Todd Haggerty, chief financial officer
  • Katy Kotlarczyk, vice chancellor for advancement
  • Kim Kruchen, associate director of strategic initiatives
  • Jon Leslie, chief communications officer
  • Shelly Miller, Boulder Faculty Assembly chairperson
  • D’Andra Mull, vice chancellor for student affairs
  • Josh Radoff, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Specialization Lead, Masters of the Environment
  • Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation/dean of the institutes
  • Ann Schmiesing, vice chancellor for academic resource management
  • Kirsten Schuchman, associate vice chancellor for public policy
  • Heidi VanGenderen, chief sustainability officer

 

 

Academics

Regular information sharing with Academic Affairs and Research and Innovation Office leadership to ensure STARS reporting needs are met for this category

 

Innovation and Leadership

Engagement with campus administrative stakeholders to ensure STARS reporting needs are met for this category

 

Advisory

The campus Sustainability Council – a cross-campus group of students, faculty and staff established in 2022 to make recommendations regarding policies, programs, initiatives and investments to advance sustainability – will help inform the work of the Executive Council.