WSU’s Sustainability Executive Policy

VISION
Washington State University seeks to provide an exemplary teaching, research, and outreach environment that fosters the conservation of natural resources, supports and enhances social responsibility, addresses community and economic development, and follows environmental, social, and economic practices.

POLICY
Washington State University is committed to improve its performance in sustainability in all areas of operations to meet the needs of current generations without impairing the ability to meet the needs of future generations. Washington State University will develop appropriate systems for managing environmental, social, and economic sustainability programs with specific goals, objectives, priorities, and processes. In addition, Washington State University will continue to support the present Environmental Management System and its principles to manage environmental challenges on the Pullman Campus and extend them to other WSU campuses and locations. This policy will help Washington State University meet its responsibility to prepare students, staff, and faculty to proactively deal with the environmental, social, and economic challenges facing humanity.

SUSTAINABILITY AND UNIVERSITY GOALS
Washington State University seeks to continually improve and increase its capacity to teach, and conduct research and outreach in sustainability and is committed to practice sustainability and environmental management system principles to support the following WSU Strategic Plan goals:

Goal 1
Achieve national and international preeminence in innovation, discovery, and creativity.

Goal 2
Provide a premier education and transformative experience that prepares students to excel in a global society.

Goal 3
Lead in relevant local, national, and global outreach and engagement.

Goal 4
Embrace an environment of diversity, integrity, and transparency.

PRINCIPLES
The incorporation of sustainability principles will increase awareness of environmental, social, and economic sustainability; create an institutional culture of sustainability; educate for environmentally, socially, and economically responsible citizenship; foster sustainability literacy for all; practice institutional ecology; develop interdisciplinary collaborations; involve all stakeholders; and support the goals and objectives of Governor’s Executive Order 05-01.

Environmental management system principles will be implemented through the University’s operations and facilities; be utilized to plan, design, construct, and operate WSU facilities; provide a framework to monitor progress and continual improvement to meet environmental regulations; be utilized to meet sustainability and pollution prevention goals which follow the hierarchy of prevention, recycling/reuse, treatment and disposal; and be documented, implemented, maintained, and communicated to its employees and the public.

IMPLEMENTATION
To realize the maximum potential to Washington State University, administrators, faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders will form a collaborative team to develop the sustainability programs. The President has appointed a Sustainability/and Environment Committee (SEC). The SEC will provide the leadership and guidance in the planning, development, organization, and implementation of the programs supporting the Washington State University Sustainability Initiative.