Bates College formed its first formal working group of faculty, staff, and students to address environmental concerns in 1990. For over a decade the ad hoc committee advocated for environmental stewardship to play a greater role in College affairs.
In 2004 the Environmental Task Force was created to review and make recommendations for strengthening the College’s environmental standing. In its final report the task force recommended establishing a standing committee and hiring a full-time environmental coordinator.
A full-time environmental coordinator was hired in 2006 and in 2007 the Committee on Environmental Responsibility (CER) was formed. Compprised of faculty, staff and students, the CER meets bi-weekly to:
- Integrate sustainability into institutional and master planning
- Develop an action plan for achieving climate neutrality
- Bring sustainability into the Bates culture
Members
- Julie Rosenbach, Environmental coordinator
- Dan Nein, Physical plant
- Sarah Potter, Bookstore
- Christine Schwartz, Dining services
- Camille Parish, Environmental studies
- Susan Murphy, Information & library services
- Paul Farnsworth, Physical plant
- Doug Ginevan, Financial office
- David Das, Dean of students
- John Smedley, Physics*
- Josh Henry, Chemistry
- Susan Schomburg, Religion
- Marianne Nolan Cowan, Office of College Advancement
- Connie Mullane, Library and Information Services
- Tonya Taylor, Multicultural Affairs
- Pam Wichroski, Physical Plant
- Students TBD
*Committee Chair
Meeting Minutes
