Welcome to the first annual Oregon University System Campus Sustainability Conference

Sustainability has become a dominant concern for Oregonians. Meeting its associated challenges to our social and economic systems will require bold leadership, long-term planning and commitment, and an ability to adapt to new conditions. For more than a decade Oregon's public universities have been reducing their environmental footprints by experimenting with a wide range of initiatives. Efforts to monitor and reduce greenhouse gases, improve building performance, include life cycle costing considerations, purchase locally grown food, and support student initiatives have brought OUS institutions well-deserved recognition as national leaders in the campus sustainability movement. On October 23-24, 2008 at the University of Oregon in Eugene senior administrators, auxiliaries directors, staff, and students will come together to share on-the-ground successes, discuss new challenges, and build the critical information networks necessary to transform our campuses into models of sustainability.

On DAY ONE we will address these questions:

• How can we meet the requirements of the President's Climate Commitment and other greenhouse gas reduction targets?
• What can and should auxiliaries do to support institutions' sustainability goals?
• How can staff and administrators better support student co-curricular activities and initiatives?
• What organizational and cultural changes are needed to transform campuses into sustainable places?
• What will these massive changes to our infrastructure and campus culture cost and how can we creatively finance them?

On DAY TWO OUS students will come together to develop leadership and organizational skills. Activities include:

• Keynote addresses
• Leadership and organizational skills workshops
• Townhall meeting with OUS Chancellor and senior administrators
• Student Sustainability Fair

Students - We're offering an incentive to significantly reduce your travel expenses. Click here to find out more.

Day Two also includes a 3-hour Workshop on Estimating Embodied Emissions in Purchases. Click on the link to learn how you can participate.