Iona College -- New Rochelle, New York
http://www.iona.edu/

Contact
Fredrica Rudell, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Marketing and International Business, Hagan School of Business, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY 10801; 914-637-2748; frudell@iona.edu; http://www.iona.edu/academic/ecc/environmental.cfm

Concern for the environment and provision of an education that prepares students for responsible stewardship of the earth fit well with Iona's core values and its mission. The current Presidential Strategic Plan (2007-2012) specifically calls for "promoting a sustainable and environmentally-friendly campus..." But Iona has a long history of addressing the environment in many ways, chiefly through co-curricular activities that increase awareness of environmental issues and promote more environmentally responsible behavior, efficient operations that conserve resources, and academic coursework that prepares students for the environmental challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

More than 20 years ago, an Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC) was formed as a subcommittee of Iona's Peace and Justice Studies Program, with a mandate to raise awareness of the Iona Community with respect to the state of the environment. www.iona.edu/academic/ecc Over the years, ECC activities have included guest speakers, films, environmental fairs and exhibits, trips to conferences, acquisition of books and materials, and a Paper Conservation Campaign. They even dedicated their own tree! (Most recent activities are chronicled on the "About Us" at http://www.iona.edu/academic/ecc/environmental.cfm

Concern for the environment is shared by other groups on campus. The Iona Spirituality Institute (www.iona.edu/academic/artsscience/orgs/isi/) sponsored a celebration of Rachel Carson's centennial in 2007 ("Beyond Silent Spring") as well as an Earth Day 2008 symposium on the Environment as part of its "Faithful Citizenship" series. In November 2007, the theme of the annual Week of the Peacemaker at Iona was "SOS for Planet Earth: Calling for a Just and Sustainable World."

Over the years, Iona has partnered and networked with others, specifically through the New Rochelle Environmental Partnership (now defunct), National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology (www.nwf.org/campusecology) , and the Environmental Consortium of Hudson Valley Colleges and Universities (ECHVCU)(www.environmentalconsortium.org ) to further its environment-related goals. Iona faculty, staff, and students have participated in conferences and programs sponsored by the ECHVCU, including a Campus Greening Conference in November 2006. A group of students were so inspired by the ideas and information presented there, that they chartered a new "I C Green" environmental club (which won Iona Student Government Association awards for "Best New Organization" in 2007, and "Organization of the Year" in 2008). Projects have focused on energy conservation ("Please Turn Off Lights" signs) and recycling, but they also sponsor field trips, cleanups, and fund-raising events.

Operationally, the College has attempted to reduce its own environmental impact. Aside from a Paper Conservation Campaign undertaken by ECC and the Information Technology Department (www.iona.edu/infotech/paper) most of these activities originate in the Facilities Department, which now has a designated Environmental Compliance Officer.

In 2005, the College hired a consulting engineer to undertake an energy efficiency project. James Call, PE, CEM has worked with Facilities to identify ways to reduce energy waste in heating and cooling systems on campus, e.g., via programmable thermostats, new windows. They also use electrical carts, one of them solar powered.

Facilities is also working with the student I C Green club to expand and improve recycling on campus. This past summer, the Facilities department switched to a majority of cleaning products certified environmentally friendly on campus. For the longer term, Facilities is planning to remove or replace underground fuel storage tanks, and to possibly install solar panels on the roof of some of our buildings.

Through its innovative Scientific and Technological Literacy (STL) program, Iona endeavors to produce scientifically informed citizens. Students can pursue their academic interest in the environment via the Environmental or Earth Systems STL electives or at a deeper level by majoring in Environmental Science.

Members of Iona faculty have been at the forefront of the Religion and Ecology movement, and Religious Studies courses that address the sacredness of the universe and stewardship of the earth are enhanced and extended via programs sponsored by the Iona Spirituality Institute (see above).

Courses incorporating sustainability topics are constantly under development, in departments ranging from Economics to Social Work. In the Hagan School of Business, students can take courses in Sustainable Finance and/or Green Marketing.