Getting Green Done through the President’s Sustainability Research Fellowship Program
Joy Charlton Professor of Sociology
Aurora Winslade Director of Sustainability
POP - Purpose, Outcomes
What is PSRF?
A year-long program that
matches motivated students
with a defined project
designed to address sustainability
project advised by mentors, project board members, alumni sages, and
supported by a year-long seminar
3
Mission and Goals of PSRF
Model of Change: the Dual Operating System & Idea Flow
Let’s zoom out and talk about one framework for thinking about how to change organizations...
Original Plan
A Recurring Theme
“Disconnect between how new things get done and the Official Story” by leith sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-AS 4.0
Original Plan
Actual Experience
A Recurring Theme
“Disconnect between how new things get done and the Official Story” by leith sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-AS 4.0
Original Plan
Actual Experience
Official Story
A Recurring Theme
“Disconnect between how new things get done and the Official Story” by leith sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-AS 4.0
Dual Operating System Overview
Model by Leith Sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0; original concept is credite to John Kotter from Harvard Business School
Office of Sustainability &
PSRF Fellows
→ Spiral in the middle connecting the operating systems
ADAPTIVE OPERATING SYSTEM |
| MANAGEMENT DRIVEN HIERARCHY |
|
Each Operating System Has Different Operating Rules, Priorities, Language etc.
Aligned via Shared Purpose
What are some of the traits of this Operating System?
What are some of the traits of this Operating System?
“Properties of the AOS & CCOS” by lsharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-AS 4.0
What Does a Hierarchical System Do Well?
ADAPTIVE OPERATING SYSTEM TYPE OF WORK IT GETS DONE = EMERGENCE |
Shared Purpose |
Senses |
Connects |
Generates Engagement |
Group Intelligence: Innovates, Learns |
Resolves Risk |
“The Adaptive Operating System Defined” by leith sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
“The Power of a New Shared Lexicon” by leith sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-AS 4.0
Connecting around Shared Purpose to Get Green Done
Office of Sustainability &
PSRF Fellows
→ Spiral in the middle connecting the operating systems
Flow happens when there is adequate translation & iteration
Swarthmore Leadership Advisory
(management-driven hierarchy)
Project Boards & Working Groups
(adaptive operating systems)
15
Mandate
Sponsor
Right fit/ guard rails
De-risking
Approve/scale
Planning Proposal
Ideas
Draft goals & strategies
Goal adjustment & Action items
Drafting plan
Plan Implementation
Model by Leith Sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Primarily works through how a new idea can work
Works through how to integrate something new into current state
Flow happens when there is adequate translation & iteration
Swarthmore Leadership Advisory
(management-driven hierarchy)
Project Boards & Working Groups
(adaptive operating systems)
16
Mandate
Sponsor
Right fit/ guard rails
De-risking
Approve/scale
Planning Proposal
Ideas
Draft goals & strategies
Goal adjustment & Action items
Drafting plan
Plan Implementation
Model by Leith Sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Primarily works through how a new idea can work
Works through how to integrate something new into current state
Dual Operating System Overview
Model by Leith Sharp is licensed for open sharing and adapting under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0; original concept is credite to John Kotter from Harvard Business School
Office of Sustainability &
PSRF Fellows
→ Spiral in the middle connecting the operating systems
← Students in Project Boards and Working Groups propose and pilot new ideas
← Students in Project Boards and Working Groups propose and pilot new ideas
← When the new ideas are ready to be scaled, we have systems to gain approval, funding, etc. from the hierarchy
PSRF Program Structure
Portfolio I: Project
21a
Project Management System
22a
Portfolio II: Bigger Picture
23a
Seminar
Year-long course where Portfolio I & Portfolio II meet
24a
25a
STUDENT PROJECT__ EXAMPLES__
SUSTAINABLE__ TRANSPORTATION__
Anna Garner
Class of 2019
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION__
THE PROBLEM
Transportation contributes 29% GHG emissions in the U.S. and 14% GHG emissions worldwide
Swarthmore has its own transportation fleet
THE MISSION
