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Oct. 11, 2008
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Craig Wansink, vice chair of the Morningside College Board of Directors, signs the Talloires Declaration. Morningside President John Reynders, third from right, also signed the document. Members of the college’s Committee on Environmental Sustainability who witnessed the signing included, from left, Jim Stroh, Karen Johnson, Terri McGaffin, and, from right, Philip Lieder and Tom Gilbert. |
Morningside College has joined more than 360 colleges and universities from around the world in signing the Talloires Declaration and committing to the achievement of environmental literacy and sustainability.
Morningside President John Reynders signed the Talloires Declaration during a Morningside College Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, October 11.
“Signing this declaration is a tangible symbol of our college’s commitment to increase awareness of environmental sustainability,” Reynders said. “Environmental sustainability goes hand in hand with Morningside College’s mission of instilling in our students a dedication to ethical leadership and civic responsibility.”
The Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF) drafted the Talloires Declaration in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France. The conference recognized the import role of universities and colleges in building the awareness, knowledge, technologies and tools to create an environmentally sustainable future.
Reynders pointed out that Morningside’s strategic plan already contains a long-term initiative on environmental sustainability. Elements of that initiative include exploring ways to increase awareness through the college’s curriculum and co-curricular programs, sponsoring speakers or events on campus at least once each semester, conducting a sustainability evaluation of the campus, exploring Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for future campus construction projects, and researching revisions to the college’s purchasing policies to buy environmentally friendly products whenever possible.
Morningside also has a Committee on Environmental Sustainability, which has representatives from the college’s faculty, student body and staff.
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