Environmental Advisory Council

Commission for the Environmental Advisory Council

Charge. The Environmental Advisory Council is a standing committee that reports to the President and is responsible for coordinating institutional stewardship of the environment through developing environmental policy and overseeing the implementation and effectiveness of the university's environmental management system (EMS). The Council serves as a campus-wide planning and advisory forum to identify, assess, and rank environmental concerns, coordinate institutional responses to these priority concerns, assess the effectiveness of actions and programs designed to resolve or manage these issues, and communicate environmental performance to the CEO and to the campus community.

Membership. The Council shall be appointed by the Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration and shall consist of members representing a cross-section of the university community, including administration, faculty, staff, at least one person from the Environmental, Health and Safety department, and a student or student organization as members of sub-committees. Appointed members should be prepared to serve two-year terms, but the Council shall have authority to modify this through its bylaws.

Organization and Governance. The Council shall elect a chairman and shall establish its own bylaws consistent with the System policy on Environment (24.04) and this Council commission.

Subcommittees. The Council is empowered to commission subcommittees as needed to address specific areas of the environment and to call upon other members of the campus community on a regular or ad hoc basis to provide input about their activities as they interface with the environment.

Communication. The Council shall develop means of communication for conducting Council business and for reporting progress to the CEO and to the public. This may include a combination of methods, such as meetings, e-mail or listserves, a secure Internet portal, EMS software, and/or a publicly available Internet site. Whatever means are chosen, communications shall be adequately maintained so as to advance and cultivate environmental performance.

Support Services. The Environmental, Health and Safety department shall provide an EMS coordinator to provide direct support to the Council.

Approved January 16, 2008