WORK AREAS

The Office of Sustainability will support projects across diverse work areas:

• Academic Initiatives
• Engagement & Communication
• Physical Plant & Operations
• Waste & Recycling
• Transportation
• Campus Living, Dining & Events
• Planning & Policies

Learn more about specific projects and initiatives in these work areas under “Current Projects”

Office of Sustainability 3-Year Project Plan defines and prioritizes potential projects across these work areas. 

CURRENT PROJECTS

Academic Initiatives

The Office of Sustainability is a resource for a number of academic initiatives. The Sustainability Officer does the following:

• Mentors student research, specifically Capstone projects that are sustainability-related.
• Develops course plug-in lessons, and presents guest lectures in courses
• Teaches an Introduction to Sustainability course
• Works with Academic Affairs to integrate sustainability into the Educational Master Plan
• Develops experiential education opportunities by using the Office of Sustainability and its ongoing projects as a ‘living laboratory’ for students

For instance several sections of an English class researched the topic of waste and advocated for changes in waste management on campus and in Los Angeles.

The Sustainability Officer provided guest lectures to over 20 courses, ranging from upper-division Business classes to freshmen seminar classes.

Senior students completed capstone research projects on permaculture, alternative energies, and native landscaping, and made recommendations for the College.

Engagement & Communication

The Office of Sustainability offers several educational resources and opportunities. For example:

• SustainableMarymount Office Program
• Green Living Guide
• Sustainable Tip of the Month

Learn more about these programs under ‘What You Can Do.’

Physical Plant & Operations

The Office of Sustainability supports energy and water conservation efforts on campus, green building and maintenance practices, and sustainable landscaping.

For instance, thanks to a recent relamping project, most lights on campus use energy efficient bulbs and have thermal occupancy sensors.

ARAMARK, our facilities service providers, uses green certified cleaning products, including ‘blue cleaning’—using electrically activated water in place of chemicals. Learn more about blue cleaning.

The Chapel Circle was replanted with 100% California coastal native plants, the first of its kind on campus. Other landscaping beds feature drought-tolerant or adapted species that help conserve water.

Waste & Recycling

The Office of Sustainability supports waste aversion and diversion efforts including donation and reuse practices, and the recycling programs.

For instance, the Office of Sustainability coordinated a tour of Waste Management’s local transfer station and performed a waste characterization—the sorting and weighing of all Marymount College waste. These activities helped the Marymount community better understand how much and what type of waste we produce.

The Office also did a recycling bin audit, and ensured that all classrooms, offices, and residential spaces had adequate recycling bins, as well as signage about what can and cannot be recycled.

Special battery recycling stations are available across the different campuses. Routine e-waste recycling pick-ups also offer a convenient and responsible way to dispose of electronic wastes for employees, students, and community members.

Transportation

Marymount College offers several programs to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles that come to campus, including the free campus shuttle, and a carpooling program. Students are actively researching and developing recommendations for alternative fuel fleets as well.

Campus Living, Dining & Events

Bon Appétit, our food service provider, is committed to more sustainable food purchasing, less waste, and providing healthy options. For instance, 25% of purchases are local, all meat and dairy is hormone and antibiotic free, and fish purchasing is based on Marine Stewardship Council guidelines. Learn more about Bon Appétit’s practices.

Residential Life staff coordinate ‘Move in & Move out’ services to donate any furniture or other items at the beginning and end of each term.

The Office of Sustainability purchased recycling bins for each of the residential units, and students delivered the bins, information about what can and cannot be recycled, and the Green Living Guide.  

Planning & Policies

The Office of Sustainability and the Director of Purchasing are institutionalizing purchasing policies that prioritize third-party certified products when appropriate, and other practices that reflect a commitment to sustainable products and local vendors

SUSTAINABILTY REPORTING

STARS Report, Sustainability Action Plan, and Annual Report (coming soon)