Purpose, Structure, and Operation
The Mason Sustainability Council (MSC) is an institution-wide initiative that will advance university sustainability outcomes through prioritization, direction, coordination, and support for synergistic sustainability efforts. These efforts will benefit from and be informed by faculty, staff, research, and student expertise, as well as best practices to further establish Mason as an institutional leader in higher-education sustainability and social and environmental justices. The MSC is a means of actualizing Mason’s commitments to sustainability and inclusive excellence, which include making Mason carbon-neutral, enabling our campuses to become living laboratories, and developing a culture of sustainability within our community.
The MSC is co-chaired by Provost Mark Ginsberg and Executive Vice President for Administration & Finance Deb Dickenson, co-coordinated by Greg Farley, Director of University Sustainability, and Leah Nichols, Executive Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE), and charged with:
- recommending, and advising on, opportunities for sustainability efforts across the University;
- aligning the work of the MSC with Mason’s strategic priorities, goals, and mission, and coordinating MSC work with Mason’s annual operating and capital planning processes;
- developing goals, targets, and metrics, in consultation with OoS and ISE, to guide the work of the MSC;
- translating concepts into action in the respective departments and colleges of its members;
- ensuring appropriate delegation of information, tasks, and resources;
- and communicating with Mason leadership, when appropriate, to share high-impact and high-value concepts, projects, and/or findings.
The recently constituted MSC has identified the following five high-level guiding principles for sustainability (GPS) and associated action items to guide their work toward achieving these objectives. The council is seeking feedback from key stakeholders in the Mason community.
Guiding Principles for Sustainability:
GPS-1. Center social and environmental justice at the heart of Mason sustainability.
GPS-2. Foster an engaging culture of sustainability inclusive of all members of the Mason community and fundamental to the values of our graduates.
GPS-3. Ground all Mason decisions – operational, academic, and co-/extra-curricular – in sustainability, and ensure transparency and accountability.
GPS-4. Mitigate our impact on the global climate and local environments, while prioritizing resilience and resource responsibility, to promote the wellbeing of people and the planet.
GPS-5. Strive to be a recognized local, national, and world leader for our excellence in sustainability.
The Guiding Principles are current as of 4/28/21 and subject to change based upon feedback from the Mason Community.