Academic Affairs
Greening Initiative Core Team Meeting
Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2008, 2:30 p.m.

Attendees:  Best (Recreation & Tourism), Carpenter (Graduate Studies), D’Orsogna (Math), Gibby (AcR & Planning), Jennings (Business/Economics), Kurland (Management), Michaud (Political Science), Stephens (Chair) (AcR & Planning), Vasishth (Urban Studies), Wohldmann (Psychology)  

Guests:  C. Donohue, D. Moon, M. Segura, N. Umali 

WELCOME 
The team welcomed Maria-Rita D’Orsogna as a new member and introductions were made across the room.

PRESENTATION 
Dave Moon, Professor from the Art Department, along with two students presented a sampling of design possibilities to be used for branding the Campus Green Initiative.  The chosen logo will represent the Greening Project on business cards, recycler bins, book bags, etc. 

DISCUSSION
For the benefit of Miguel Segura, President of Associated Students and Nicole Umali, Vice President of Associated Students, Stephens gave a brief explanation of the creation and goals of the Sustainability team.  She emphasized the importance of student involvement and the need to explore creative ways of engaging students in the process.    

Additionally Vasishth reviewed the following:
1.	Institute for Sustainability created to look at the campus and its environmental factors. 
2.	Green curriculum development.
3.	Stakeholder group involved in organizing activities, reaching out to students for involvement. 
4.	Government student structure’s ability to discover inventive ways of organizing events. 

Segura mentioned the popularity amongst students of communicating through MySpace and Facebook.  Also, the Matador Involvement Center is a resource for introducing new students to current activities on campus. Segura noted that the process of keeping students committed year after year is an ongoing challenge.  Plans also should be made to provide information during the Freshman Orientation and Earth Day related to recycling and ways in which to use the environment in a more friendly, responsible way.  

Kurland extended an invitation to all to attend the Associated Student Recycling presentations on December 5th at 1:00 p.m.  She also spoke about green careers and the creation of an E-publication to promote developments within the Greening Project.  The plans are to coincide the launching of the publication with the announcement of the campus rain forest opening.  

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The meeting minutes of October 22, 2008 were approved. 

UPDATES 
Vasishth reviewed possibilities of developing an experimental course or modifying an existing course.  Potentially the earliest date to offer a course related to sustainability would be Fall 2009.    

Jennings addressed the status of the Advisory Board creation.  At this point, a list of names has been compiled and Vasishth will be submitting it shortly to the Deans for approval. 

Stephens discussed the advantages of linkages between Health and Wellbeing and Sustainability.  The new institute is in the planning phases for creation in the near future.  She encouraged members to consider ways in which the two groups will be able to combine efforts. 

Vasishth reviewed the ongoing activities and reports from the SFV Economic Alliance Green Team.  The Valley Green Team expressed an interest in the development of a resource center in the Valley with the goal of creating it as a more vibrant location.  He reported that the Valley Green team had approached him regarding partnership opportunities which would include: (1) sharing of ideas, (2) conducting an analysis of the Valley and economy from a sustainability point of view, and (3) researching the Valley over a period of time.  

Donohue reported that Tom Brown has submitted a water efficiency grant to the Metropolitan Water District.  A decision should be received within the next two months.  

Carpenter suggested considering the addition of a representative from Facilities Planning to the team. 

CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES
Carpenter attended the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) conference and was especially impressed with Richard Johnson, Director of Sustainability at Rice University.  She noted that the ideas he presented could be incorporated into what the team is attempting to accomplish.  Other topics covered were the higher role of education and the concept of achieving a seamless blur between the University and Community. 

Kurland spoke about the Opportunity Green Conference she attended at UCLA on November 8th and 9th.  Various companies addressed activities they are presently involved in. 

Vasishth attended the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) conference held in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 9th -11th.  A whole range of topics were presented from reform to composting to reducing carbon footprinting.  Vasishth will forward to members information received regarding the Rocket Composter. 

The Florida Green Lodging Conference held November 10th -12th , was attended by Best.  She reported that Florida now has a program established to assist hotels with becoming green facilities. Different levels of certification are awarded as an incentive.  

UPCOMING EVENTS
•	National Teach-In California Conference Call, November 25, 2008, 2:00 pm, University Hall 211.   
•	Hunter Lovins, December 9, 2008, 3:30 pm, Nordhoff Hall 100.  
•	National Teach-In on Climate Change, February 5, 2009. 
•	Earth Day, April 22, 2009 – As of this date fourteen students have registered for participation. 

ACTION ITEMS  
•	Stephens to email logo designs, presented by Moon and students, to members for selection. 
•	Vasishth to send information regarding the Rocket Composter to members. 
•	Donohue to provide Stephens with names of possible new members from Facilities Planning.

Next Meeting:  Friday, December 19, 2008.