Committee on Environmental Responsibility
Given that all dimensions of campus life and operations have environmental ramifications, and that environmental problem solving presents myriad educational opportunities, the CER was set up to represent a broad cross section of the campus community, including students, faculty and staff.
Background
Bates formed its first formal working group of faculty, staff, and students to address environmental concerns in 1990. For over a decade the ad hoc committee advocated for environmental stewardship to play a greater role in College affairs. In 2004, the group re-shaped itself into the Environmental Task Force and was asked to review and make recommendations for strengthening the college’s environmental standing. The task force recommended establishing a standing committee and hiring a full time Environmental Coordinator. As a result, in 2006 the college hired an Environmental Coordinator and in 2007 the Committee on Environmental Responsibility was formally legislated.
Charge
The Committee on Environmental Responsibility (CER) has the following charge: (1) to raise environmental awareness among all constituents of the college, (2) to keep abreast of research and developments that pertain to institutional sustainability, (3) to recommend policies for adoption by the college, in order to promote conservation, energy efficiency and sustainable use of resources, (4) to assess the environmental state of the college on a regular basis, and (5) to report to the faculty on its findings and activities.
Last updated July 6, 2022
Members
Cheryl Lacey, Director of Dining Services
Christine Schwartz, Assistant Vice President for Dining, Conferences and Campus Events
Doug Ginevan, Assistant Vice President for Financial Planning
Cassidy Meyer ’25, Student Environmental Coalition Rep
Jay Phillips, Director, Facility Services Operations
Sydney Schuster ’25, Student Environmental Coalition Rep
James Morrison, Director of Health and Safety
Lisa Gilson, Asst. Professor of Politics
Fatou Sanogo, Asst. Professor of Mathematics
Mary Pols, Media Relations Specialist
Matt Thomas, Information and Library Services Manager
Paul Farnsworth, Capital Planning Project Manager
Phil Dostie, Environmental GeoChemistry Lab
Sandra Goff, Professor of Economics, CER Chair
Tom Twist, Sustainability Manager
Ex Officio:
Garry W. Jenkins President
Geoff Swift Vice President for Finance & Administration, Treasurer