Determine strategy to reduce Swarthmore’s GHG emissions due to transportation
Find opportunities for improved fleet management
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION__
WHERE WE ARE
Anna’s recommendations include to centralize fleet management, implement streamlined booking system, and offer various vehicle sizes and types
PROJECT MILESTONES
30 interviews with campus fleet managers; 3 with comparable institutions
Central calendar of weekly fleet movements
CENTRALIZED FLEET__ CALENDAR__
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION__
WHERE WE ARE
Anna’s Recommendations include to centralize fleet management, implement streamlined booking system, and offer various vehicle sizes and types
PROJECT MILESTONES
30 interviews with campus fleet managers; 3 with comparable institutions
Central calendar of weekly fleet movements
SUSTAINABILITY__ IN THE__ CURRICULUM__
Daria Mateescu
Class of 2020
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CURRICULUM__
THE PROBLEM
Swarthmore Faculty Member:
“There is nothing that [sustainability] doesn’t touch because it is an existential risk.” �
THE MISSION
Enable faculty to successfully integrate sustainability into syllabi
Educate all students about the world’s greatest challenge
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CURRICULUM__
PROJECT MILESTONES
Developed resource-guide that demonstrates integration of sustainability-based readings & activities
Hosted workshop available to all faculty
WHERE WE ARE
Recommendations:
1:1 faculty outreach
Incentives for untenured faculty
Cross-department community building via 2-day workshop
EMORY UNIVERSITY’S PIEDMONT PROJECT:__
MEDIEVAL & EARLY MODERN JAPAN SYLLABUS__
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CURRICULUM__
PROJECT MILESTONES
Developed resource-guide that demonstrates integration of sustainability-based readings & activities
Hosted workshop available to all faculty
WHERE WE ARE
Recommendations
1:1 faculty outreach
Incentives for untenured faculty
Cross-department community building via 2-day workshop
BIOFUELS FEASIBILITY STUDY_
Sierra Spencer
Class of 2019
BIOFUELS FEASIBILITY STUDY__
THE PROBLEM
34% of CO2 emissions from energy generation in the U.S.
Swarthmore’s day-to-day operations contribute to this problem
Can we heat with sustainable fuels?
THE MISSION
Research the viability of biofuels use in the Physical Plant at Swarthmore
Biofuels Feasibility Study
39c
BIOFUELS FEASIBILITY STUDY__
PROJECT MILESTONES
Worked with Facilities Management to research options for utilizing biofuels in the Physical Plant
Recommended path forward for pilot test
WHERE WE ARE
Chose NOT to move forward with pilot
Research has informed the current Roadmap to Zero: Energy Master Plan at Swarthmore College
RENEWABLE__ ENERGY__ PROCUREMENT__
Kyle Richmond-Crosset
Class of 2019
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROCUREMENT__
THE PROBLEM
34% of CO2 emissions from energy generation in the U.S.
Swarthmore’s day-to-day operations contribute to this problem
Unbundled RECs have little environmental impact
THE MISSION
Develop a plan to get to 100% impactful renewable energy for Swarthmore College
SWARTHMORE COLLEGE’S ENERGY FUTURE__
NOW
THE NEAR FUTURE
Swarthmore
PECO
Existing Wind
$
RECs
$$$
mwh
Swarthmore + Contract
PECO
$
RECs
$$$
mwh
New Solar
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROCUREMENT__
PROJECT MILESTONES
Researched best practices & developed partnerships
Released RFP with help of partners and consultant
Partnered with Lehigh, Lafayatte, and Muhlenberg
WHERE WE ARE
Working with partners to select project & finalize contract
Received 66 wind or solar proposals;
18 in Pennsylvania
PSRF as a teaching/learning experience
45a
What is the value of PSRF?
Office of Sustainability perspective
46a
Expanding the Program’s Impact
Student Testimonial
“I’m reaching out to let you know how much I’ve realized the importance of my PSRF experience since graduating. I talk about it constantly in interviews and applications and even at dinners with my family and friends. Sometimes… it's easy to take opportunities like this for granted. But since leaving I’ve realized how unique and valuable it really was. I am so glad I got a chance to be a part of something bigger on campus, as well as get the chance to invest personally and professionally in my own skills. They will certainly be required when working on any large scale project in the future.”
48a
Q&A
Aurora Winslade awinsla1@swarthmore.edu
Joy Charlton
jcharl1@swarthmore.edu
49