R.10: Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning at Cornell

Whereas the importance of environmental sustainability was absent from the first draft outline of the Cornell University Strategic Plan made public on January 27, 2010;

Whereas a solid and thorough commitment to environmental sustainability can enhance overall academic excellence at Cornell;

Whereas Cornell leadership, including President emeritus Lehman and President Skorton, have designated environmental sustainability as a priority, especially as it relates to climate change and through the establishment and development of the Center for a Sustainable Future;

Whereas several schools and colleges such as the Johnson School, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, and the College of Human Ecology all have significant commitments to sustainability initiatives in their own plans;

Whereas Cornell Cooperative Extension has begun promoting environmental sustainability as a cross-cutting theme for their centennial celebration in 2011; and

Whereas over 300 members of the Cornell faculty have identified sustainability themes as critical to their research, students lead over 25 sustainability-related clubs, and approximately 10 to 20 alumni events relating to sustainability are organized each year.

Be it therefore resolved that Cornell is a leader in promoting excellence in environmental sustainability;

Be it further resolved that the GPSA endorse the attached letter as submitted by the GPSA Ad-hoc Committee on Sustainability;

Be it further resolved that the GPSA encourages the strategic planning committee to incorporate environmental sustainability into its strategic plan, as a separate overarching goal with clear objectives and actions or as an integral part of its existing goals and objectives, therefore acknowledging its relationship to overall academic excellence and to Cornell’s core values, mission and future development; and

Be it finally resolved that this resolution be sent to Kent Fuchs, Cornell University Provost; and to Professor Ed Lawler and the entire Strategic Planning Committee as a comment to their draft strategic plan, as well as to David Skorton, President of Cornell University; Kent Hubbell, Dean of Students; and Alison Power, Dean of the Graduate School.

Respectfully submitted,

Erica Gutierrez
Chair, GPSA Ad-hoc Sustainability Committee
EVP, GPSA

Ben Heavner
Member, GPSA Ad-hoc Sustainability Committee
Voting Member, GPSA

Nighthawk Evensen
President, GPSA