ACUPCC Reporting System

Implementation Profile for William Rainey Harper College

Submitted on December 15, 2010; last updated on May 19, 2011

Institution Information

Basic Carnegie Classification Assoc/Pub-S-MC: Associate's Public Suburban-serving Multicampus
Control Public
Location Palatine, IL
Community Setting Urban fringe of large city
USDOE Climate Zone 2
Current President or Chancellor's Name Kenneth Ender
Current President or Chancellor's Title President
Main Web Site http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/
Sustainability Web Site http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/page.cfm?p=5756

Implementation Structure

Implementation Liaison's Name Ron Ally
Implementation Liaison's Title Executive Vice President Finance/ Admin Svcs
Implementation Liaison's Department Finance/ Admin Services
Format of Structure Committee
Number of Individuals in Structure 30
Stakeholder Groups Represented Faculty, Students, Staff
Description William Rainey Harper College is one of the larger community college in the State of Illinois. Under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth Ender, we aggressively pursue the goals of the President’s Climate Commitment. We established a Green Committee two years ago. There are approximate 25 faculty, staff, and students on this committee. This committee has eight sub-committees including Outreach, Recycle, Transportation, Cafeteria, Green Cleaning, Education, Alternate Energy Sources, and Exterior Campus.
One of the strategic goals of the College is to promote a theme of sustainable objectives and infrastructures and to implement Green Community initiatives.

Tangible Actions

1. Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent.

Yes: We are in the process of establishing a policy that all buildings built in the future will meet the LEED Silver standard or higher.

2. Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.

Yes: Our Green Committee will work with the Purchasing Department to generate a campus policy indicating that all appliances purchased in the future are ENERGY STAR certified products.

3. Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution.

Yes: As we generate the greenhouse gas report, we will establish a policy of offsetting the greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by Harper College.

4. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution.

Yes: Due to the location of the College, personal vehicles are the most convenient way of transportation to/ from the College. However, we are talking to the bus company and encouraging them to add more service to the campus. We are also investigating adding bike trails to the College as well as adding more bike stations to encourage students, faculty, and staff to use bicycling as means of transportation.

5. Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution's electricity consumption from renewable sources.

No: Not applicable.

6. Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is invested.

No: No information provided.

7. Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste.

Yes: The recycling subcommittee of the green committee has established procedures for the whole campus to minimize waste and increase recycling efforts. The Harper Green Committee will lead the efforts in 2012 to participate in the national recycleMania competition.