Lauren Edmonds Dr. John Swaddle

An Evaluation of Effective Structures for Campus Sustainability Programs At Institutions of Higher Education Lauren Edmonds Dr. John Swaddle

Sustainability in Higher Education • Increasing number of campus sustainability “programs” of every shape & size Number of Sustainability Officer Positions Created, data from AASHE

Goal • To identify the institutional structures most strongly associated with positive campus sustainability outcomes in order to recommend feasible, sustainable solutions to The College of William and Mary

Research Approach • Comparative case study • Case selection • Brandeis University • Clemson University • Rutgers University • University of California – Irvine • University of California – Santa Barbara • University of Georgia • University of New Hampshire • Wake Forest University • Virginia Military Institute • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University

Research Approach • Data collection • Interviews • Further research

Data Analysis • Variable Identification • Institutional make-up • Programmatic characteristics • Involvement and initiation • Funding • Participation in sector-wide organizations/commitments • Variable Measurement

Data Analysis • Measuring Outcomes • Recalculated SEI Green Score For the College of William and Mary

Results

Principal Component Analysis

Quantitative Analysis • Principal Component 1 • + student involvement • + relative funding • + reliability of funding • + bottom-up initiation • + physical space • + program size • + participation in STARS • Principal Component 2 • + faculty involvement • + existence of planning documents • Principal Component 3 • + enrollment • - top-down initiation • + bottom-up initiation

Qualitative Analysis • Brandeis University • Clemson University • University of New Hampshire • Rutgers University • Virginia Military Institute • Virginia Tech • Wake Forest University • The College of William and Mary

The College of William & Mary

Green Fee instituted Sustainability Fellowship created Committee on Sustainability created The College of William & Mary

Qualitative Support of Principal Component 1

Qualitative Support of Variables Not in Principal Components

Discussion • Characteristics of Most Effective Institutional Structures • High levels of funding • Reliable funding • Large program size • Dedicated physical space • Bottom-up initiation

Discussion • Unrelated characteristics: • Scope • Age

Broader Implications • Application to develop recommendations for institutions of higher education • Potential for future research

Acknowledgments • My interview participants • My advisor, Dr. John Swaddle • My thesis committee, Dr. David Feldman and Dr. Randy Chambers • The Committee on Sustainability and the Student Environmental Action Coalition at William & Mary • My friends and family

Questions? For questions on my research:Lauren Edmonds, Lcedmonds11@gmail.comFor questions on the WM Sustainability Program:www.wm.edu/sustainabilitySarah Hanke, smhanke@email.wm.edu

Lauren Edmonds Dr. John Swaddle